Jun 23, 2016 his greatgrandfather had been capn newt knight, who deserted the confederate army and set up the free state of jones in jones county. Free state of jones office of the university registrar. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. Bynum believes that knight did not necessarily enlist out of fear of conscription but rather because he just wanted to be a soldier. Mississippis longest civil war history vs hollywood, movie, book, audio book. Legend of the free state of jones was the first authoritative explanation of just what did happen in jones county in 1864 to give rise to the legend. Legend of the free state of jones download ebook pdf.
Legend of the free state of jones by leverett, rudy h. Free state of jones takes place in 1862, in jones city, mississippi, where a confederate soldier named newton knight matthew mcconaughey finds himself demoralized after witnessing a teen boys death on a bloodsoaked battlefield. The author is a doctoral degree holder in education. Civil war, creating the free state of jones, a county that supported the union in the war. Feb 01, 2003 between late 1863 and mid1864, an armed band of confederate deserters battled confederate cavalry in the piney woods region of jones county, mississippi. To ask other readers questions about the free state of jones, please sign up. Jun 17, 2016 the jones county insurrectionists were neither abolitionists nor southern yankees, says victoria bynum, who wrote the 2001 book the free state of jones.
In the end, the film free state of jones was not based on the book the free state of jones, but the book was used as a major resource, with bynum credited as a consultant. This is the main reason for its heightened disloyalty to the confederacy. A restless, some may say rebellious, spirit stirs from the first generations who settled in jones county near ellisville and seceded from the confederacy to create the free state of jones. Free state of jones, the film directed by gary ross, powerfully and movingly. Between late 1863 and mid1864, an armed band of confederat. Local legends tell of knight and his men forming the free state of jones in the area in and around jones county. Free state of jone best quotes theres plenty left to. Records of jones county, mississippi, tax rolls 18271841, state census 1837, 1841, 1853. This is how jones county, mississippi, is known in myth and legend. Covering the same ground as the major motion picture the free state of jones, starring matthew mcconaughey, this is the extraordinary true story of the antislavery southern farmer who brought together poor whites, army deserters and runaway slaves to fight the confederacy in deepest mississippi. Bynums history of jones county, mississippi and its most notorious resident, newt knight, a.
However, you do not have to lose one to embrace the other. Jones county was not a wealthy area when war broke out in 1861. Set during the civil war, free state of jones tells the story of defiant southern farmer, newt knight, and his extraordinary armed rebellion against the confederacy. Victoria bynum traces the origins and legacy of the jones county uprising from the american revolution to. Click download or read online button to get the free state of jones book now. Free state of jones film free state of jones is a 2016 american historical period war film inspired by the life of newton knight and his armed revolt against the confederacy in jones county, mississippi, throughout the american civil war. Jones county is a county located in the southeast portion of the u. For a period, however, it seemed that rosss researchwhich involved reading 40 to 50 books, he sayswould not result in a film. Free state of jones is a 2016 american historical period war film inspired by the life of newton knight and his armed revolt against the confederacy in jones county, mississippi, throughout the american civil war.
Pdf the free state of jones download ebook for free. Free state of jones the movie was partly inspired by the free state. Rosss mythdebunking is propelled by an ideal true story. Bynum and the state of jones by sally jenkins and john stauffer. Newton knight november 10, 1829 february 16, 1922 was an american farmer, soldier and southern unionist in mississippi, best known as the leader of the knight company, a band of confederate army deserters who resisted the confederacy during the civil war. However, the yeoman farmers and cattle herders of jones county had little use for a war over a states right to maintain the institution of slavery. Before reading this book about the county of jones mississippi i thought i was. A man of deep convictions, captain newt knight disagreed with the values of the south and was accused of deserting the confederate army.
Newton knight, a white mississippi farmer, led armed opposition to the confederacy during the u. Free state of jones the movie was partly inspired by the. Free state of jones not free of historical inaccuracies. While factchecking the free state of jones movie, we learned that jones county, mississippi had only a 12 percent slave population, fewer than any other county in mississippi. My great grandfather jasper collins was born in jones county, mississippi in 1827 and died there in 19. Banding together with other small farmers and local slaves, knight launched an uprising that led jones county, mississippi to secede from the confederacy, creating a free state of. The new civil war film free state of jones, starring matthew mcconaughey and gugu mbatharaw, is richly researched, but its flat assemblage of history strips out the storys texture and.
I came to jones county having read some good books about its history, and knowing very little about its presentday reality. Jul 14, 2016 free state of jones tells the story of newton knight matthew mcconaughey, a truetolife, nonslaveholding farmer from jones county, mississippi, who deserts from the confederate army, disgusted at the senseless brutality and the increasing pressure on poor men to fight a war that served the interests of wealthy slaveholders. This book also raises the issues of race and class before and since the reconstruction era in the south. The free state of jones download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl. Banding together with other small farmers and local slaves, knight launched an uprising that led jones county, mississippi to secede from the confederacy, creating a free state of jones. It assumed legendary status among some county residents and civil war historians, culminating in the release of a 2016 feature film, free state of jones. Jun 17, 2016 free state of jones is only a week away and the new york times ran a fascinating interview wednesday with its director, gary ross. History of the free state of jones laurel and jones county. Post war knight subsequently formed a relationship and marries former slave, rachel gugu mbatharaw, and effectively established the regions first mixed. This book covers the tactics of both the union and confederate armies and the guerrilla war conducted behind the lines by the racially integrated battalions of the free men of jones and is an excellent introduction to the story. The new state of jones rests upon the notion that there exists an old state of jones. The popular movie free state of jones starring matthew mcconaughey as newton knight, a nonslave owner, who deserts from the confederate army and leads a biracial guerilla band hiding in the swamps has excited a great deal of interest because it challenges the long held myth of the lost. Along with newton knight he is best known as one of the leaders of the free state of jones rebellion in jones county. The popular movie free state of jones starring matthew mcconaughey as newton knight, a nonslave owner, who deserts from the confederate army and leads a biracial guerilla band hiding in the swamps has excited a great deal of interest because it challenges the long held myth of the lost cause.
I noticed a footnote, and it said that jones county, mississippi, was famous for the. Free state of jones tells the story of newton knight matthew mcconaughey, a truetolife, nonslaveholding farmer from jones county, mississippi, who deserts from the confederate army, disgusted at the senseless brutality and the increasing pressure on poor men to fight a war that served the interests of wealthy slaveholders. Strickland books, 935 little river 17, ashdown arkansas 71822. With matthew mcconaughey, gugu mbatharaw, mahershala ali, keri russell. So go ahead and dedicate 9 minutes of your life to the free state of jones.
The book provides a fascinating, wellresearched account of the. I was especially struck by rosss investment in establishing the films historical bona fides. Exploring the free state of jones and finding a grave. The film is credited as being based on the books the free state of jones by victoria e. Calling themselves the knight company after their captain, newton knight, they set up headquarters in the swamps of the leaf river, where, legend has it, they declared the free state of jones. The movie the free state of jones, based on the book, of the same name, by victoria bynum was released in 2016.
Legend of the free state of jones was the first authoritative explanation of just what did happen in jones county in 1864 to give rise to the legend and now to a major motion picture starring matthew mcconaughey. Jones county is part of the laurel, ms micropolitan statistical area. Newton knight, a mississippi farmer serving in the confederate army, decided he wanted no part of any of it the war, the confederacy, or the planter economy. Why was jones county more disloyal to the confederacy than other areas. The free state of jones and the echo of the black horn. Free state of jones and historical accuracy civil war pop. The nature and extent of the knight companys opposition to the confederate government is disputed among historians. A disillusioned confederate army deserter returns to mississippi and leads a militia of fellow deserters and women in an uprising against the corrupt local confederate government. A maverick, unionist district in the heart of the old south. The free state of jones is perhaps mississippis most enduring civil war legend.
How accurate is the new movie about the free state of jones. The story of the jones county rebellion is well known among mississippians, and debate over whether the county actually seceded from the state during the war has smoldered for more than a century. Differing versions give the name of this new nation as republic of jones, jones county confederacy, and free state of jones. Fifteen years earlier my interest in the legend had been piqued by a civil war history textbook which noted that confederate disaffection ran so deep in jones county, mississippi, that during the civil war the county had allegedly seceded from the state and. The latest episode is an epic by director gary ross, free state of jones, starring matthew mcconaughey as the films hero, newt knight. An interview with victoria bynum, historian and author of the free. By 1860, slaves made up only 12 percent of the total population in jones county, the smallest percentage of any county in the state. Subject of the upcoming film free state of jones, this book provides recollections of the man who took on the confederacy during the civil war and established the liberated mississippi county. Newton knight and the legend of the free state of jones. Calling themselves the knight company after their captain, newton knight, they set up headquarters i. Written and directed by gary ross, the film stars matthew mcconaughey, gugu mbatharaw, mahershala ali, and keri russell.
Click download or read online button to get legend of the free state of jones book now. Directed by fourtime oscar r nominee gary ross and starring oscar r winner matthew mcconaughey, free state of jones is an epic actiondrama set during the civil war, and tells the story of. Free state of jones tells the story of a knightled rebellion against the confederacy in jones county, mississippi, whereby the county allegedly seceded and declared itself a free state. Free state of jones the movie was partly inspired by the free. Free state of jones 2016 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more.
Download pdf free state of jones free online new books. Between late 1863 and mid1864, an armed band of confederate deserters battled confederate cavalry in the piney woods region of jones county, mississippi. Overall, the book offers an impartial look at the historical complexities that make up the southeastern piney woods section of mississippi, how they have affected its people to this day, and how a large cast of characters are influenced by the vagaries of culture. According to the book the free state of jones by victoria bynum, the number of slave owners had grown since the county was settled during the turn of the 19th century, but poor farmers heavily outnumbered wealthy planters. During the 1830s economic crisis, there was a mass migration of people from the jones county. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The historical imagination and free state of jones the. First published in 2001, it has been reissued to coincide with.
The free state of jones december 8, 2000 edition open. Jun 23, 2016 several books have been written about him and jones county, and the 1948 movie tap roots was loosely based on his experiences. Read, listen and reflect on the contents of this book. The jones county insurrectionists were neither abolitionists nor southern yankees, says victoria bynum, who wrote the 2001 book the free state of jones. Knight starts to question why hes fighting and for whom and, frankly, his purpose in a war that, to his eyes. Aug 16, 2009 these issues are the subject of an internet debate that began when victoria bynum, a texas state history professor and author of the wellresearched 2001 book the free state of jones, wrote. Jun 05, 2016 in the new film free state of jones, matthew mcconaughey plays confederate soldier newton knight, and depending on whom you ask, knight was either a hero or a traitor. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our. Free state of jones is a 2016 american historical war film inspired by the life of newton knight and his armed revolt against the confederacy in jones county, mississippi, throughout the american civil. Prior to secession, slave holders and nonslave holders. Free state of jones is an excellent comprehensive study that begins with people in the back country of north carolina during the revolutionary war who settled jones county bringing with them their sense of justice and attitudes toward tyranny. Downtown has some old brick buildings with wroughtiron balconies. The free state of jones the free state of jones is one of the most gripping history books published in recent years.
Collins families maternal and paternal lineages collins. In this moment, i began dimly to perceive that the. The story of the free state of jones in the state of mississippi which lead an insurrection against the confederacy during the us civil war. Jul 12, 2016 director gary rosss free state of jones, however, which depicts the origins and aftermath of newton knights bigender and biracial anticonfederate insurgency in jones county, mississippi, might be the first to properly and historically situate reconstruction in full relation to the war itself, serving as a vigorous repudiation of lost. But with free state of jones, knight is being memorialized on screen. A notorious county that seceded from the confederacy. Long a staple of folklore, fiction, and history, this anticonfederate uprising has inspired five fulllength books and countless articles and essays. Sally jenkins and john stauffers book, the state of jones, made a splash a while back, and an earlier book by victoria bynum, the free state of jones, is at least partly the basis for a movie set to come out next year. In bridging the gap between the legendary and the real free state of jones, she shows how the. When i began researching the legend of the free state of jones ten years ago, i had little sense of the journey i was about to undertake. Newton knight the book legend of the free state of jones is authored by rudy h. This book surveys the facts, the records, and the history of the free state of jones and may provide the whole story.
Adding further controversy to the legend is the story of newt knights interracial romance with his wartime accomplice, rachel, a slave. The true story of the free state of jones history smithsonian. There are now several interesting books about the secession of jones county, mississippi from the confederacy during the civil war. Newton knight was an american farmer, soldier and southern unionist in mississippi, best known as the leader of the knight company, a band of confederate army deserters who resisted the confederacy during the civil war. The free state of jones is an exemplary monograph, full of human details that demolish the lost cause legend of a united south. Local legends tell of knight and his men forming the free state of jones in the area in and around jones county, mississippi, at the height of the war. Jul 04, 2016 the jones county insurrectionists were neither abolitionists nor southern yankees, says victoria bynum, who wrote the 2001 book the free state of jones. Jun 21, 2016 the soontobe released movie the free state of jones is influenced more by the hollywoodnew york mindset and not on historical records, according to a southeastern louisiana university history professor. The old county seat, and ground zero for the free state of jones, is ellisville, now a pleasant, leafy town of 4,500 people. Legend of the free state of jones university press of. Fascination with the legend endures not only because white men and women of a deep south state fought against the confederacy. In jones county, mississippi, a farmer named newton knight led his neighbors, white and black alike, in an insurrection against the confederacy at the height of the civil war.
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