"Union Tooth and Nail": Pamunkey Indians and the Civil War

Most Americans have heard the story of Pocahontas and John Smith, but few have learned the rich history of Virginia’s Indian communities beyond the colonial period. Anthropologist Ashley Spivey, a citizen of the Pamunkey Indian Tribe, discusses the Pamunkey engagement in the Civil War as Union veterans and supporters.
Indigenous people played pivotal roles in the unfolding of Virginia’s history, engaging in the economic, political, social and cultural events that have shaped the commonwealth. Learn why the Pamunkey chose to support the Union and the various roles they played during the Civil War in Virginia. Pulling from their intimate knowledge of the riverine landscape, Pamunkey men served as pilots and scouts on Union gunboats that traversed Virginia waterways. Pamunkey women held ground on the reservation, working to aid Union soldiers who encamped near the community throughout the war.
This event complements the Library’s exhibition "Indigenous Perspectives." Learn more about that exhibition at edu.lva.virginia.gov/indigeno...