Fighting for Freedom

About the Book

In Fighting for Freedom, the author uses primary source documents to re-construct the story of a young Confederate soldier and his servant who join the Tennessee militia in 1861 and become a part of the Tennessee Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia. The story tells why they fought, how the servant gets his freedom and what happens to them after the war. The purpose of the book is to help children understand how research skills can be put to use to tell the stories of our ancestors. The servant in this story married the author’s first cousin three times removed.

About the Author

Barbara is owner and representative of SULI (Stories-U-Like, Inc.). As its representative she provides seminars on the use of storytelling, literature and music in the classroom; grades K-12. She designs and conducts workshops that empower participants through the use of stories, music and creative movement. In addition to storytelling performances, she occasionally accepts speaking engagements. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from Fisk University, Nashville, Tennessee, with a major in Sociology and a minor in Anthropology. She also holds a Master of Education with a concentration in Reading and Story Arts from East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee. As a Civil War re-enactor, I share stories that are inspired by historical texts and family research in Tennessee, (Wilson and Davidson) counties. My intent is to give voice and face to Antebellum American people of African descent, particularly women both slave and free. The purpose of my stories is to provide a glimpse into the daily lives of slaves and free people of color that goes beyond the one dimensional image of victimization. Through these stories I focus on a people who had their own unique sense of self and shared with all humanity the same dreams of hope, love and community for themselves and their families. Barbara lives with her husband, Bill Harris, an active member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. She is an active member of the Tennessee Society Order of Confederate Rose and a member of the Confederate Belles. Barbara and Bill enjoy attending events and sharing the history of their ancestors during the Civil War.