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Newton Knight | |
|---|---|
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| Born | November 10, 1829 Jones County, Mississippi, United States |
| Died | February 16, 1922 Jasper County, Mississippi, United States |
| Nationality | Statesian |
Newton Knight was a white abolitionist who led a guerrilla movement against the Confederacy during the Statesian Civil War.
Civil War
Knight joined the Confederate army after Mississippi seceded from the USA but soon deserted and hid in a swamp with runaway slaves. Confederate forces captured him and put him back into the army, where he soon deserted again.
After deserting for the second time, Knight joined a group of about 200 deserters, who elected him as their captain. They declared independence from the Confederacy and founded the Free State of Jones. The group raided Confederate supply convoys, gave food to poor families, and helped free slaves.[1]
References
- ↑ Paul Wilcox (2017-01-04). "Newton Knight – abolitionist guerilla leader in Mississippi A hidden history of the anti-slavery struggle" Liberation School. Archived from the original on 2021-10-24. Retrieved 2022-10-08.