In 1861, under the command of Percival Drayton in activities near Charleston, he was made supervisor of a colony of over 100 former slaves on Otter Island in December 1861.
(meta data) TITLE: Project MUSE - Bluejackets and Contrabands (meta data) AUTHOR: Barbara Tomblin (meta data) PUBLISHER: The University Press of Kentucky [Skip to Content] No institutional affiliation LOG IN ## Bluejackets and Contrabands: African Americans and the Union Navy ## In this Book Additional Information Bluejackets and Contrabands: African Americans and the Union Navy Barbara Brooks Tomblin Published by: The University Press of Kentucky View | View Citation One of the lesser known stories of the Civil War is the role played by escaped slaves in the Union blockade along the Atlantic coast. From the beginning of the war, many African American refugees sought avenues of escape to the North. Due to their sheer numbers, those who reached Union forces presented a problem for the military. The problem was partially resolved by the First Confiscation Act of 1861, which permitted the seizure of property used in support of the South's war effort, including slaves. Eventually regarded as contraband of war, the runaways became known as contrabands. In Bluejackets and Contrabands, Barbara Brooks Tomblin examines the relationship between the Union Navy and the contrabands. The navy established colonies for the former slaves and, in return, some contrabands served as crewmen on navy ships and gunboats and as river pilots, spies, and guides. Tomblin presents a rare picture of the contrabands and casts light on the vital contributions of African Americans to the Union Navy and the Union cause. ## Table of Contents Front cover p. v p. vi pp. vii-viii pp. 1-6 p. 4 1. Union Navy Policy Toward Contrabands pp. 7-30 2. Going to Freedom pp. 31-62 3. Contraband Camps pp. 63-98 p. 67 4. Informants pp. 90-132 p. 111 5. Contributing to Victory pp. 133-168 6. Contraband Pilots pp. 169-188 Photo insert Follows Page 184 7. Contraband Sailors pp. 189-228 8. Joint Army-Navy Operations pp. 229-248 p. 248 9. The Final Months pp. 249-280 pp. 281-334 Select Bibliography pp. 335-344 pp. 345-373 ## Additional Information Related ISBN MARC Record Launched on MUSE 2012-01-01 Open Access Back To Top This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Without cookies your experience may not be seamless.
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James W. Nicholson
Life and naval career.
The son of Nathaniel Nicholson and grandson of Samuel Nicholson, he was born in Dedham, Massachusetts. Nicholson entered the Navy as a midshipman in February 1838. As a Lieutenant, he served in "Vandalia" in Commodore Matthew C. Perry's Opening of Japan from 1853 to 1855. 
 During the Civil War he served in "Pocahontas" and "Pensacola", and commanded the "Isaac Smith", "Shamrock", "Manhattan", and "Mohongo".