THE SHELF
Historian Victoria Bynum , M . A . ’ 79 , Ph . D . ’ 87 , is a Civil War myth-buster .
BY SHERILYN REUS , SIXTH ‘ 16
FOLKLORE IS DEEPLY EMBEDDED in American culture — whether told at the dinner table , around the campfire or just before bedtime , tall tales and legends about the nation ’ s history have the power to build a common identity and unify its people . For Victoria Bynum , M . A . ’ 79 , Ph . D . ’ 87 , American folklore is not just an opportunity for a great story , but a chance to look more closely at the finer threads of our heritage .
Interestingly enough for a noted historian of the 19th‐century American South , Bynum was born and raised mostly in California . Her father , however , was born in Jones County , Miss ., a location steeped in history and primarily known for its anti‐Confederate rebellion during the Civil War . For Bynum , who gravitated toward history throughout college , the dynamics and repercussions of the uprising were captivating . “ Here was a story that countered conventional images of the Civil War and ordinary white Southerners ,” she says . After hearing a plethora of different sides to the story , Bynum was convinced that Jones County was begging for a deeper historical analysis .
Bynum began researching the area in 1992 , after publication of her first book , Unruly
Victoria Bynum , M . A . ’ 79 , Ph . D . ’ 87
Women : The Politics of Social and Sexual Control in the Old South , which she began in graduate school at UC San Diego . Eager to expand her existing research on women , people of color and pro‐Union deserters of the Civil War South , she dove into a wealth of resources , poring over federal , state and county records , as well as folklore and several family accounts from the period . After long hours and years of dedication , The Free State of Jones : Mississippi ’ s Longest Civil War was finally realized in 2001 .
The book separates fact from fiction , and busts the illusion of a “ solid South ” during the Civil War era . The story centers on a rogue group of Confederate deserters , the self-proclaimed Knight Company , who battled the Confederate cavalry in the swamps of Jones County between 1863 and mid‐1864 . The story of rebellion is well‐known among Mississippians , but Bynum digs deep into the legend , uncovering broader takeaways beyond the historical events themselves . Says Bynum , “ I realized that the myths and legends that permeate this story — with their rival understandings of morality , loyalty and history — reveal the long-term effects of community conflict and human tragedy .”
“ At UC San Diego I was fortunate to work with history professors who were major scholars in the fields of Southern , women ’ s , African American and economic history .”
Bynum ’ s book is among the primary texts that inform the 2016 feature‐length film of the same title , starring Matthew McConaughey , Keri Russell and Gugu Mbatha-Raw . While Bynum is definitely excited for the film ’ s release ( and a cameo role with her husband !) the issue of accuracy is ever‐present . “ I remind myself — and others when necessary — that a historically based movie is not a history text adapted to screen , nor is it a documentary , even though based on true events .” Yet considering the 20 + years that have passed since she started her research at UC San Diego , Bynum recognizes the value of a popular medium putting a spotlight on the subject of her research . “ In regard to movies , Southern Unionism has never been portrayed with the honesty and depth that it deserves ,” she says . “ It ’ s exciting to see that finally happening .”
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