Analyze, Synthesize, and Compare and Contrast: African Americans and the Civil War

Analyze, Synthesize, and Compare and Contrast: African Americans and the Civil War Due Date 11/23/2021 Purpose Students will demonstrate the ability to: • Analyze historical facts and interpretations • Analyze and compare political, geographic, economic, social, cultural, religious, and intellectual institutions, structures, and processes across a range of historical periods and cultures • Recognize and articulate the diversity of human experience across a range of historical periods and the complexities of a global culture and society • Draw on historical perspective to evaluate contemporary problems/ issues • Analyze the contributions of past cultures/societies to the contemporary world Skills The purpose of this assignment is to help you practice the following skills that are essential for your success in this course, in college, in the field of History, and in your professional life beyond college: • Analyzing and synthesizing primary documents • Comparing and contrasting experiences and perspectives • Thinking critically about written information Knowledge This assignment will also help you to become familiar with the following important content in this discipline: • The experiences and perspectives of African American soldiers serving in the Union Army during the Civil War • The experiences and perspectives of African American soldiers forced to serve in the Confederate Army during the Civil War • The experiences and perspectives of African Americans enslaved in the South during the Civil War • The experiences and perspectives of African Americans tasting freedom for the first time as the Civil War came to an end. Task Read the excerpts from the letters, WPA project interviews, and the Hughes biography found in Content under American Voices as AV 3. Complete and submit a ten-paragraph written assignment based on this content (and this content alone) addressing each of the four topics below and following the instructions and format for each topic: 1 Compare and contrast the two letters sent home from the war by Lewis Douglass and Spotswood Rice: • What was the context of each letter? (Paragraph one)

• What are the main purposes of each letter? Identify two important messages that each writer wished to impart to his reader. (Douglass – Paragraph two; Rice – Paragraph three) 2 Compare and contrast the Civil War military service of Martin Jackson and Bill Simms: • Identify one way in which the military service of Jackson and Simms was the same and one way in which it was different. (Paragraph four) • In what way did each of the two men reveal where his own sympathies rested in this war? (Paragraph five) 3 Compare and contrast the reactions of Mary Anderson, Louis Hughes, and their plantation masters to the Civil War and its outcome. Specifically: • How did Anderson's "marster" and "missus" react to the approach and imminent arrival of the Union troops and how did they break the news to their slaves? (Paragraph six) • How did Hughes' "Boss," Master Jack, prepare for the arrival of the Yankees? What did Hughes learn about the courage of the "Boss" when time came for him to enlist in the service of the cause and, later, when he learned that the Union troops had arrived on his plantation? (Paragraph seven) • How did Mary and her peers react to the arrival of the Union soldiers on their plantation? Describe the celebration that ensued. (Paragraph eight) • What did Louis and Uncle George do when Union troops appeared in the vicinity of their plantation and why did they risk their lives to return to the plantation? What was significant about the date they reentered Memphis? Describe the scene they became a part of there? (Paragraph nine) 4 What is your most important takeaway from these document excerpts and what makes these 19th century accounts relevant today? • Identify a relevant current issue in the United States and explain how the position a 21st century American takes on this issue could be informed by the history revealed in this set of primary documents. (Paragraph ten) Criteria for Success A submission that follows the instructions provided in the Task above will contain ten paragraphs. No introductory or closing paragraph is required. The name of the assignment, Analyze, Synthesize, and Compare and Contrast: African Americans and the Civil War, should appear at the top of the submission. This assignment is worth up to 100 points. Each of the ten paragraphs is worth up to 10 points. Each paragraph will be scored by content based on the specific questions asked for each – see the rubric for point values. Each paragraph should be concise but complete. Make sure you have addressed the questions as they were asked. Your submission should also be written in complete sentences, be grammatically correct, and contain no spelling errors. Points will be deducted for multiple misspellings, incomplete sentences, and grammatical errors.

One or two direct quotes from each document excerpt are permissible but should be brief. Do not include more than one sentence, or partial sentence, in a quote. When you do choose to use a direct quote, you should identify the source by name within the paragraph. Examples: • Jackson described himself as an "official lugger-in of men that got wounded" and compared his job to that of a Red Cross worker. • Boss declared that he could "whip a half dozen Yankees with my pocket knife." • "Such a day I don't believe Memphis will ever see again," concluded Hughes.

American Voices Assignment 3 African Americans and the Civil War Lewis Douglass Describes the Battle of Fort Wagner, 1863 MORRIS ISLAND. S. C. July 20 The eldest son of escaped slave and abolitionist Frederick Douglass, Lewis Douglass enlisted in the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, the first African American unit recruited to fight for the Union Army. The valor displayed by the 54th at Fort Wagner proved the mettle of Black soldiers to their white fellow soldiers and civilians in the North. MY DEAR AMELIA: I have been in two fights, and am unhurt. I am about to go in another I believe to-night. Our men fought well on both occasions. The last was desperate we charged that terrible battery on Morris Island known as Fort Wagoner, and were repulsed…. I escaped unhurt from amidst that perfect hail of shot and shell. It was terrible. I need not particularize the papers will give a better than I have time to give. My thoughts are with you often, you are as dear as ever, be good enough to remember it as I no doubt you will. As I said before we are on the eve of another fight and I am very busy and have just snatched a moment to write you. I must necessarily be brief. Should I fall in the next fight killed or wounded I hope to fall with my face to the foe. If I survive I shall write you a long letter. DeForrest of your city is wounded George Washington is missing, Jacob Carter is missing, Chas Reason wounded Chas Whiting, Chas Creamer all wounded. The above are in hospital. This regiment has established its reputation as a fighting regiment not a man flinched, though it was a trying time. Men fell all around me. A shell would explode and clear a space of twenty feet, our men would close up again, but it was no use we had to retreat, which was a very hazardous undertaking. How I got out of that fight alive I cannot tell, but I am here. My Dear girl I hope again to see you. I must bid you farewell should I be killed. Remember if I die I die in a good cause. I wish we had a hundred thousand colored troops we would put an end to this war. Good Bye to all Write soon. Your own loving LEWIS (25)

(25) “I Hope to Fall With My Face to the Foe” by Lewis Douglass is in the Public Domain. Missouri Black Soldier to His Daughters, and to the Owner of One of the Daughters [Benton Barracks Hospital, St. Louis, Mo. September 3, 1864] Private Spotswood Rice had enlisted in the 67th U.S. Colored Infantry in February 1864. By this time his wife and five of his children had escaped to freedom and were living in St. Louis. However, two daughters remained on plantations near Glasgow, Missouri where they were owned by Kittey Diggs and her brother F.W. Diggs. Private Rice wrote his daughters that the Union Army was on the way to liberate them, and others, from their bondage. My Children I take my pen in hand to rite you A few lines to let you know that I have not forgot you and that I want to see you as bad as ever now my Dear Children I want you to be contented with whatever may be your lots be assured that I will have you if it cost me my life on the 28th of the mounth. 8 hundred White and 8 hundred blacke solders expects to start up the rivore to Glasgow and above there thats to be jeneraled by a jeneral that will give me both of you when they Come I expect to be with, them and expect to get you both in return. Dont be uneasy my children I expect to have you. If Diggs dont give you up this Government will and I feel confident that I will get you Your Miss Kaitty said that I tried to steal you But I'll let her know that god never intended for man to steal his own flesh and blood. If I had no cofidence in God I could have confidence in her But as it is If I ever had any Confidence in her I have none now and never expect to have And I want her to remember if she meets me with ten thousand soldiers she [will?] meet her enemy I once [thought] that I had some respect for them but now my respects is worn out and have no sympathy for Slaveholders. And as for her cristianantty I expect the Devil has Such in hell You tell her from me that She is the frist Christian that I ever hard say that aman could Steal his own child especially out of human bondage You can tell her that She can hold to you as long as she can I never would expect to ask her again to let you come to me because I know that the devil has got her hot set againsts that that is write now my Dear children I am a going to close my letter to you Give my love to all enquiring friends tell them all that we are well and want to see them very much and Corra and Mary receive the greater part of it you sefves and dont think hard of us not sending you any thing I you father have a plenty for you when I see you Spott & Noah sends their love to both of you Oh! My Dear children how I do want to see you [Spotswood Rice] [Spotswood Rice] to My Children, [3 Sept. 1864], enclosed in F. W. Diggs to Genl. Rosecrans, 10 Sept. 1864, D-296 1864, Letters Received, series 2593, Department of the Missouri, U.S. Army Continental Commands, Record Group 393 Pt. 1, National Archives. WPA Federal Writer’s Project Interviews

African American Military Laborers and Soldiers in the Civil War: Over 2300 former slaves were interviewed during the Great Depression of the 1930s by members of the Federal Writers' Project, a New Deal agency in the Works Progress Administration. Martin Jackson Confederate army: First Texas Cavalry; enslaved in Texas, interviewed in Texas, 1937 I was here in Texas when the Civil War was first talked about. I was here when the War started and followed my young master into it with the First Texas Cavalry [Confederate State of America]. I was here during reconstruction, after the War. I was here during the European World War [1914-1918] and the second week after the United States declared war on Germany I enlisted as cook at Camp Leon Springs. This sounds as if I liked the war racket. But, as a matter of fact, I never wore a uniform ¾ grey coat or khaki coat ¾ or carried a gun, unless it happened to be one worth saving after some Confederate soldier got shot. I was official lugger-in of men that got wounded, and might have been called a Red Cross worker if we had had such a corps connected with our company. My father was head cook for the battalion and between times I helped him out with the mess [military dining hall or tent]. There was some difference in the food served to soldiers in 1861 and 1917! Just what my feelings was about the War, I have never been able to figure out myself. I knew the Yanks were going to win, from the beginning. I wanted them to win and lick us Southerners, but I hoped they was going to do it without wiping out our company…. Bill Simms Confederate & Union armies; enslaved in Missouri, interviewed in Kansas, 1937 When the war started, my master sent me to work for the Confederate army. I worked most of the time for three years off and on, hauling cannons, driving mules, hauling ammunition and provisions. The Union army pressed in on us and the Rebel army moved back. I was sent home. When the Union army came close enough I ran away and joined the Union army. There I drove six-mule team and worked at wagon work, driving ammunition and all kinds of provisions until the war ended. Then I returned home to my old master, who had stayed there with my mother. My master owned about four hundred acres of good land, and had had ten slaves, Most of the slaves stayed at home. My master hired me to work for him. Mary Anderson Enslaved in North Carolina, interviewed in North Carolina, 1937 The war was begun and there were stories of fights and freedom. The news went from plantation to plantation and while the slaves acted natural and some even more polite than usual, they prayed for freedom. Then one day I heard something that sounded like thunder and missus and marster began to walk around and act queer. The grown slaves were whispering to each other. Sometimes they gathered in little gangs in the grove. Next day I heard it again, boom, boom,

boom. I went and asked missus “is it going to rain?” She said, “Mary, go to the ice house and bring me some pickles and preserves.” I went and got them. She ate a little and gave me some. Then she said, “You run along and play.” In a day or two everybody on the plantation seemed to be disturbed and marster and missus were crying. Marster ordered all the slaves to come to the great house at nine o’clock. Nobody was working and slaves were walking over the grove in every direction. At nine o’clock all the slaves gathered at the great house and marster and missus came out on the porch and stood side by side. You could hear a pin drop everything was so quiet. Then marster said, “Good morning,” and missus said, “Good morning, children.” They were both crying. Then marster said, “Men, women and children, you are free. You are no longer my slaves. The Yankees will soon be here.” Marster and missus then went into the house, got two large arm chairs, put them on the porch facing the avenue, and sat down side by side and remained there watching. In about an hour there was one of the blackest clouds coming up the avenue from the main road. It was the Yankee soldiers, they finally filled the mile long avenue reaching from marster’s house to the main Louisburg road and spread out over the mile square grove. The mounted men dismounted. The footmen stacked their shining guns and began to build fires and cook. They called the slaves, saying “You are free.” Slaves were whooping and laughing and acting like they were crazy. Yankee soldiers were shaking hands with the Negroes and calling them Sam, Dinah, Sarah, and asking them questions. They busted the door to the smoke house and got all the hams. They went to the icehouse and got several barrels of brandy, and such a time. The Negroes and Yankees were cooking and eating together. The Yankees told them to come on and join them, they were free. National Humanities Center, 2007: nationalhumanitiescenter.org/pds/. Note: Selections from the narratives are presented as transcribed. Black interviewees often referred to themselves with terms that in some uses are considered offensive. In the WPA narratives, some white interviewers, despite project guidelines, used stereotypical patterns of representing black speech. Excerpts from Thirty Years a Slave: From Bondage to Freedom (1897) by Louis Hughes Louis Hughes was born in 1832 on a plantation outside of Charlottesville, Virginia, the son of a white man and a slave. He remained a slave until he escaped behind Union lines near the end of the Civil War. At a young age, Hughes was separated from his mother and was traded among slave owners until he was purchased by Mr. McGee of Pontotoc, Mississippi. As Union troops closed in around northern Mississippi, Hughes saw his opportunity to escape to Union-held Memphis and, later, with some assistance, managed to return to rescue his wife and children. He and his wife settled in Milwaukee, after brief periods in Cincinnati, Chicago and Canada. Hughes worked as a professional nurse. CH. III SLAVERY AND THE WAR OF THE REBELLION

BEGINNING OF THE WAR I remember well when Abraham Lincoln was elected [Nov. 1860]. Boss and the madam had been reading the papers, when he broke out with the exclamation: “The very idea of electing an old rail splitter to the presidency of the United States! Well, he’ll never take his seat.” When Lincoln was inaugurated [March 1861], Boss, old Master Jack and a great company of men met at our house to discuss the matter, and they were wild with excitement. Was not this excitement an admission that their confidence in their ability to whip the Yankees, five or six to one, was not so strong as they pretended? The war had been talked of for some time, but at last it came. When the rebels fired upon Fort Sumter [April 1861], then great excitement arose. The next day when I drove Boss to town, he went into the store of one Williams, a merchant, and when he came out, he stepped to the carriage, and said: “What do you think? Old Abraham Lincoln has called for four hundred thousand men to come to Washington immediately. Well, let them come; we will make a breakfast of them. I can whip a half dozen Yankees with my pocket knife.” This was the chief topic everywhere. Soon after this Boss bought himself a six shooter. I had to mold the bullets for him, and every afternoon he would go out to practice. By his direction, I fixed a large piece of white paper on the back fence, and in the center of it put a large black dot. At this mark he would fire away, expecting to hit it; but he did not succeed well. He would some- times miss the fence entirely, the ball going out into the woods beyond. Each time he would shoot I would have to run down to the fence to see how near he came to the mark. When he came very near to it — within an inch or so, he would say laughingly: “Ah! I would have got him that time” (meaning a Yankee soldier.) There was something very ludicrous in this pistol practice of a man who boasted that he could whip half a dozen Yankees with a jackknife. Every day for a month this business, so tiresome to me, went on. Boss was very brave until it came time for him to go to war, when his courage oozed out, and he sent a substitute; he remaining at home as a “home guard.” HOPE FOR FREEDOM Ever since the beginning of the war, and the slaves had heard that possibly they might some time be free, they seemed unspeakably happy. They were afraid to let the masters know that they ever thought of such a thing, and they never dreamed of speaking about it except among themselves…. They would laugh and chat about freedom in their cabins; and many a little rhyme about it originated among them, and was softly sung over their work. I remember a song that Aunt Kitty, the cook at Master Jack’s, used to sing. It ran something like this: There’ll be no more talk about Monday, by and by, But every day will be Sunday, by and by. The old woman was singing, or rather humming, it one day, and old lady McGee heard her. She was busy getting her dinner, and I suppose never realized she was singing such an incendiary piece, when old Mrs. McGee broke in upon her: “Don’t think you are going to be free; you darkies were made by God and ordained to wait upon us.” Those passages of Scripture which refer to

master and servants were always cited to us when we heard the Word preached; and they were interpreted as meaning that the relation of master and slave was right and proper — that they were rightly the masters and we the slaves. UNION SOLDIERS PASS THE PANOLA HOME One winter night, while I was at old Master Jack’s, I was awakened by a rumbling noise like that of heavy wagons, which continued steadily and so long a time that I finally concluded it must be an army passing, and such I found to be the case, upon getting up and venturing out, the rumbling which had awakened me being caused by the passing artillery. I was afraid to go out straight to the soldiers, but would take a few steps at a time, then stop and listen behind a tree or the shrubbery. All seemed quiet ⎯ there was no talking. I had listened about twenty minutes when there seemed to be a halt at the creek, some distance from the house. Soon afterwards I heard the command given: “Forward!” I at once made up my mind that they were Yankee soldiers. I got on my knees and crawled to the fence, not daring to go openly, fearing that they might hear or see me and shoot, supposing me to be a spy. I went back into the house and told my wife that they were Yankees who had just passed. “Uncle George,” said I, “this would be a good time for us to go.” “Oh, no,” said he, “we are not quite ready.” Uncle George’s cabin was where my wife and I stayed while at old Master Jack’s. In the morning I to carry a parcel to Como, a place not far from home, to Mr. James McGee, who was in the rebel army. It was not quite daylight when I made ready to go on my trip, for I was anxious to find out more about the soldiers. Going to the stable and saddling my horse, I mounted and rode out to the big gate leading to the main road, just as day was dawning. As I dismounted to open the gate, some soldiers were passing and an officer sung out to me, “Hello! which way are you going.” I said “to Como, to carry this parcel of clothing to my young master in the war.” “You have a fine horse,” said the officer, “I guess I will exchange horses with you.” He took my package of clothing and some letters which I had to mail and my horse, leaving me his, which was a very poor animal…. I supposed that the soldiers had all passed; but in about half an hour Aunt Kitty, on looking out of her cabin window, exclaimed: “My God! just look at the soldiers!” The yard was covered with the blue coats. Another venerable slave said: “My Lord! de year of jubilee am come.” During the excitement I ran to the big house and told the madam that the Yankees were there and had taken my horse and everything I had. Old Master Jack had heard the news but was not able to come out. He had arisen, but, when he knew of the presence of the Yankees, he went back to bed, calling for Kitty to get him a mush poultice. “Tell Kitty-ity-ity to get me a mush poultice-oltice.” It was customary, after the beginning of the war, for him to take sick, and call for a poultice to be put upon his stomach whenever he heard of the Yankees being near. He and many like him were especially valorous only when the blue coats were far away. The soldiers went into the dairy and drank all the milk, helped themselves to butter, cheese, meat, bread and everything in sight

which they wanted. Nothing was said to them by the white folks, but the slaves were glad, and whispered to each other: “Ah! we’s goin’ to be free.”

CH. IV. REBELLION WEAKENING ⎯ SLAVES’ HOPES STRENGTHENING MY FIFTH STRIKE FOR FREEDOM IS A SUCCESS We had remained at old Jack’s until June 1865 and had tried to be content. The Union soldiers were still raiding all through that section. Every day some town would be taken, and the slaves would secretly rejoice….George Washington, a fellow servant, and Kitty, his wife, and I had talked considerably about the Yankees, and how we might get away, We knew it was our right to be free, for the proclamation had long been issued [Jan. 1863] ⎯ yet they still held us. I did not talk much to my wife about going away, as she was always so afraid I would be killed, and did not want me to try any more to escape. But George, his wife, and I continued to discuss the matter whenever we had a chance. We knew that Memphis was headquarters for the Union troops, but how to reach it was the great question. It was Sunday, and I had driven one portion of the family to church, and George the other…. On the way back, young William McGee came up through the farm on horseback, a nearer way home from church, and encountered several servants belonging to some of the neighbors. He asked them what they were doing there, and if they had passes. To this last question all answered no. “Well,” said he, “never come here again without having passes, all of you.” At this they all quickly disappeared. When Old Jack came home, Will told him what had passed, and he immediately called for George and Uncle Peter, the foreman, and told them that no one not belonging there was to come into the quarters without a pass…. George came out, and finding me, told me what they had said. “No slave from outside is to be allowed on the place,” said he. I replied: “If we listen to them we shall be here until Christmas comes again.” “What do you mean?” asked George. “I mean that now, today, is the time to make a start.” So, late in the afternoon, during the servants’ prayer meeting…we thought would be a good time to get away, as no one would be likely to see us…. Our fear was that we might be overtaken by the bloodhounds, and therefore we wished to get as far away as possible before the white people knew we were gone. It was Sunday afternoon, June 26th, 1865, when George and I, having made ready for the start for the Union lines, went to bid our wives good-bye. I told my wife to cheer up, as I was coming again to get her. I said to Kitty, George’s wife: “We are going, but look for us again.” She looked up at me, smiling, and with a look of resolution, said: “I’ll be ready.” She was of a firm, daring nature ⎯ I did not fear to tell her all my plans. As my wife was so timid, I said as little as possible to her. George and I hurriedly said our farewells to our wives. The parting was heart-rending, for we knew the dangers were great, and the chances were almost even that we should not meet again. I could hardly leave my wife, her agitation and grief were so great. But we were off in a few moments. We crept through the orchard, passing

through farm after farm until we struck the railroad, about seven miles from home. We followed this road until we reached Senatobia, about half past seven in the evening. We felt good, and, stopping all night, we started the next morning for Hernando, Miss., another small town, and reached there at two o’clock in the afternoon. The most of the bridges had been burned by the troops, and there were no regular railroad trains. Fortunately, however, flatcars, drawn by horses were run over the road; and on a train of this kind we took passage…. [W]e at last reached Memphis, arriving about seven o’clock Monday evening. The city was filled with slaves from all over the south, who cheered and gave us a welcome. I could scarcely recognize Memphis, things were so changed. We met numbers of our fellow servants who had run away before us, when the war began…. Thursday we went to see Col. Walker, a Union officer, who looked after the colored folks, and saw that they had their rights. When we reached his office we found it so filled with people waiting to see him that we were delayed about two hours before we had an opportunity of speaking with him. When our turn came, we went in and told him that we were citizens of Memphis until the fall of Fort Pillow and Donelson, when our master had run us off with a hundred other slaves into Mississippi…. After a few minutes, I said: “Colonel, we want protection to go back to Mississippi after our wives, who are still held as slaves.” He replied: “You are both free men to go and come as you please.” “Why,” said I, “Colonel, if we go back to Mississippi they will shoot the gizzards out of us.” “Well,” said he, “I cannot grant your request. I would be overrun with similar applications, but I will tell you what you can do. There are hundreds of just such men as you want, who would be glad of such a scout.” We thanked him and left. GOING BACK FOR OUR WIVES After carefully considering the matter, we concluded to go back to Senatobia....It was our hope to find someone at Senatobia to go with us to Panola and protect us in the effort to bring away our wives. So, early in the morning, we set out. Our first stop was at Big Springs camping ground, where we made preparations for refreshing ourselves and spending the night. Just as we had finished building a fire, for cooking and keeping off the mosquitoes, two soldiers came riding up to the spring. “Hello,” said one, “which way are you traveling?” “We are just from Memphis,” said George. “Have you any whisky?” asked one of them. We replied “yes.” “Will you give a fellow a horn?” We answered the question by handing them the bottle. While they were drinking, George and I stepped aside, and, after a few moments talk, we decided to put the question to them of going with us to get our wives. I asked: “Where are you from?” “Senatobia,” replied one. We at once laid our cause before them, telling them what Col. Walker had said regarding our getting someone to go with us on our enterprise. They listened attentively, and when we had finished, one of them asked: “How much whisky have you?” George answered: “Two bottles.” “What do you intend to do when you see the captain at Senatobia?” “Lay our complaint before him,” said I. “Now my friend,” said one of the soldiers, “I am afraid if you go to the captain you will

be defeated. But I’ll tell you what I’ll do. Give my comrade and me one of your bottles of whisky, and we will put you on a straight track. The reason why I say this is that our captain has been sweetened by the rebel farmers. He is invited out to tea by them every evening. I know he will put you off. But I will write a note to some comrades of mine who, I know, will bring you out safe.” A HAZARDOUS TRIP The next morning was Sunday, and we started on, reaching Senatobia about eleven o’clock. We went into the camp, following the directions given us, to go to the last tent in the line; but, when we reached there, the soldiers were out. We lingered around the grounds a short time, then went back, and found them there. We gave them the note; and, after reading it, they simply asked us where we had stopped our wagon. I told them outside the village. “Go there,” said one of them, “and remain until we come out to see you.” Shortly they came out; and, after we had told them what we wanted, the distance to McGee’s, which was about nineteen miles from Senatobia, and had given them such other information as they desired, they concluded that they would go.... In half an hour we were on our way....It was Sunday afternoon; and our having a wagon attracted much attention from the farmers as we passed along. They looked at us so sharply that George and I felt decidedly uneasy, yet we kept up courage and pressed steadily on. After a long and weary ride we reached old Master Jack’s a little after sundown. The soldiers rode into the yard ahead of us, and the first person they met was a servant (Frank) at the woodpile. They said to him: “Go in and tell your master, Mr. McGee, to come out, we want to see him,” at the same time asking for Louis’ and George’s wives. Young William McGee came out and the soldiers said to him: “We want feed for seventy-five head of horses.” McGee said: “We have not got it.” Just then George and I were coming up. We drove in at the gate, through the grove, and passed the woodpile where McGee and the soldiers were talking. McGee had just replied: “We have not got that much feed to spare ⎯ we are almost out.” “Well,” said the soldiers, “we must have it,” and they followed on right after the wagons. As we drove past them, young McGee went running into the house, saying to his mother: “It is Louis and George, and I’ll kill one of them to- night.” This raised quite an alarm, and the members of the family told him not to do that, as it would ruin them. As soon as George and I drove up to the first cabin, which was my wife’s and Kitty’s, we ran in. Kitty met us at the door and said: “I am all ready.” She was looking for us. We commenced loading our wagon with our few things. Meanwhile the soldiers had ridden around a few rods and came upon old Master Jack and the minister of the parish, who were watching as guards to keep the slaves from running away to the Yankees. Just think of the outrage upon those poor creatures in forcibly retaining them in slavery long after the proclamation making them free had gone into effect beyond all question! As the soldiers rode up to the two men they said: “Hello! what are you doing here? Why have you not told these two men, Louis and George, that they are free men

⎯ that they can go and come as they like?” By this time all the family were aroused, and great excitement prevailed. The soldiers' presence drew all the servants near. George and I hurried to fill up our wagon, telling our wives to get in, as there was no time to lose ⎯ we must go at once. In twenty minutes we were all loaded. My wife, Aunt Kitty, and nine other servants followed the wagon. I waited for a few moments for Mary Ellen, sister of my wife, and as she came running out of the white folks’ house, she said to her mistress, Mrs. Farrington: “Good-bye; I wish you good luck.” “I wish you all the bad luck,” said she in a rage. But Mary did not stop to notice her mistress further, and, joining me, we were soon on the road following the wagon. TWO BRAVE MEN Those soldiers were brave indeed. Think of the courage and daring involved in this scheme ⎯ only two soldiers going into a country of which they knew nothing except that every white man living in it was their enemy. The demand which they made for food for seventy-five horses was a clever ruse, invented by them to alarm the McGees and make them think that there was a troop of horses near by, and that it would not be safe for them to offer any resistance to our going away with our wives. Had they thought that there were but two soldiers, it is certain that they would have endeavored to prevent us getting away again, and one or more of us would undoubtedly have been killed. As already stated, nine other slaves followed our wagon as it moved off. They had no hats on; some were bare-footed ⎯ they had not stopped to get anything, but as soon as they saw a chance to get away they went just as they were at the moment… We moved on all night until we came to a creek at four o’clock in the morning of Monday. The banks of the creek were very steep, and as the horses and wagon went down into the stream, the mattress on top of the wagon, upon which my wife and her sister’s children were sitting, was thrown off into the water. Immediately the horses stopped and became balky. It was such a warm night that they did not want to move on out of the water, and would not start, either, until they got ready. As soon as the soldiers saw the mattress slide off with my wife and the children, one of them plunged into the water with his horse, and, in a minute, brought them all out. All had a good ducking ⎯ indeed it seemed like a baptism by immersion. The drenched ones were wrapped in old blankets, and after an hour’s delay we were again on our way. The soldiers said: “Now we must leave you; the time is coming when we must be in camp for roll call. If you are not at our camp when roll call is over, we will come back and see about you.” We had a clear sweep from this point, and we came into Senatobia about nine o’clock in the forenoon. Our two soldier friends, who had brought us out so safely, came out of camp to see us. They cheered us and seemed glad that they had rendered us service. We stopped at the camp until we had dried our clothes and had some breakfast, and then we made our way to Memphis.

OUT OF BONDAGE AT LAST My wife and her sister were shoeless, and the latter had no hat on ⎯ she had hurried out of the house in such excitement that she thought of nothing but getting away. Having to walk some of the way, as all could not ride in the wagon at the same time, we were all tired, dirty and rest-broken, and, on the whole, a pitiful crowd to look at as we came into the city…. Those nine souls that followed us walked the whole distance, arriving shortly after we did. Thousands of others, in search of the freedom of which they had so long dreamed, flocked into the city of refuge, some having walked hundreds of miles. It was appropriately the 4th of July [1865] when we arrived, and, aside from the citizens of Memphis, hundreds of colored refugees thronged the streets. Everywhere you looked you could see soldiers. Such a day I don’t believe Memphis will ever see again ⎯ when so large and so motley a crowd will come together. (29) Attributions (29) Thirty Years a Slave by Louis Hughes is in the Public Domain.