M'GEES SLAVES TAKEN TO ALABAMA
While I was absent on my last runaway trip,
the Yankees had made a raid through Panola; and our people had
become greatly frightened. As soon as they had got back with
me and my fellow runaways, they assembled a gang of slaves for
the purpose of taking them to Atlanta, Ga., to get them out
of the reach of the Union soldiers. Among the slaves selected
for the transfer were myself, my wife Matilda, and the seamstress.
The others all belonged to Dr. Dandridge and Blanton McGee.
Both the Drs. Dandridge went with us to Atlanta. We traveled
across the country until we came to Demopolis, Alabama, where
we found Boss camped on the bank of the Tombigbee river with
all the farm slaves from Bolivar county. This was the first
time I had seen Boss since he was captured and taken to Helena.
As my wife and I were the only ones in the gang who belonged
to Boss, we left those with whom we had come and joined his
gang. We all then went aboard a boat and were taken to the salt
works, situated on the Tombigbee, ninety miles from Mobile.
These salt works belonged to the rebel government. The first
president of the works was Mr. Woolsey, of Salem, Alabama. During
Mr. Woolsey's term, the first part of 1864, when we had been
there some time, he wrote to Boss asking if he would sell myself
and wife, and offering $3,000 for both of us. Boss was indignant
at this and curtly refused. My wife acted as cook at the salt
works, in the headquarters for the president, managers and clerks.
Mr. Woolsey was delighted with her cooking; her bread and rolls,
he said, could not be surpassed.
M'GEE'S GREAT SCHEME
When the election of officers of the works
came off in the fall, Mr. Gallatin McGee was chosen president.
Boss then hired us all, about 100 in number, to labor in these
works, but he, of course, received all the revenue. The work
assigned me was that of butler at headquarter, and my wife was
cook. Both women and children, as well as men, were employed
in these works. After some months labor her, soon after Gallatin
McGee became president, Matilda and I were removed to the Montgomery
headquarter, where we remained until nearly Christmas. A few
days before that time, Boss came to Montgomery and arranged
for us to meet him in Mobile. We started at the appointed time,
reached the city in the morning, and I went directly to the
hotel where he told me he would be. I found him at once, and
he informed me all about his plans for the future, and what
he expected to accomplish. He had purchased an island in the
bay, a little way from Mobile, where he had decided to establish
salt works of his own. All the brick and lumber for the buildings
had been carried there, and work upon them was to be commenced
immediately after Christmas. He intended to make a home for
the family on the island; and, as soon as he could complete
the works, to remove all his hands from the government works
to his own. He was very enthusiastic over this scheme, claiming
that he would make far more money by it than he was then receiving
from hiring out his slaves. He told me that he would remain
in Mobile two or three days and would go to Panola to spend
the holidays, after which he intended to bring all the family
to Mobile, and remain there until the island was in readiness
to be occupied. There was to be a general break up of the old
home, and the beginning of a new manner of life. I stayed in
his room at the hotel all the forenoon, listening to his plans;
then I went back where my wife was stopping. As I left his room,
he said: "Lou," as he always called me, "I will
see you and Matilda at the boat this evening." We went
to the boat at the appointed time and saw the Boss, but he did
not come near us. As the boat was about to put off, I look and
saw him walking up and down the levee, apparently much excited,
running his hands nervously through his hair—a habit common
to him when he was worried. He seemed greatly distressed. The
military situation troubled him, for the Union army had conquered
nearly everything; and the fact now stared him in the face that
he would soon lose his slaves. He never dreamed in the beginning
of the war that the Unionists would conquer, and that the slaves
would be free; but now he saw that not only all his wealth in
the bodies and souls of men was slipping away from him, but
that much, if not all of the gain which these chattels had brought
him was likely to "take wings and fly away."
M'GEE'S DEATH
We returned to the salt works the morning after
leaving Mobile. Boss remained two days in Mobile, and then started
for Panola, the home of his father-in-law; but, on his way,
he was taken sick, having contracted a heavy cold which ran
into pneumonia, and he lasted only a short time, dying on New
Year's day. He had taken cold in bringing the slaves from Bolivar
over the river on barges. The river was overflowed about fifty
miles out, and the only way he could get the slaves across was
by using large barges made of logs. They were several days floating
down in this way, before he could get out to the railroad at
Jackson, Miss., where he transferred them to the cars. This
was too much of an exposure and it killed him.
After Boss died all the plans were changed.
Col. Hunting, son-in-law of old Master Jack, came down to the
salt works and hired us all out there for another year. This
was the beginning of the year 1865. Of master's plans concerning
the island and his proposed salt works the family knew little,
for they questioned me closely as to what he told me of the
matter. What he spent on the island in lumber, brick, etc.,
was lost, as they knew nothing of the particulars of the expenditure.
The madam remained at her fathers, and the slaves at the works.
I MAKE SOME MONEY
As I was here for another year, acting as butler,
thought I would try and see if I could not make some money for
myself. I asked Mr. Brooks, the manager of the works, if he
could get me some tobacco by sending to Mobile for it. He said
he could; and on the fourth day thereafter, in the evening,
it came. It was anxious to get it the same evening, but Mr.
Brooks said: "Oh! I guess you had better wait until morning,
then when you finish your work come down to the office and get
it — you will then have more time to see the boys in the
works." In the morning I was up early, and after doing
my morning work I was off to Brooks' office. When I went in
he said: "There it is under the table." The package
was so small I felt disappointed — a hundred dollars worth
ought to be more, said I to my self; but I took it, and went
out among the men. I thought I would try to sell it at five
dollars a plug, and if I could not sell it at that I would take
four dollars. I must make something, for I had borrowed the
money to buy it with; and I saw that to clear anything on it,
I must at least get four dollars a plug. The money which I had
borrowed was from three fellow servants, who had been fortunate
in earning some little time and had saved their money. The first
man I met in the works bought two plugs, at five dollars each;
and after I had been there about an hour all was sold. So I
went back with a light heart. Mr. Brooks said to me at dinner:
"Well, how did you get along with your tobacco?" "I
did very well," I said, "the only trouble was I did
not have enough. I sold it for $180." "Well,"
said he, "if you did, you made more clear money than the
works here. How much a plug did you sell it for?" at the
same time drawing out his pencil and commencing to figure it
up. "I had thirty-six plugs," said I, "and I
sold them for five dollars a plug." Nothing more was said
just then, but after dinner Brooks and two of the clerks went
out on the veranda to smoke. When they were in a good way smoking,
Brooks slipped into the dining room, and said: "Well, that
was fine; you got five dollars a plug for the tobacco?"
"Oh, yes!" I said, "tobacco is scarce, and they
were hungry for it; it went like hot cakes — the price
was not questioned, I sold at once." "What is the
prospect for selling more?" he asked. "Will you sell
it for half the profit if I furnish the tobacco?" I said
"yes." So he sent the same day for a box of tobacco
— about five hundred plugs. When the tobacco came the
box was sawed in two and one-half sent up to my room. I put
some fellows out as agents to sell for me — Uncle Hudson,
who took care of the horses and mules at the works; John at
the hospital; William, head chopper, among the 100 men in the
woods. Each brought in from $40.00 to $50.00 every two or three
days, and took another supply. Sometimes, when I had finished
my work in the afternoon, I would get an old pony and go around
through the neighborhood and sell four or five plugs. It was
a mystery to the servants how I got the tobacco; but I did not
let on that Brooks was backing me. In two weeks we had taken
in $1,600.00, and I was happy as I could be. Brooks was a fine
fellow — a northerner by birth, and did just what he said
he would. I received one-half of the money. Of course this was
all rebel money, but I was sharp, and bought up all the silver
I could find. Just as we got on the other half of the box, Brooks
received word that the Yankees were coming, and to send all
the hands to their masters. I was glad that I had made some
money, knowing that I would need it if I gained my freedom,
which I now knew was quite probable, as the Union forces were
gaining ground everywhere. But the message ended my money-making,
and I prepared to go home to Panola.
GOING BACK TO PANOLA
Mr. Brooks fixed the return papers so that
my wife and I could leave the party of slaves at Demopolis,
and go on thence to Panola by rail, to convey the news to madam
that all hands were coming home; that the Yankees were expected
to capture the salt works within a short time. At Jackson, some
seven miles from the salt works, we were delayed over night
by reason of lack of facilities for crossing the Tombigbee river.
The report that the Yankees were coming through had created
a panic among the white people; and hundreds, fleeing from their
homes, had gathered at the river, waiting and clamoring for
an opportunity to cross. Though slaves were property, and valuable
on that account, the whites seemed to think that their own lives
were in danger, and to be protected first. They therefore took
precedence of us. In the morning about seven o'clock a steamer
was seen coming at a distance; but it could not be discovered
at once just what the character of it was. The whites became
alarmed. Some said: "The Yankees are coming." Other
said: "It is a gun boat—they will surely fire on
us." But as the boat drew near the people saw that there
was nothing to fear—it was only the regular passenger
boat. Besides the hundreds of people, there were scores of wagons,
filled with household goods to go over, and the passage was
slow and tedious We finally got across and traveled as far as
Demopolis, where Matilda and I left the other slaves, and took
a train and went on to Panola. I delivered the papers to the
madam from Brooks, which told her all the particulars concerning
the break up at the salt works. She sent wagons right away after
the other slaves who were coming back on foot. They were not
brought back to Panola; but were hired out to different farmers
along the road home — some in Jackson, some in Granda
and others in Panola town. These were all small towns in Mississippi.
My wife and I went to work at old Master Jack's, I on the farm
and my wife at her old duties in the house. We longed for freedom,
but were content for the time with hoping and praying for the
coming of the day when it should be realized. It was sad to
see the changes that had come to the white folks. Sorrow had
left its impress upon all and we felt it, notwithstanding all
that we had suffered at their hands. Boss had willed the homestead
in Memphis to Mrs Farrington, and she was getting ready to take
possession. He had borrowed a great amount of money from her
when he bought the island at Mobile; and the rapid coming on
of the end of the rebellion destroyed all prospect of the success
of his salt works scheme, even before his death, and really
rendered him bankrupt. Hence the transfer of the Memphis property
to her was the only way he could make good what he owed her.
The madam now had no home, but was compelled to stay with her
father, old Master Jack. She was sadly changed — did not
appear like the same person. Her troubles and sorrows had crushed
her former cruel and haughty spirit. Her mother had died a few
months before, and then her husband had followed, dying suddenly
and away from home. Then much of her property had been lost,
and social pleasures and distinction were gone forever. Who
shall say that the wrongs done her poor, helpless slaves were
not avenged in this life? The last I knew of her she was still
at her father's.
INCIDENTS
A servant who belonged to Dr. Dandridge ran
away and got to Memphis just after it was captured by the Union
soldiers. He was put into the army and was stationed at one
of the entrances to the city. He was to halt all persons passing
to or from the city, no difference who they were, and learn
their names and their business. Young William McGee and his
sister, Miss Cherry, one day went up to Memphis and, to their
surprise, were halted by this former servant of their uncle.
When they came home they were speaking of it to their father,
and old Master Jack said: "And you halted, did you?"
"Why, yes," replied William, "we had to do it."
"Well," said the old man, "I would have died-died
before I would have done it. To think that a servant should
have halted you, and one who has belonged to the family like
Anderson!" This old man, notwithstanding all his boasting
in the absence of immediate danger, was the verriest coward
when danger was present; and if he had been in the place of
young William, he would have halted with the greatest alacrity.
While at the salt works I had a little experience
at nursing. A fellow slave was taken ill, and I was called on
to care for him at night. I always liked this work; it was a
pleasure to me to be in the sick room. Typhoid fever was a new
case to me, but I remembered what instructions Boss had given
me about it. I "pitched in" to do what I could; but
the fever was so great he lasted only a few days.
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 secretely rejoice. After we came back from
Alabama we were held with a tighter rein than ever. We were
not allowed to go outside of the premises. 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—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. The family was
now very large, as the madam and her family were there, in addition
to Old Master Jack's, and all could not go in one carriage.
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; and any servant with a pass should be brought to the house,
that the pass might be impressed. They thought, or feared, that
if the servants were permitted to come together freely they
might plan ways of escape, and communicate to each other what
they knew about the war and the Yankees. 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,
of which I have heretofore spoken, we thought would be a good
time to get away, as no one would be likely to see us. We talked
with John Smith, another servant, and told him all about our
plan, asking him not to say a word about our being gone until
he was through feeding the stock. This would give us another
hour to advance on our journey, as the feeding usually took
about that time—from six o'clock until seven. 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
know 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. It will not
be with us as with so many others, who have gone away, leaving
their families and never returning for them. We will be here
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, flat cars, drawn by horses were run over
the road; and on a train of this kind we took passage. On several
occasions, the passengers had to get out, and push the car over
a bridge, as it was not made so horses could cross on it, the
horses meantime being driven or led through the stream, and
then hitched to the car again. After we had gone through this
process repeatedly, we 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. Tuesday and Wednesday we spent in making
inquiries; and I visited our old home at McGee's station. But
how different it was from what it had been when the McGees were
there. All was changed. 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, and thence to the salt works in Alabama. He
questioned us as to where we lived in Memphis. I answered: "What
is now headquarters of the Union forces was the home of master,
Mr. Edmund McGee, who is now dead." 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 can not 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 and see the captain of the
Union troops there. The next day, Friday, we hired a two horse
wagon, and made preparations to start on our perilous undertaking
Saturday morning. It was our hope to find some one 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 some one
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."
We agreed at once to this proposition, and gave them the whisky.
He wrote the note, and gave it to us, telling us to go to the
last tent on the line in the camp, where we would find two boys
to whom we should give it. "They are brave," said
he, "and the only two I know of that can help you. If they
are not there don't give the note to any one else, but wait
till they come back, on Tuesday night. I feel satisfied that
they will go and help you out." With these words, they
rode off. George and I felt good over our prospects.
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. "We want to be back,"
said I, "before daylight Monday morning, because we must
not be seen on the road; for we are well known in that section,
and, if discovered, would be captured and killed." "Well,"
said one of the soldiers, "we will have to go back to camp,
and arrange to be excused from roll call this evening, before
we can make the trip." They went back to camp; and, in
about ten minutes they came out again saying: "All is right;
we will go." We gave them each ten dollars; and promised,
if they brought us out safely, to give each ten dollars more.
It was now about half-past eleven o'clock. They had to go to
camp, and slip their horses out cautiously, so as not to be
seen by the captain. In half an hour we were on our way; and,
after we had ridden some two miles, we were overtaken by the
two soldiers. 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 taking. 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 soldier's 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 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
As already stated, nine other slaves followed
our wagon, as it moved off. They had no hats on; some were bare-footed,
— they had no stopped to get anything; but, as soon as they
saw a chance to get away, they went just as they were at the
moment. Aunt Kitty was brave and forethoughtful, for during
the week we were gone she had baked and cooked a large amount
of substantial food that would keep us from starving while on
our journey.
At the first road crossing, the two soldiers
thought they saw a large troop of soldiers in the distance,
and they galloped ahead of us at full speed; but, on arriving
at the spot, they found that what they had thought soldiers
were only herd of cattle. They rode on to the next crossing,
we following as we conveniently could. Each poor slave was busy
with his thoughts and his prayers. Now and then one would hear
a moan or a word from some of the party. All were scared, even
though the soldiers were with us. We came to the next cross
road, and passed that safely. Our fear was that the McGees might
get the neighborhood to join them and pursue us, or send the
home guards after us; but Providence was seemingly smiling upon
us at last, for no one followed or molested us. 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 gave them each the second ten
dollars, as agreed upon, and just as they rode to the top of
the hill they left us. 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. One venerable old man, bent with age, whose ebony
face shone with delight, came running out into the road as we
appeared, exclaiming: "Oh! here dey come, God bless 'em!
Poor chil'en! they come fannin." We used large palm leaves
to fan ourselves with, as we were so warm. 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 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. Our two soldier rescuers looked us up after we
were in Memphis, and seemed truly glad that we had attained
our freedom, and that they had been instrumental in it. Only
one thing we regret, and that is that we did not learn their
names; but we were in so much trouble, and so absorbed in the
business which we had in hand — so excited by the perils
of our undertaking, that we never thought to ask them their
names, or to what regiment they belonged. Then, after we got
to Memphis, though we were most grateful for the service which
they had rendered us, we were still so excited by our new condition
and surroundings that we thought of little else, and forgot
that we had no means of establishing, at a later time, the identity
of those to whom we owed so much. Freedom, that we had so long
looked for, had come at last; and we gave praise to God, blessing
the day when we met those two heroes. It is true that we should
have been free, sooner or later; still, but for their assistance,
my wife and I might never have met again. If I could not have
gone back, which I could never have done alone, until long after,
such changes might have occured as would have separated us for
years, if not forever. Thousands were separated in this manner
— men escaping to the Union lines, hoping to make a way
to return for their families; but, failing in this, and not
daring to return alone, never saw their wives or children more.
Thanks to God, we were guided to these brave soldiers, and so
escaped from so cruel a fate.
A WORD FOR MY OLD MASTER
In closing this account of my years of bondage,
it is, perhaps, but justice to say of my old master that he
was in some respects kinder and more humane than many other
slaveholders. He fed well, and all had enough to wear, such
as it was. It is true that the material was coarse, but it was
suited to the season, and, therefore, comfortable, which could
nor truthfully be said of the clothing of the slaves of other
planters. Not a few of these did not have sufficient clothes
to keep them warm in winter; nor did they have sufficient nourishing
and wholesome food. But while my master showed these virtues,
similar to those which a provident farmer would show in the
care of his dumb brutes, he lacked in that humane feeling which
should have kept him from buying and selling human beings and
parting kindred — which should have made it impossible for
him to have permitted the lashing, beating and lacerating of
his slaves, much more the hiring of an irresponsible brute,
by the year, to perform this barbarous service for him. The
McGees were charitable — as they interpreted the word — were
always ready to contribute to educational and missionary funds,
while denying, under the severest penalties, all education to
those most needing it, and all true missionary effort — the
spiritual enlightenment for which they were famishing. Then
our masters lacked that fervent charity, the love of Christ
in the heart, which if they had possessed they could not have
treated us as they did. They would have remembered the golden
rule: "Do unto others as ye would that men should do to
you." Possessing absolute power over the bodies and souls
of their slaves, and grown rich from their unrequited toil,
they became possessed by the demon of avarice and pride, and
lost sight of the most vital of the Christly qualities.
Chapter
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