Freedom's Journey: African American Voices of the Civil War (The Library of Black America series)

Freedom's Journey: African American Voices of the Civil War (The Library of Black America series)

Language: English

Pages: 570

ISBN: 1556525214

Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub


Some were slaves who endured their last years of servitude before escaping from their masters; some were soldiers who fought for the freedom of their brethren and for equal rights; some were reporters who covered the defeat of their oppressors. Here, for the first time, are collected the testimonies of African Americans who witnessed the Civil War. They include the great abolitionist Frederick Douglass on the meaning of the war; Martin R. Delany on his meeting with Lincoln to gain permission to raise an army of African Americans; Susie King Taylor on her life as a laundress and nurse to a Union regiment in the deep South; Elizabeth Keckley, Mary Todd Lincoln's seamstress, on Abraham Lincoln's journey to Richmond after its fall; Elijah P. Marrs on rising from slave to Union sergeant while fighting for his freedom in Kentucky; letters from black soldiers to black newspapers; and much more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

they have the best right to it. We had made up our minds to dispense with all luxuries and even many conveniences; but it was rather distressing to have no fire, and nothing to eat. Mr. [John] H[unn]. had already appropriated a room for the store which he was going to open for the benefit of the freed people, and was superintending the removal of his goods. So L[izzie]. and I were left to our own resources. But Cupid the elder came to the rescue,—Cupid, who, we were told, was to be our right-hand

Patience—dat’s my wife—an’ de chil’en down to a certain pint, an’ den I could come back, if I choose. Jus’ as if I was gwine to be sich a goat!” added he, with a look and gesture of ineffable contempt. He and the rest of the people, instead of obeying their master, left the place and hid themselves in the woods; and when he came to look for them, not one of all his “faithful servants” was to be found. A few, principally house-servants, had previously been carried away. In the evenings, the

man sellers. It is pleasant to witness the measured pace of some dark sentinel before the houses of persons who, without doubt, were out-spoken rebels until the Union army entered the city, owing the security which they feel to the vigilance of the negro guard. When the army occupied the city there were innumerable inquiries for Jeff Davis, but to all of which the answer was made that he went off in great haste night before last, with all the bag and baggage which he could carry. The future

party was clothed in the Federal uniform. The party proved to be one, who, like ourselves, were fleeing from the rebels at Glasgow, they, too, having been ordered to that point, but discovered the town to be in their possession. That we were all made happy at the result of our surprise it is needless to say, and the men of both companies cried, laughed, and rejoiced that our meeting had not been with our common enemy. We rested all night on our arms, and kept a bright look out until daylight.

soldiers, on seeing me, were about to break ranks, but were soon brought to time by the Captain. About 2 o’clock we got aboard of the boat, bound for Columbus, Ky. We started on Sunday and arrived at our destination on the following Tuesday evening at about 3 o’clock—slow traveling. It rained all the time, and I had to sleep on the hurricane roof. Lee had surrendered and Marrs was pretty near ready to do the same thing. We remained there a part of the winter of 1865, when I was again relieved

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