A Peek Into Civil War Times
By: Tessa Heller
A Slave Letter
Dear Sugar,
Today was a rough winter day. Very stormy and cold. Lilly and James were with me. We were shaking because of the coldness, and terrified that we would get separated like we did when Sam was sold off. I just hate that word SOLD ! When the auctioneer called my number, 23, I froze and my heart stopped. My Master, Master William took me up on the block to be SOLD. When his warm furs of his soft coat touched my bare black skin I felt warmth for just a second. He told the white folk in the crowed that I was a great cook and came when I was called for, but one time I tried to run up North with my children but didn't get very far. I herd nothing besides the wines of Lilly and James but then I herd...
"800" Came out the mouth of a fat white man with a ugly white beard.
"900" Was said by a tall skinny fellow with a whip by his side with a grin on his face.
The numbers kept getting bigger and my children wines got louder and louder.
"1000" I didn't even see who offered that much for me.
"1500 Dollars! " Was said by the tallest most scary looking man in the crowed.
" SOLD for 1500 dollars! "
I dropped to my knees and prayed for the lord to keep my children safe. They both ran to me but my old Master kept them back. I didn't even get to say good-bye, but one day I will see them again.
From,
June ***
Frderic Douglas Interview By Tessa Heller
Tessa: How was your life like on the plantation when you were a child and young adult?
Frederic: Well, I had a decent child hood for being a slave. But as I got older the jobs became harder and hours got longer and longer every day.
Tessa: Through out your life as a slave what kinds of jobs did you have?
Frederic: When I was a little boy I would pull weeds and help the older slaves. When I was older I worked in the fields with all of the other slaves.
Tessa: Why didn't you run away on your first plantation?
Frederic: I was only 7 or 8 years old.
Tessa: When your mom was sold she came to visit you correct?
Frederic: Yes.
Tessa: Okay. Then how did you feel when your mom came to visit you?
Frederic: I was always worried that she would get caught.
Tessa: When you ran away why did you choose a sailor to disguise your self as?
Frederic: I choose a sailor because I worked on a ship sometimes as a slave and new how to do things like a sailor and also new how act like one.
Tessa: When you ran away why didn't you take anyone with you from the plantation?
Frederic: Because I really didn't talk to many people so I didn't know if I could trust them or not so I didn't take anyone else with me.
Tessa: After you ran away and you were a free man why did choose to speak up for women's rights and slave rights?
Frederic: I choose to speak up because women were being treated unfairly as well as slave and I didn't believe that it was fair in no way shape or form.
Tessa: Finally, how did your life impact others?
Frederic: I made people understand that slavery was not fair nor right.
Tessa: This concludes my interview with Frederic Douglass.
Biography of Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman was a well known slave. Although, she did not start the underground railroad she helped out with it.
Harriet was born March 1822. She was one of the 11 children of Harriet and Ben Ross. When she was a child she was hit on her head with a medal pipe. Ever since she started to have bad headaches.
Harriet was married to John Tubman he later died. After he died Harriet later started the underground railroad. Throughout her life time she slaved over 300 slaves. One of them was Nelson Davis. Even know she married twice in her life time she never had any children.
Harriet Tubman lived to be about 91 years old she accomplished many things in her life time. For example, she made a home for needy black children. She also, made 19 trips back in forth to Maryland to help in the underground railroad.
Some things you may not know about Harriet Tubman is that her birth name ( slave name) was Araminta Ross. Also, that she served in the Union Army as a spy and a medic. Finally, when she was little her nickname was Minty.
In conclusion, Harriet Tubman was a well known slave that accomplished many things in her lifetime.
Spoken by Unspoken
Spoken
I walked out to go feed my cow in the morning when I saw men coming in on horse with a confederate flag marching around. I was relived when I saw them leave. After they left my mom told me to go feed the chicken by the barn. She stood there with a basket for me so I went over there by the house to go get it. It had corn in it so I climbed on top of the shelf by the corn field to put the corn away. But I felt scarred when I herd someone or something in the corn field. I was really scared. Then I saw a black person come even closer to me, so I ran as fast as I could. I ran to the porch and hid flat against the house.
" Darlin'! " My momma yelled from inside the house.
"Yes mama. " I answered back from outside the house.
"Come and eat your supper before it gets cold now."
As I ate I saved some rolls from dinner, and rapped them in my dress. I snuck to the attic when ma and pa were sleeping, so I could grab the lantern and some matches. I then lit the lantern and ran to the barn. To find an old lady rocking in a chair. So I ran out of the shed and I saw different men on horseback ridding around my house to I hid myself behind the barn to see what they were doing. When I finally reached my house I saw the men in my living room so I went under the steps and peeked in through the peek hole to see what they were saying to my family.
"Hello Ma'am, Sir. Have you seen this young slave? She escaped 3 nights ago."
"No Sir." My parents answered back.
"But if we do we will be sure to report."
"Thank-you very much for your time. And remember the price on her head is $3,000."
"Have a goodnight."
"You to."
That night I waited for my parents to go to bed again so I could go back to the barn with food. This time I saved meat and some rolls. I had my lantern with me when I went to the barn. I found a little doll made form corn husks laying there for me. I remembered that the doll was a sigh from the underground railroad. So I gave the girl the food. That night I took the doll and went to sleep looking at the big dipper up in the sky.
(THE END)
Letter From The Second Bull Run*
A Letter to Ma and Pa...
Dear, Ma and Pa,
I'm on my way back home so I thought that I should tell you what happened when I was away at the Second Bull Run. On August 28th Jackson who is on the confederate side. Came over and attacked us because he wanted to go into battle with us. The next day we launched a series of attacks against Jackson and his army of men. Finally, our left flank got crushed so we went back to Bull Run defeated. Thankfully, I am one of the 13,824 people that went and survived. But, I was one of the 8,215 people that were wounded. And I pray for the families that lost one of the 1,716 that were killed or 3,893 captured.
Love,
Tommy