A Woman's Life-Work — Labors and Experiences of Laura S. HavilandHaviland, Laura S. (Laura Smith)
Religion
A Woman's Life-Work — Labors and Experiences of Laura S. Haviland
Haviland, Laura S. (Laura Smith)
Freed persons; Haviland, Laura S. (Laura Smith), 1808-1898; Underground Railroad
On May 17, 1863, I called at Dr. Warrener's office on my way to General
Veach's office for transportation to Cairo, but designed calling at
Island No. 10 and Columbus, Kentucky. The doctor kindly offered to take
my papers and get transportation and pass from the provost marshal for
me, and allow me to rest the while. I was glad to accept the favor; but
he soon returned, rather discouraged, and said, "I think the general
rather cross today, and I don't know whether you'll get transportation
or not. After reading your papers he asked where you were, and I told
him you looked tired and were resting in my office, and I offered to do
this errand for her, as it would save her a mile of walk. 'I'd like to
see the lady,' he said, as he handed back your papers; and you'll have
to go and see him." Here was another narrow place. I took my papers to
General Veach in haste, as there was a boat which I was anxious to take
going up the river that afternoon. I entered his office and handed him
my papers, telling him I hoped to receive the favor of an order for
transportation to Cairo, with the privilege of stopping at Island No.
10 and Columbus. He neither asked me a question nor opened my papers,
but threw them to his clerk, with directions to give the order. Then he
sent it to the quartermaster to fill. On my return I called on the
provost-marshal and secured my pass. Said the doctor, "What did the
general say?"
"Nothing," I answered; "he only looked at me when I gave him my papers,
and passed them over to his clerk to make the order."
"I think he might just as well have sent them by me; but the general
hadn't seen a Union woman for so long, he just wanted to take a look at
one."
I was soon on the steamer that took me from this city of many exciting
scenes. Here I learned the sequel of my Tennessee correspondents,
formerly mentioned, and was shown the house where they had both lain
dead men.
I found on the island many waiting for the remainder of my supplies.
The number in camp had now reached about 3,000. I also spent a little
time at Fort Pillow, where a company of ex-slaves, thirty-seven in
number, had just made their escape from their old home. They had
traveled all night to get to our lines. They took two mules and two
carts to bring their bundles and little folks. Men, women, and larger
children walked twenty-five miles, to get to Fort Pillow. "What time
did you start?" I asked one of the tired women. "Early moonrise," was
the reply. That was about 11 o'clock P. M., and they had made all
possible speed to get to our lines, and seemed very much pleased to get
clear of pursuers, as some in their neighborhood had been shot and
killed in their attempt to come. The officers took charge of the mules
and carts, and sent the people to Island No. 10. Here I took a steamer
for Columbus.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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