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
"That belonged to our plantation, and when master had a mind to punish
us he ordered us locked to that block, and from one to a dozen of us
sometimes were locked to it with a long chain; and when we hoed corn
we'd hoe the chain's length, then the one next the block had it to tote
the length of the chain, and so on till we did our day's work. Since
we've been here we've seen nine of our masters chained to that same
block and made to shovel sand on that fortification yonder. There were
forty of us that belonged to our plantation standing in this yard
looking on."
"How did you feel to witness such a scene?"
"O, I can't tell you, madam; but I cried like a baby."
"Why did you cry?"
"O, to think what great things God is doing. Man could never, never do
it."
"Did the others feel as you did?"
"O no, some laughed, and one man said, 'Ah ha, you see now how sweet
'tis to tote the old block, don't you?'"
"Did he say that in his hearing?"
"O no, we's five rods off."
There were a number of houses burned down, May 28th, three miles beyond
our lines. Mrs. Samantha Plumer inquired of Curlie, one of our boys of
the home, if he would take us to that biggest house burning on the Moss
plantation. No sooner was the suggestion made than Curlie got his
ambulance ready for us, and we were soon in front of the smoldering
mansion. The proprietor was raking over the debris for gold and silver
or other imperishable treasure. Among the ashes; were hand-cuffs,
chains, shackles, and other slave-irons. He was occupying one of his
slave cabins, as the long row was vacated by seventy of his former
slaves. He was said to be one of the wealthiest planters in Kentucky.
One year previous to the war, report said he lost seven valuable
slaves, and one from each of three adjoining plantations escaped at the
same time. After a consultation over their loss they placed the blame
of their escape on a carpenter from Illinois, who had been a few weeks
working at his trade in their midst. To be avenged on the poor
carpenter, a band of men came upon him in the night, took him out of
bed, gave him a coat of tar and feathers, and treated him to a ride on
a rail-horse. Then they furnished him with soap and lard with which to
disrobe himself, and charged him to leave the State within twelve
hours, never to be seen there again, or a calamity far exceeding this
would be his portion. All his assertions that he knew nothing whatever
of their slaves were of no avail. He left the State as requested, but
wrote back to the chief leader, Moss, that if an opportunity ever
presented he would be avenged on those who had heaped upon him these
abuses. Mr. Moss said he saw that same carpenter a few days previous to
the house-burning, with three other men, in soldier's dress, but he did
not believe he was a soldier, but only in borrowed clothes, as he did
not think a Union soldier would do so mean a thing. An officer
remarked, however, that he was a hard master and a firm secessionist,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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