March 10, 1861 (Sunday)

Stories about slaves....

A number of stories showed up today on a number of sites about slaves as the Civil War approached.  Below are links to those stories.


("A Glimmer in the Darkness" by Adam Goodheart writing for Disunion--New York Times, March 9, 2011)  A couple of stories about slaves escaping their masters and looking for Union help in protecting them in Charleston and Florida.  A look initially on Lincoln's understanding of the Fugitive Slave Laws that existed and a comment by Fredrick Douglass on his Inaugural address.


From Baptists and the American Civil War, March 3, 1861, an article on Edward Bates of Missouri who was appointed Postmaster General who no longer owns slaves.  His story of releasing his slaves is recorded in the New York Times. 


From Baptists and the American Civil War, March 7, 1861, an article on President Lincoln's barber which leads to certain tensions.


(From the War Diary of a Union Woman in the South, March 10, 1861:  Hat tip Daily Chronicles of the American Civil War.)    As the tension grew in the days before the outbreak of the war at Fort Sumter, some comments about slaves and how they were handled by some.


From Seven Score and Ten, Keziah Brevard's Diary, March 9, 1861:  She, (a widow, fifty-year old slave owner), complains about the impudence she takes from slaves...she calls them "sausy."

And a letter written to Ma and Pa, from a recruit at the Virginia Military Institute, March 10, 1861.  Hat tip Daily Chronicles of the American Civil War.


From the Lincoln Log, March 10, 1861:  The Lincoln family attends church at the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington.  Also, Civil War Daily Gazette has an article on this today, "Quiet Sunday and a Daring Plan."