My master died in the month of May, and I followed him to his grave with
a heavy heart, for I felt that I had lost the only friend I had in the
world, who possessed at once the power and the inclination to protect me
against the tyranny and oppression to which slaves on a cotton
plantation are subject.
Had he lived, I should have remained with him and never have left him,
for he had promised to purchase the residue of my time of my owners in
Carolina; but when he was gone, I felt the parting of the last tie that
bound me to the place where I then was, and my heart yearned for my wife
and children, from whom I had now been separated more than four years.
I held my life in small estimation, if it was to be worn out under the
dominion of my mistress and her brothers, though since the death of my
master she had greatly meliorated my condition by giving me frequent
allowances of meat and other necessaries. I believe she entertained some
vague apprehensions that I might run away, and betake myself to the
woods for a living, but I do not think she ever suspected that I would
hazard the untried undertaking of attempting to make my way back to
Maryland. My purpose was fixed, and now nothing could shake it. I only
waited for a proper season of the year to commence my toilsome and
dangerous journey. As I must of necessity procure my own subsistence on
my march, it behoved me to pay regard to the time at which I took it up.
I furnished myself with a fire-box, as it is called, that is, a tin case
containing flints, steel and tinder--this I considered indispensable. I
took the great coat that my master had given me, and with a coarse
needle and thread quilted a scabbard of old cloth in one side of it, in
which I could put my sword and carry it with safety. I also procured a
small bag of linen that held more than a peck. This bag I filled with
the meal of parched corn, grinding the corn after it was parched in the
woods where I worked at the mill at night. These operations, except the
grinding of the corn, I carried on in a small conical cabin that I had
built in the woods. The boots that my master gave me, I had repaired by
a Spaniard who lived in the neighborhood, and followed the business of a
cobbler.
Before the first of August I had all my preparations completed, and had
matured them with so much secrecy, that no one in the country, white or
black, suspected me of entertaining any extraordinary design. I only
waited for the corn to be ripe, and fit to be roasted, which time I had
fixed as the period of my departure. I watched the progress of the corn
daily, and on the eighth of August I perceived, on examining my
mistress' field, that nearly half of the ears were so far grown, that by
roasting them, a man could easily subsist himself; and as I knew that
this corn had been planted later than the most of the corn in the
country, I resolved to take leave of the plantation and its tenants, for
ever, on the next day.
I had a faithful dog, called Trueman, and this poor animal had been my
constant companion for more than four years, without ever showing
cowardice or infidelity, but once, and that was when the panther
followed us from the woods. I was accordingly anxious to bring my dog
with me; but as I knew the success of my undertaking depended on secrecy
and silence, I thought it safest to abandon my last friend, and engage
in my perilous enterprise alone. On the morning of the ninth I went to
work as usual, carrying my dinner with me, and worked diligently at
grubbing until about one o'clock in the day. I now sat down and took my
last dinner as the slave of my mistress, dividing the contents of my
basket with my dog. After I had finished I tied my dog with a rope to a
small tree; I set my gun against it, for I thought I should be better
without the gun than with it; tied my knapsack with my bag of meal on my
shoulders, and then turned to take a last farewell of my poor dog, that
stood by the tree to which he was bound, looking wistfully at me. When I
approached him, he licked my hands, and then rising on his hind feet and
placing his fore paws on my breast, he uttered a long howl, which
thrilled through my heart, as if he had said, "My master, do not leave
me behind you."
I now took to the forest, keeping, as nearly as I could, a North course
all the afternoon. Night overtook me before I reached any watercourse,
or any other object worthy of being noticed; and I lay down and slept
soundly, without kindling a fire or eating any thing. I was awake before
day, and as soon as there was light enough to enable me to see my way, I
resumed my journey and walked on, until about eight o'clock, when I came
to a river, which I knew must be the Appalachie. I sat down on the bank
of the river, opened my bag of meal, and made my breakfast of a part of
its contents. I used my meal very sparingly, it being the most valuable
treasure that I now possessed; though I had in my pocket three Spanish
dollars; but in my situation, this money could not avail me any thing,
as I was resolved not to show myself to any person, either white or
black. After taking my breakfast, I prepared to cross the river, which
was here about a hundred yards wide, with a sluggish and deep current.
The morning was sultry, and the thickets along the margin of the river
teemed with insects and reptiles. By sounding the river with a pole, I
found the stream too deep to be waded, and I therefore prepared to swim
it. For this purpose I stripped myself, and bound my clothes on the top
of my knapsack, and my bag of meal on the top of my clothes; then
drawing my knapsack close up to my head. I threw myself into the river.
In my youth I had learned to swim in the Patuxent, and have seldom met
with any person who was more at ease in deep water than myself. I kept a
straight line from the place of my entrance into the Appalachie, to the
opposite side, and when I had reached it, stepped on the margin of the
land, and turned round to view the place from which I had set out on my
aquatic passage; but my eye was arrested by an object nearer to me than
the opposite shore. Within twenty feet of me, in the very line that I
had pursued in crossing the river, a large alligator was moving in full
pursuit of me, with his nose just above the surface, in the position
that creature takes when he gives chase to his intended prey in the
water. The alligator can swim more than twice as fast as a man, for he
can overtake young ducks on the water; and had I been ten seconds longer
in the river, I should have been dragged to the bottom, and never again
been heard of.
Seeing that I had gained the shore, my pursuer turned, made two or three
circles in the water close by me, and then disappeared.
I received this admonition as a warning of the dangers that I must
encounter in my journey to the North. After adjusting my clothes, I
again took to the woods, and bore a little to the east of north; it now
being my determination to turn down the country, so as to gain the line
of the roads by which I had come to the South. I traveled all day in the
woods; but a short time before sundown, came within view of an opening
in the forest, which I took to be cleared fields, but upon a closer
examination, finding no fences or other enclosures around it, I advanced
into it and found it to be an open savannah, with a small stream of
water creeping slowly through it. At the lower side of the open space
were the remains of an old beaver dam, the central part of which had
been broken away by the current of the stream at the time of some flood.
Around the margin of this former pond, I observed several decayed beaver
lodges, and numerous stumps of small trees, that had been cut down for
the food or fortifications of this industrious little nation, which had
fled at the approach of the white man, and all its people were now, like
me, seeking refuge in the deepest solitudes of the forest, from the
glance of every human eye. As it was growing late, and I believed I must
now be near the settlements, I determined to encamp for the night,
beside this old beaver dam. I again took my supper from my bag of meal,
and made my bed for the night amongst the canes that grew in the place.
This night I slept but little; for it seemed as if all the owls in the
country had assembled in my neighborhood to perform a grand musical
concert.--Their hooting and chattering commenced soon after dark, and
continued until the dawn of day. In all parts of the southern country,
the owls are very numerous, especially along the margins of streams, and
in the low grounds with which the waters are universally bordered; but
since I had been in the country, although I had passed many nights in
the woods at all seasons of the year, I had never before heard so
clamorous and deafening a chorus of nocturnal music.--With the coming of
the morning I arose from my couch, and proceeded warily along the woods,
keeping a continual lookout for plantations, and listening attentively
to every noise that I heard in the trees, or amongst the canebrakes.
When the sun had been up two or three hours, I saw an appearance of blue
sky at a distance through the trees, which proved that the forest had
been removed from a spot somewhere before me, and at no great distance
from me; and, as I cautiously advanced, I heard the voices of people in
loud conversation. Sitting down amongst the palmetto plants, that grew
around me in great numbers, I soon perceived that the people whose
conversation I heard, were coming nearer to me. I now heard the sound of
horses' feet, and immediately afterwards saw two men on horseback, with
rifles on their shoulders, riding through the woods, and moving on a
line that led them past me, at a distance of about fifty or sixty
yards.--Perceiving that these men were equipped as hunters, I remained
almost breathless for the purpose of hearing their conversation. When
they came so near that I could distinguish their words, they were
talking of the best place to take a stand for the purpose of seeing the
deer; from which I inferred that they had sent men to some other point,
for the purpose of rousing the deer with dogs. After they had passed
that point of their way that was nearest to me, and were beginning to
recede from me, one of them asked the other if he had heard that a negro
had run away the day before yesterday, in Morgan county; to which his
companion answered in the negative. The first then said he had seen an
advertisement at the store, which offered a hundred dollars reward for
the runaway, whose name was Charles.
The conversation of these horsemen was now interrupted by the cry of
hounds, at a distance in the woods, and heightening the speed of their
horses, they were soon out of my sight and hearing.
Information of the state of the country through which I was traveling,
was of the highest value to me; and nothing could more nearly interest
me than a knowledge of the fact, that my flight was known to the white
people, who resided round about and before me. It was now necessary for
me to become doubly vigilant, and to concert with myself measures of the
highest moment.
The first resolution that I took was, that I would travel no more in the
day-time. This was the season of hunting deer, and knowing that the
hunters were under the necessity of being as silent as possible in the
woods, I saw at a glance that they would be at least as likely to
discover me in the forest, before I could see them, as I should be to
see them, before I myself could be seen.
I was now very hungry, but exceedingly loath to make any further
breaches on my bag of meal, except in extreme necessity. Feeling
confident that there was a plantation within a few rods of me, I was
anxious to have a view of it, in hope that I might find a corn-field
upon it, from which I could obtain a supply of roasting ears. Fearful to
stand upright, I crept along through the low ground, where I then was,
at times raising myself to my knees, for the purpose of obtaining a
better view of things about me. In this way I advanced until I came in
view of a high fence, and beyond this saw cotton, tall and flourishing,
but no sign of corn. I crept up close to the fence, where I found the
trunk of a large tree, that had been felled in clearing the field.
Standing upon this, and looking over the plantation, I saw the tassels
of corn, at the distance of half a mile, growing in a field which was
bordered on one side by the wood, in which I stood.
It was now nine or ten o'clock in the morning, and as I had slept but
little the night before, I crept into the bushes, great numbers of which
grew in and about the top of the fallen tree, and, hungry as I was, fell
asleep. When I awoke, it appeared to me from the position of the sun,
which I had carefully noted before I lay down, to be about one or two
o'clock. As this was the time of the day when the heat is most
oppressive, and when every one was most likely to be absent from the
forest, I again moved, and taking a circuitous route at some distance
from the fields, reached the fence opposite the corn-field, without
having met anything to alarm me. Having cautiously examined everything
around me, as well by the eye as by the ear, and finding all quiet, I
ventured to cross the fence and pluck from the standing stalks about a
dozen good ears of corn, with which I stole back to the thicket in
safety. This corn was of no use to me without fire to roast it; and it
was equally dangerous to kindle fire by night as by day, the light at
one time and the smoke at another, might betray me to those who I knew
were ever ready to pursue and arrest me. "Hunger eats through stone
walls," says the proverb, and an empty stomach is a petitioner, whose
solicitations cannot be refused, if there is anything to satisfy them
with.
Having regained the woods in safety, I ventured to go as far as the side
of a swamp, which I knew to be at the distance of two or three hundred
yards, by the appearance of the timber. When in the swamp, I felt pretty
secure, but determined that I would never again attempt to travel in the
neighborhood of a plantation in the daytime.
When in the swamp a quarter of a mile, I collected some dry wood and
lighted it with the aid of my tinder-box, flint, and steel. This was the
first fire that I kindled on my journey, and I was careful to burn none
but dry wood, to prevent the formation of smoke. Here I roasted my corn,
and ate as much of it as I could. After my dinner I lay down and slept
for three or four hours. When I awoke, the sun was scarcely visible
through the tree-tops. It was evening, and prudence required me to leave
the swamp before dark, lest I should not be able to find my way out.
Approaching the edge of the swamp, I watched the going down of the sun,
and noted the stars as they appeared in the heavens. I had long since
learned to distinguish the north-star from all the other small
luminaries of the night; and the seven pointers were familiar to me.
These heavenly bodies were all the guides I had to direct me on my way,
and as soon as the night had set in, I commenced my march through the
woods, bearing as nearly due east as I could.
I took this course for the purpose of getting down the country as far as
the road leading from Augusta to Morgan County, with the intention of
pursuing the route by which I had come out from South Carolina; deeming
it more safe to travel the high road by night, than to attempt to make
my way at random over the country, guided only by the stars. I traveled
all night, keeping the north-star on my left hand as nearly as I could,
and passing many plantations, taking care to keep at a great distance
from the houses. I think I traveled at least twenty-five miles to-night,
without passing any road that appeared so wide, or so much beaten as
that which I had traveled when I came from South Carolina. This night I
passed through a peach orchard, laden with fine ripe fruit, with which I
filled my pockets and hat; and before day, in crossing a corn-field, I
pulled a supply of roasting-ears, with which and my peaches, I retired
at break of day to a large wood, into which I traveled more than a mile
before I halted. Here, in the midst of a thicket of high whortleberry
bushes, I encamped for the day. I made my breakfast upon roasted corn
and peaches, and then lay down and slept, unmolested, until after twelve
o'clock, when I awoke and rose up for the purpose of taking a better
view of my quarters; but I was scarcely on my feet, when I was attacked
by a swarm of hornets, that issued from a large nest that hung on the
limb of a tree, within twenty or thirty feet of me.
I knew that the best means of making peace with my hostile neighbors,
was to lie down with my face to the ground, and this attitude I quickly
took, not however before I had been stung by several of my assailants,
which kept humming through the air about me for a long time, and
prevented me from leaving this spot until after sundown, and after they
had retired to rest for the night. I now commenced the attack on my
part, and taking a handful of dry leaves, approached the nest, which was
full as large as a half bushel, and thrusting the leaves into the hole
at the bottom of the nest, through which its tenants passed in and out,
secured the whole garrison prisoners in their own citadel. I now cut off
the branch upon which the nest hung, and threw it with its contents into
my evening fire, over which I roasted a supply of corn for my night's
journey.
Commencing my march this evening soon after nightfall, I traveled until
about one o'clock in the morning, as nearly as I could estimate the time
by the appearance of the stars, when I came upon a road which, from its
width and beaten appearance, seemed to be the road to Morgan County.
After traveling for a day or two near this road, I at last found myself
at daybreak one morning in sight of the home of my late master's friend,
spoken of in our journey to Savannah. I was desperately hungry, and the
idea swayed me to throw myself upon his generosity and beg for food.
It seemed to me that this gentleman was too benevolent a man to arrest
and send me back to my cruel mistress; and yet how could I expect, or
even hope, that a cotton planter would see a runaway slave on his
premises, and not cause him to be taken up and sent home? Failing to
seize a runaway slave, when he has him in his power, is held to be one
of the most dishonorable acts to which a southern planter can subject
himself. Nor should the people of the North be surprised at this. Slaves
are regarded, in the South, as the most precious of all earthly
possessions; and, at the same time, as a precarious and hazardous kind
of property, in the enjoyment of which the master is not safe. The
planters may well be compared to the inhabitants of a national frontier,
which is exposed to the inroads of hostile invading tribes. Where all
are in like danger, and subject to like fears, it is expected that all
will be governed by like sentiments, and act upon like principles.
I stood and looked at the house of this good planter for more than an
hour after the sun had risen, and saw all the movements which usually
take place on a cotton plantation in the morning. Long before the sun
was up, the overseer had proceeded to the field at the head of the
hands; the black women who attended to the cattle, and milked the cows,
had gone to the cowpen with their pails; and the smoke ascended from the
chimney of the kitchen, before the doors of the great house were opened,
or any of the members of the family were seen abroad. At length two
young ladies opened the door, and stood in the freshness of the morning
air. These were soon joined by a brother; and at last I saw the
gentleman himself leave the house and walk towards the stables, that
stood at some distance from the house on my left. I think even now that
it was a foolish resolution that emboldened me to show myself to this
gentleman. It was like throwing one's self in the way of a lion who is
known sometimes to spare those whom he might destroy; but I resolved to
go and meet this planter at his stables, and tell him my whole story.
Issuing from the woods, I crossed the fields unperceived by the people
at the house, and going directly to the stables, presented myself to
their proprietor, as he stood looking at a fine horse in one of the
yards. At first he did not know me, and asked me whose man I was. I then
asked him if he did not remember me; and named the time when I had been
at his house. I then told at once that I was a runaway: that my master
was dead, and my mistress so cruel that I could not live with her: not
omitting to show the scars on my back, and to give a full account of the
manner in which they had been made. The gentleman stood and looked at me
more than a minute, without uttering a word, and then said, "I will not
betray you, but you must not stay here. It must not be known that you
were on this plantation, and that I saw and conversed with you. However,
as I suppose you are hungry, you may go to the kitchen and get your
breakfast with my house servants."
He then set off for the house, and I followed, but turning into the
kitchen, as he ordered me, I was soon supplied with a good breakfast of
cold meat, warm bread, and as much new buttermilk as I chose to drink.
Before I sat down to breakfast, the lady of the house came into the
kitchen, with her two daughters, and gave me a dram of peach brandy. I
drank this brandy, and was very thankful for it; but I am fully
convinced now that it did me much more harm than good; and that this
part of the kindness of this most excellent family was altogether
misplaced.
Whilst I was taking my breakfast, a black man came into the kitchen, and
gave me a dollar that he said his master had sent me, at the same time
laying on the table before me a package of bread and meat, weighing at
least ten pounds, wrapped up in a cloth. On delivering these things, the
black man told me that his master desired me to quit his premises as
soon as I had finished my breakfast.
This injunction I obeyed, and within less than an hour after I entered
this truly hospitable house, I quitted it forever, but not without
leaving behind me my holiest blessings upon the heads of its
inhabitants. It was yet early in the morning when I regained the woods
on the opposite side of the plantation from that by which I had entered
it.