Hearing the News of Emancipation

HARRY SMITH, Fifty Years of Slavery (1891)

Born a slave in 1815, Harry Smith witnessed the violence of slavery firsthand. In his memoir, published in 1891, he remembered a vicious attack against a free African American by rogue Confederates retaliating against Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. The horror of that scene contrasts with his recollection of the day Master Charles Hays reluctantly told his slaves, Harry included, that they were free. Harry was lucky. Many masters hid the news from their slaves until the presence of Union troops forced their hand.

Twelve negro men and women were caught in giving information where a lot of guerrellas were secreted. The men were taken down to salt river, a hole cut in the ice and they were singled out, shot and pushed under the ice.

Nearly one mile from this toll-gate fifty slaves were overtaken, who were on their way to join the Union army, and shot by their friends. Smith assisted in burying all of them.

Smith was a witness to the following inhuman treatment: several negroes were overtaken, on the pike to join the Yankees, by the Southern men, and their ears cut off, they then rode up to a saloon where a Yankee was selling liquor, and after drinking, threw the ears in the saloon-keeper’s face, saying to him, “there you Yankee, is some scrip for you, take that.” And then they passed on to hunt for some one else to practice their beastly treatment on.

Before proceeding further in this work, least it might be neglected, we will relate a horrible and beastly crime which took place under Smith’s observation. An old man who had been free for some time, had no use of his feet being born a cripple, and being a great religious man, he was often found praying. He was taken by the Rebels, holes cut through his thighs large enough to receive his crippled feet, and crossing them, they forced them through the holes and left him to die, which he very soon did. The poor negro praying all the time. They left him in this dying condition with curses on their lips, exclaiming at the same time, “now die you d--d negro, and pray for yourself instead of us.”

It would be impossible to give the reader even a faint idea of all the scenes and circumstances enacted by our Union men, with these notorious guerrillas.

There was great excitement and amusing scenes occured when the slaves on Hay’s plantation heard the news of Lincoln’s emancipation proclamation.

Some days had elapsed after the freedom of the slaves, when a number of Union men were passing, enquired of the slaves if their master had set them free. Massa Hays began to be alarmed for fear of being arrested, in case he did not inform them of their freedom. One morning as the slaves were eating, Massa Hays came in an walked around the table very uneasy, and bracing himself up in the best manner possible, spoke to them in this manner, “Men and women hear me, I am about to tell you something I never expected to be obliged to tell you in my life, it is this: it becomes my duty to inform you, one and all, [women], men and children, belonging to me, you are free to go where you please.” At the same time cursing Lincoln and exclaiming, if he was here, I would kill him for taking all you negroes away from me.

After old Massa had cooled off from this painful duty, he told them to go to the grocery where he had whiskey barreled up and help themselves and get what they wanted. Then commenced a great jubilee among, not only the slaves, but old Massa, and all on the plantation seemed to join in the festivities. Old Massa got drunk and repaired to his room. His daughter, a fine young lady never known to drink, was much the worse for drinking. All were cheering Abraham Lincoln, while old Massa was too drunk to notice much. Old Aunt Bess an old colored woman, and very religious, who looked after the children, as well as the rest, used too much wine and to show her mode of rejoicing, sang old time songs, which added very much to the celebration. Preparations were made and at night dancing was began in earnest, and kept up until morning. Old Massa giving all liberty to help themselves to everything. Some of the slaves did not fully comprehend what it all meant, while others, more intelligent, enjoyed it to the full extent. Never was such a scene witnessed on the plantation before.

The writer cannot picture it to the reader, the rejoicing on this plantation and other places in the vicinity, on the announcement of the freedom of the slaves. Old Aunt Bess exclaimed, “bress de Lord, Im glad de Lord has spared me to see dis great day, my children are all free,” she singing and shouting all the time.

Knowing what a great day this was to the enslaved negro, it is truly no wonder to the intelligent reader that they rejoiced and still keep in memory the emancipation day and will for all future time to come. History will repeat itself, and in ages to come, President Lincoln and many of the brave men will be immortalized.

One month after the announcement of the freedom of the slaves, there was a day appointed in Louisville to celebrate this great event. Senator Palmer and several other noted speakers, both white and black, made appropriate speeches and shout after shout rent the air. Old men and women praised God that they were free. Old plantation songs rent the air. Louisville was alive with people, negroes coming from all over the country. The speeches made by the colored people at this great day would make the sadest heart laugh, while many wept for joy. Music and dancing was indulged in. Every preparation was made to make this day memorable in the annals of history. A number went back and lived with their masters for years, choosing to live in the Sunny South where their joys and sorrows had mingled together so many years.

Massa Hays would explain, after the Yankees were away out of danger, how he would like to serve them, but when he discovered any Yanks he would be sure to keep out of their way. Sometimes he would be asked by the Yankees, “Who lives in that house?” His reply would be Mr. Hays. Telling him that they would like to find the old rebel, Hays would be much pleased when they left him. Then he would blow about the Yankees again, and inform his slaves if he could see a Yankee he would kill him on the spot, always being careful that none of the Yanks were near when he had one of his courageous freaks.

Harry Smith, Fifty Years of Slavery in the United States of America (Grand Rapids, MI: West Michigan Printing Co., 1891), 119–126.

READING AND DISCUSSION QUESTIONS