North and South/Civil War journals
1. After the publication of Uncle Tom's Cabin, or Life Among the Lowly. In addition to being an abolitionist tract, Uncle Tom's Cabin was alsoa reflection of life as it was in the mid-nineteenth century. A kinderversion of Shelby appears as the Southerner in the journal entries below. I haven't the time to read, as my good wife has. But what she toldme this evening, about a book that has been circulating among her friends,makes me hopeful that before too long this horror of slavery will be over.I can scarce bear to cross the border into Maryland, what with the owningof slaves so close to home. I can't look into their eyes, the slaves Imeet when I go down into that place. I have heard rumblings aboutBaltimore, how it provides passage for those poor folks escaping crueltyand being owned by another. I hope my children might be spared dealingwith this, but perhaps not as they're almost grown. I'm afraid that if ittakes war to change things, that war will be right here. Gettysburg isn'tfar from Maryland, and from those people I meet down there at market, Isuspect they'd do just about anything to keep their slaves. Except maybein Baltimore, but that's a Sodom of a differe
I heard of the surrender, andall I could think of was what a terrible price we have paid. I don't think therewill be war, though. But I don't think I'll mention it to my wife. And then we'dgo back to caring for them just the same. Pittsburgh Gazette, 3 December 1859:http://history. Those slaves think they can runtheir own lives now, or die trying, but I'm afraid it will be we who dietrying. well, I've heardsome rough things about the Confederate prison camps. I might have to go up toBaltimore, though, and see if there's any truth to this rumor that Northerndo-gooders are sending escaped slaves up North through there. I don't know how we will rebuild, but Igive thanks that my farm and my wife were spared. Meantime, I'm pondering taking what is left and emigrating to theCaribbean; there, I might well be able to build a plantation, as Iunderstand the labor is still available.
Common topics in this essay:
Tom's Cabin,
Clara Barton,
Virginia Maryland,
Gen Grant,
South Northerner,
Plus South,
Anyway Richmond,
Grant Lee,
Potomac River-to,
Baltimore I've,
war don't,
there's war,
i'm afraid,
dear wife,
uncle tom's cabin,
slaves run,
don't war,
live please,
war change,
die trying,
don't yankees,
don't war don't,
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Acceptance Essays
