CHAPTER VII.

by Solomon Northup

　　CHAPTER VII.THE STEAMBOAT RODOLPH DEPARTURE FROM NEW-ORLEANS "WILLIAMFORD ARRIVAL AT ALEXANDRIA, ON RED RIVER RESOLUTIONS THEGREAT PINE WOODS WILD CATTLE MARTIN'S SUMMER RESIDENCETHE TEXAS ROAD ARRIVAL AT MASTER FORD'S ROSE MISTRESSFORD SALLY, AND HER CHILDREN JOHN, THE COOK WALTER, SAM,AND ANTONY THE MILLS ON INDIAN CREEK SABBATH DAYSSAM'S CONVERSION THE PROFIT OF KINDNESS RAFTING ADAM TAT-DEM, THE LITTLE WHITE MAN CASCALLA AND HIS TRIBE THE INDIANBALL JOHN M. TIBEATS THE STORM APPROACHING.On leaving the New-Orleans slave pen, Harry andI followed our new master through the streets, whileEliza, crying and turning back, was forced along byFreeman and his minions, until we found ourselves onboard the steamboat Rodolph, then lying at the levee.In the course of half an hour we were moving brisklyup the Mississippi, bound for some point on Red Riv-er. There were quite a number of slaves on boardbeside ourselves, just purchased in the New-Orleansmarket. I remember a Mr. Kelso w, who was said tobe a well known and extensive planter, had in chargea gang of women.Our master's name was William Ford. He residedthen in the " Great Pine TVoods," in the parish ofAvoyelles, situated on the right bank of Red River,

　　90 TWELVE YEAKS A SLATE.in the heart of Louisiana. He is now a Baptistpreacher. Throughout the whole parish of Avoyelles,and especially along both shores of Bayou Boeuf,where he is more intimately known, he is accountedby his fellow-citizens as a worthy minister of God.In many northern minds, perhaps, the idea of a manholding his brother man in servitude, and the trafficin human flesh, may seem altogether incompatiblewith their conceptions of a moral or religious life.From descriptions of such men as Burch and Freeman,and others hereinafter mentioned, they are led to de-spise and execrate the whole class of slaveholders, in-discriminately. But I was sometime his slave, andhad an opportunity of learning well his character anddisposition, and it is but simple justice to him when 1» say, in my opinion, there never was a more kind, no-ble, candid, Christian man than William Ford. Theinfluences and associations that had always surround-ed him, blinded him to the inherent wrong at the bot-tom of the system of Slavery. He never doubted themoral right of one man holding another in subjection.Looking through the same medium with his fathersbefore him, he saw things in the same light. Broughtup under other circumstances and other influences,his notions would undoubtedly have been different.Nevertheless, he was a model master, walking up-rightly, according to the light of his understanding,and fortunate was the slave who came to his posses-sion. Were all men such as he, Slavery would be de-prived of more than half its bitterness.

　　WILLIAM FOED. 91"We were two days and three nights on board thesteamboat Rodolph, during which time nothing ofparticular interest occurred. I was now known asPiatt, the name given me by Burch, and by which Iwas designated through the whole period of my ser-vitude. Eliza was sold by the name of " Dradey."She was so distinguished in the conveyance to Ford,now on record in the recorder's office in ISTew-Or-leans.On our passage I was constantly reflecting on my sit-uation, and consulting with myself on the best courseto pursue in order to effect my ultimate escape.Sometimes, not only then, but afterwards, I was al-most on the point of disclosing fully to Ford the factsof my history. I am inclined now to the opinion itwould have resulted in my benefit. This course wasoften considered, but through fear of its miscarriage,never put into execution, until eventually my transferand his pecuniary embarrassments rendered it evi-dently unsafe. Afterwards, under other masters, un-like William Ford, I knew well enough the slightestknowledge of my real character would consign me atonce to the remoter depths of Slavery. I was toocostly a chattel to be lost, and was well aware that Iwould be taken farther on, into some by-place, overthe Texan border, perhaps, and sold ; that I would bedisposed of as the thief disposes of his stolen horse, ifmy right to freedom was even whispered. So I re-solved to lock the secret closely in my heart — neverto utter one word or syllable as to who or what I was

　　92 TWELVE TEAKS A SLAVE.— trusting in Providence and my own shrewdness fordeliverance.At length Ave left the steamboat Rodolph at a placecalled Alexandria, several hundred miles from Kew-Orleans. It is a small town on the southern shoreof lied River. Having remained there over night,we entered the morning train of cars, and were soonat Bayou Lamourie, a still smaller place, distanteighteen miles from Alexandria. At that time it wasthe termination of the railroad. Ford's plantationwas situated on the Texas road, twelve miles fromLamourie, in the Great Pine Woods. This distance, itwas announced to us, must be traveled on foot, therebeing public conveyances no farther. Accordinglywe all set out in the company of Ford. It was an ex-cessively hot day. Harry, Eliza, and myself were yetweak, and the bottoms of our feet were very tenderfrom the effects of the small-pox. We proceededslowly, Ford telling us to take our time and sit clownand rest whenever we desired — a privilege that wastaken advantage of quite frequently. After leavingLamourie and crossing two plantations, one belong-ing to Mr. Carnell, the other to a Mr. Flint, we reach-ed the Pine Woods, a wilderness that stretches to theSabine River. • .The whole country about Red River is low andmarshy. The Pine Woods, as they are called, is com-paratively upland, with frequent small intervals, how-ever, running through them. This upland is coveredwith numerous trees — the white oak, the chincopin,

　　AERTVAX, AT ALEXANDRIA. V6resembling chestnut, but principally the yellow pine.They are of great size, running up sixty feet, and per-fectly straight. The woods were full of cattle, veryshy and wild, dashing away in herds, with a loudsnuff, at our approach. Some of them were markedor branded, the rest appeared to be in their wild anduntamed state. They are much smaller than northernbreeds, and the peculiarity about them that most at-tracted my attention was their horns. They standout from the sides of the head precisely straight, liketwo iron spikes.At noon we reached a cleared piece of ground con-taining three or four acres. Upon it was a small, un-painted, wooden house, a corn crib, or, as we wouldsay, a barn, and a log kitchen, standing about a rodfrom the house. It was the summer residence of Mr.Martin. Rich planters, having large establishmentson Bayou Boeuf, are accustomed to spend the warmerseason in these woods. Here they find clear waterand delightful shades. In fact, these retreats are tothe planters of that section of the country what New-port and Saratoga are to the wealthier inhabitants ofnorthern cities.We were sent around into the kitchen, and suppliedwith sweet potatoes, corn-bread, and bacon, whileMaster Ford dined with Martin in the house. Therewere several slaves about the premises. Martin cameout and took a look at us, asking Ford the price ofeach, if we were green hands, and so forth, and makinginquiries in relation to the slave market generally

　　94: TWELVE YEARS A SLAVE.After a long rest we set forth again, following tneTexas road, which had the appearance of being veryrarely traveled. For five miles we passed throughcontinuous woods without observing a single habita-tion. At length, just as the sun was sinking in thewest, we entered another opening, containing sometwelve or fifteen acres.In this opening stood a house much larger than Mr.Martin's. It was two stories high, with a piazza infront. In the rear of it was also a log kitchen, poul-try house, corncribs, and several negro cabins. Nearthe house was a peach orchard, and gardens of orangeand pomegranate trees. The space was entirely sur-rounded by woods, and covered with a carpet of rich,rank verdure. It was a quiet, lonely, pleasant place— literally a green spot in the wilderness. It was theresidence of my master, "William Ford.As we approached, a yellow girl — her name wasRose — was standing on the piazza. Going to thedoor, she called her mistress, who presently came run-ning out to meet her lord. She kissed him, andlaughingly demanded if he had bought " those nig-gers." Ford said he had, and told us to go round toSally's cabin and rest ourselves. Turning the cornerof the house, we discovered Sally washing — her twobaby children near her, rolling on the grass. Theyjumped up and toddled towards us, looked at us amoment like a brace of rabbits, then ran back to theirmother as if afraid of us.Sally conducted us into the cabin, told us to lay down

　　ARRIVAL AT MASTER FORD'S. 95our bundles and be seated, for sbe was sure that we weretired. Just then John, the cook, a boy some sixteenyears of age, and blacker than any crow, came run-ning in, looked steadily in our faces, then turninground, without saying as much as "how d'ye do,"ran back to the kitchen, laughing loudly, as if ourcoming was a great joke indeed.Much wearied with our walk, as soon as it wasdark, Harry and I wrapped our blankets round us,and laid down upon the cabin floor. My thoughts,as usual, wandered back to my wife and children.The consciousness of my real situation ; the hopeless-ness of any effort to escape through the wide forestsof Avoyelles, pressed heavily upon me, yet my heartwas at home in Saratoga.I was awakened early in the morning by the voiceof Master Ford, calling Rose. She hastened into thehouse to dress the children, Sally to the field to milkthe cows, while John was busy in the kitchen prepar-ing breakfast. In the meantime Harry and I werestrolling about the yard, looking at our new quarters.Just after breakfast a colored man, driving three yokeof oxen, attached to a wagon load of lumber, droveinto the opening. He was a slave of Ford's, namedWalton, the husband of Rose. By the way, Rose wasa native of Washington, and had been brought fromthence live years before. She had never seen Eliza,but she had heard of Berry, and they knew the samestreets, and the same people, either personally, or byreputation. They became fast friends immediately,

　　96 TWELVE TEAKS A SLATE.and talked a great deal together of old times, and offriends they had left behind.Ford was at that time a wealthy man. Besides hisseat in the Pine "Woods, he owned a large lumberingestablishment on Indian Creek, four miles distant, andalso, in his wife's right, an extensive plantation andmany slaves on Bayou Bceuf."Walton had come with his load of lumber from themills on Indian Creek. Ford directed us to returnwith him, saying he would follow us as soon as possible.Before leaving, Mistress Ford called me into the store-room, and handed me, as it is there termed, a tinbucket of molasses for Harry and myself.Eliza was still ringing her hands and deploring theloss of her children. Ford tried as much as possibleto console her — told her she need not work very hard ;that she might remain with Rose, and assist the mad-am in the house affairs.Biding with Walton in the wagon, Harry and I be-came quite well acquainted with him long beforereaching Indian Creek. He was a " born thrall " of"* Ford's, and spoke kindly and affectionately of him, asa child would speak of his own father. In answer tohis inquiries from whence I came, I told him fromWashington. Of that city, he had heard much fromhis wife, Hose, and all the way plied me with manyextravagant and absurd questions.On reaching the mills at Indian Creek, we foundtwo more of Ford's slaves, Sam and Antony. Sam,also, was a Washingtonian, haTing been brought out

　　SABBATH DATS. 97in the same gang with Rose. He had worked on afarm near Georgetown. Antony was a blacksmith,from Kentucky, who had been in his present master'sservice about ten years. Sam knew Burch, and wheninformed that he was the trader who had sent me onfrom "Washington, it was remarkable how well weagreed upon the subject of his superlative rascality.He had forwarded Sam, also.On Ford's arrival at the mill, we were employed inpiling lumber, and chopping logs, which occupationwe continued during the remainder of the summer."We usually spent our Sabbaths at the opening, on fwhich days our master would gather all his slavesabout him, and read and expound the Scriptures.He sought to inculcate in our minds feelings of kind-ness towards each other, of dependence upon God —setting forth the rewards promised unto those wholead an upright and prayerful life. Seated in thodoorway of his house, surrounded by his man-ser-vants and his maid-servants, who looded earnestly intothe good man's face, he spoke of the loving kindnessof the Creator, and of the life that is to come. Oftendid the voice of prayer ascend from his lips to heaven,the only sound that broke the solitude of the place.In the course of the summer Sam became deeplyconvicted, his mind dwelling intensely on the subjectof religion. His mistress gave him a Bible, whichhe carried with him to his work. WTiatever leisuretime was allowed him, he spent in perusing it, thoughit was only with great difficulty that he could master

　　98 TWELVE YEARS A SLAVE.any part of it. I often read to him, a favor which hewell repaid me by many expressions of gratitude.Sam's piety was frequently observed by white menwho came to the mill, and the remark it most gener-ally provoked was, that a man like Ford, who allowedhis slaves to have Bibles, was " not fit to own a nigger."• He, however, lost nothing by his kindness. It isa fact I have more than once observed, that those whotreated their slaves most leniently, were rewarded bythe greatest amount of labor. I know it from myown experience. It was a source of pleasure to sur-1 prise Master Ford with a greater day's work than wasrequired, while, under subsequent masters, there was *no prompter to extra effort but the overseer's lash.It was the desire of Ford's approving voice thatsuggested to me an idea that resulted to his profit.The lumber we were manufacturing was contractedto be delivered at Lamourie. It had hitherto beentransported by land, and was an important item ofexpense. Indian Creek, upon which the mills weresituated, was a narrow but deep stream emptying intoBayou Boeuf. In some places it was not more thantwelve feet wide, and much obstructed with trunks oftrees. Bayou Boeuf was connected with Bayou Lamou-rie. I ascertained the distance from the mills to thepoint on the latter bayou, where our lumber was to bedelivered, was but a few miles less by land than bywater. Provided the creek could be made navigablefor rafts, it occurred to me that the expense of trans-portation would be materially diminished.

　　ADAM TATDEM. 99Adam Taydem, a little white man, who had been asoldier in Florida, and had strolled into that distantregion, was foreman and superintendent of the mills.He scouted the idea ; but Ford, when I laid it beforehim, received it favorably, and permitted me to trythe experiment.Having removed the obstructions, I made up a nar-row raft, consisting of twelve cribs. At this businessI think I was quite skillful, not having forgotten myexperience years before on the Champlain canal. Ilabored hard, being extremely anxious to succeed,both from a desire to please my master, and to showAdam Taydem that my scheme was not such a vis-ionary one as he incessantly pronounced it. Onehand could manage three cribs. I took charge"of theforward three, and commenced poling down thecreek. In due time we entered the first bayou, andfinally reached our destination in a shorter periodof time than I had anticipated.The arrival of the raft at Lamourie created a sen-sation, while Mr. Ford loaded me with commenda-tions. On all sides I heard Ford's Piatt pronouncedthe " smartest nigger in the Pine Woods" — in factI was the Fulton of Indian Creek. I was not insen-sible to the praise bestowed upon me, and enjoyed,especially, my triumph over Taydem, whose half-malicious ridicule had stung my pride. From thistime the entire control of bringing the lumber toLamourie was placed in my hands until the contractwas fulfilled.

　　100 TWELVE YEAKS A SLAVE.Indian Creek, in its whole length, flows through amagnificent forest. There dwells on its shore a tribeof Indians, a remnant of the Chickasaws or Chick-opees, if I remember rightly. They live in simplehuts, ten or twelve feet square, constructed of pinepoles and covered with bark. They subsist princi-pally on the flesh of the deer, the coon, and opos-sum, all of which are plenty in these woods. Some-times they exchange venison for a little corn andwhisky with the planters on the bayous. Theirusual dress is buckskin breeches and calico huntingshirts of fantastic colors, buttoned from belt to chin.They wear brass rings on their wrists, and in theirears and noses. The dress of the squaws is verysimilar. They are fond of dogs and horses — owningmany of the latter, of a small, tough breed — andare skillful riders. Their bridles, girths and saddleswere made of raw skins of animals ; their stirrupsof a certain kind of wood. Mounted astride theirponies, men and women, I have seen them dash outinto the woods at the utmost of their speed, followingnarrow winding paths, and dodging trees, in a man-ner that eclipsed the most miraculous feats of civil-ized equestrianism. Circling away in various direc-tions, the forest echoing and re-echoing with theirwhoops, they would presently return at the samedashing, headlong speed with which they started.Their village was on Indian Creek, known as IncliaaCastle, but their range extended to the Sabine River.Occasionally a tribe from Texas would come over on

　　CASCALLA AND HIS TED3E. 101a visit, and then there was indeed a carnival in the" Great Pine Woods." Chief of the tribe was Cas-calla ; second in rank, John Baltese, his son-in-law ;with both of whom, as with many others of the tribe,I became acquainted during my frequent voyagesdown the creek with rafts. Sam and myself wouldoften visit them when the day's task was done. Theywere obedient to the chief; the word of Cascallawas their law. They were a rude but harmless peo-ple, and enjoyed their wild mode of life. They hadlittle fancy for the open country, the cleared landson the shores of the bayous, but preferred to hidethemselves within the shadows of the forest. Theyworshiped the Great Spirit, loved whisky, and werehappy.On one occasion I was present at a dance, whena roving herd from Texas had encamped in theirvillage. The entire carcass of a deer was roastingbefore a large fire, which threw its light a long dis-tance among the trees under which they were assem-bled. When they had formed in a ring, men andsquaws alternately, a sort of Indian fiddle set up anindescribable tune. It was a continuous, melancholykind of wavy sound, with the slightest possible vari-ation. At the first note, if indeed there was morethan one note in the whole tune, they circled around,trotting after each other, and giving utterance to aguttural, sing-song noise, equally as nondescript as themusic of the fiddle. At the end of the third circuit,they would stop suddenly, whoop as if their lungs

　　102 TWELVE YEAKS A SLAVE.would crack, then break from the ring, forming incouples, man and squaw, each j limping backwards asfar as possible from the other, then forwards — whichgraceful feat having been twice or thrice accomplish-ed, they would form in a ring, and go trotting roundagain. The best dancer appeared to be consideredthe one who could whoop the loudest, jump the far-thest, and utter the most excruciating noise. At in-tervals, one or more w T ould leave the dancing circle,and going to the fire, cut from the roasting carcass aslice of venison.In a hole, shaped like a mortar, cut in the trunkof a fallen tree, they pounded corn with a woodenpestle, and of the meal made cake. Alternately theydanced and ate. Thus were the visitors from Texasentertained by the dusky sons and daughters of theChicopees, and such is a description, as I saw it, ofan Indian ball in the Pine Woods of Avoyelles.In the autumn, I left the mills, and was employedat the opening. One day the mistress was urgingFord to procure a loom, in order that Sally mightcommence weaving cloth for the winter garments ofthe slaves. He could not imagine where one was tobe found, when I suggested that the easiest way toget one would be to make it, informing him at thesame time, that I was a sort of " Jack at all trades,"and would attempt it, with his permission. It wasgranted very readily, and I was allowed to go to aneighboring planter's to inspect one before commen-cing the undertaking. At length it was finished

　　JOHN M, TIBEATS. 103and pronounced by Sally to be perfect, She couldeasily weave her task of fourteen yards, milk thecows, and have leisure time besides each day. Itworked so well, I was continued in the employmentof making looms, which were taken down to theplantation on the bayou.At this time one John M. Tibeats, a capenter, cameto the opening to do some work on master's house.I was directed to quit the looms and assist him. Fortwo weeks I was in his company, planing and match-ing boards for ceiling, a plastered room being a rarething in the parish of Avoyelles.John M. Tibeats was the opposite of Ford in allrespects. He was a small, crabbed, quick-tempered,spiteful man. He had no fixed residence that I everheard of, but passed from one plantation to another,wherever he could find employment. He was with-out standing in the community, not esteemed bywhite men, nor even respected by slaves. He wasignorant, withal, and of a revengeful disposition. Heleft the parish long before I did, and I know notwhether he is at present alive or dead. Certain it is,it was a most unlucky day for me that brought ustogether. During my residence with Master Ford I ^had seen only the bright side of slavery. His wasno heavy hand crushing us to the earth. He pointedupwards, and with benign and cheering words ad-dressed us as his fellow-mortals, accountable, likehimself, to the MaKer of us all. I think of him withaffection, and had my family been with me, could

　　104 TWELVE YEAES A SLAVE.have "borne his gentle servitude, without murmuring,all my days. But clouds were gathering in the hori-zon — forerunners of a pitiless storm that was soonto break over me. I was doomed to endure such bit-ter trials as the poor slave only knows, and to leadno more the comparatively happy life which I hadled in the " Great Pine "Woods."