Running a Thousand Miles for Freedom

Summary

Published in 1860, shortly before the start of the Civil War, Running a Thousand Miles for Freedom is the narrative of William and Ellen Craft's escape from slavery. Both were born and grew up in Georgia, and they lived in Macon prior to their escape. In December 1848 they devised a plan in which Ellen Craft, who was very light- skinned, would dress as a man and pretend to be a rheumatic seeking better treatment in Philadelphia. William was to accompany her and act as her slave. Relying exclusively on means of public transportation, including trains and steamers, they made their way to Savannah, then to Charleston, Wilmington, North Carolina, Washington, D. C., Baltimore, and Philadelphia, where they arrived on Christmas Day. They then relocated to Boston and sailed for England after the Fugitive Slave Law enabled slave hunters to pursue them even in free states. At the time this work was published, they were living in England with their sons. The narrative includes many anecdotes about slavery and freedom for Blacks and discusses how they were treated in both the South and the North.

Underground Railroad

There once was an invisible train that ran without tracks. This railroad transported slaves to freedom through a network of "stations" led by secret "conductors." George Washington noted the existence of these efforts as early as 1786. And by 1831, this growing freedom network was called the "Underground Railroad." Thousands of slaves found freedom through this human train in the 1800s.

Runaway slaves from the South would seek refuge in states where slavery was prohibited. Conductors on the railroad would hide escaped slaves in their homes and teach them secret codes and phrases to help them find the next safe house along the railroad. This continued until they reached freedom.

One of the most famous conductors along the Underground Railroad was Harriet Tubman, who was born into slavery, but through perseverance, was able to help herself and hundreds of others obtain freedom. After 25 years of slavery in Maryland, Harriet learned she was going to be separated from her family and sold, so she planned her escape. A neighbor told her of two houses where she would be safe. She traveled to the first house in the back of a wagon covered with a sack, and then made her way to Philadelphia on her own. Harriet described freedom as "heaven."

In Philadelphia, Harriet cooked and sewed to save enough money to rescue her family. She eventually helped 300 slaves gain freedom. Harriet became known as "Moses" because she ventured 19 times into the South or "Egypt." Harriet used music, Bible verses, and folklore to alert escaped slaves of danger and give them directions to safe houses.

During the Civil War, Harriet was a nurse to sick and wounded Union soldiers. She also taught newly-freed men and women how to care for themselves. In World War II, a ship was named in her memory, and in 1995, the federal government honored her accomplishments with a postage stamp.

This book is not intended as a full history of the life of my wife, nor of myself; but merely as an account of our escape; together with other matter which I hope may be the means of creating in some minds a deeper abhorrence of the sinful and abominable practice of enslaving and brutifying our fellow-creatures.

Excerpt
avenge our wrongs! But alas! we were only slaves, and had no legal rights; consequently we were compelled to smother our wounded feelings, and crouch beneath the iron heel of despotism.

I must now give the account of our escape; but, before doing so, it may be well to quote a few passages from the fundamental laws of slavery; in order to give some idea of the legal as well as the social tyranny from which we fled.

According to the law of Louisiana, "A slave is one who is in the power of a master to whom he belongs. The master may sell him, dispose of his person, his industry, and his labour; he can do nothing, possess nothing, nor acquire anything but what must belong to his master."--Civil Code, art. 35.

In South Carolina it is expressed in the following language:--"Slaves shall be deemed, sold, taken, reputed and judged in law to be chattels personal in the hands of their owners and possessors, and their executors, administrators, and assigns, to all intents, constructions, and purposes