The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-08-28
Letter from a freedman 10 his Old
Master.

Letter from n Freedman 10 his Old
Master
The following is a genuine document. /.
was dictated by the old servant and con-
tsins his ideas and forms of expression.
DAYTON, OHIO. August 7.
70 my old Master, Col. P. Il. Anderson,
Big Spring, Tennessee:
SIR; l got your letter and was glad 70
find that you had not forgotten Jordan, AMI
that you wanted me to come back and liga
with you again, promising to do better tor
me than any body else can. 1 have sften
felt uneasy about you. 1 thought the Yam
KEGS would have hung you before this for
hsrboring Rsbs. they found at your house.
l suppose they never heard sboutyo GO.
ing to Colonel Martins to kill tie Union
soldier that was left by his mpa in
their stable. Although you shot at me
twice before l left you, I did not want 10
hear of your being hurt, and am glad you
are still living. 1t woulddo me good to 20
back to the dear old home again and see
Miss Mary and Miss Martha, and Allen,
Esther, Green and Lee. Give my love to
them al, and tell them L hope we will
meet In the better world, If not in this. [
would have gone back 70 see you all when
l was working in the Nashville Hospital, |
but one of the ~neighbors told me- Henry in
tended to shoot me if be ever got a chance.
l want to know particularly what the
good chance is you propose TO give me. [
am doing tolersbly we'll here; l get $25 a
month with victusls and clothing; have q
comfortable home for Mandy (the folks
here call her Mrs. Anderson and the child
rem, Milly Jane and Grunoy 90 to school
and are learning we'll the teacher saws
Grundy has q head for 8 preacher. They
go to Sunday school, and Mandy and n o
attend church regularly. We are kindly
"Them colored people we're slaves"
in TENNESSEE. The children feel hut
when they hear such remarks, but I tell
them it was no disgrace in Tennessee to be-
long to Colonel Anderson. Many darkies
would have been proud, as / used to was,
TO call you master. Now, if you will write
and say what wages you will give me 1
will be better able 10 decide whether it
would be to my advantage to move back
again.
AS to my freedom, which you say 1 can
have, there is nothing to be gained on that
core, as l got my free papers in 1864, from
he Provost Marshal General of the De.
lAELlQ6ub hb NhSlVll9.
Mandy ssys she would be afraid to 90
Iack without som proof that you are sim
erely disposed to treat us kindly and just
y-snd we have concluded to test your i
incerity by asking you to send US our
1ages for the time we served you. This
nil make US forget and forgive old scores,
nd rely IN your justice and friendship in
be future. 1 served you faithfully for 80 [
ears, and Mandy 20 years, at $25 per :
for me, and 81 per week for Mandy. \
.ur earning would amount to 81. ESQ.,
to this the interest for the time our
ages has been kept back and deduct what
paid for our clothing, and three doc \
rs visits to me, and pulling q tooth for
andy, and the balance will show what n
9 are in justice entitled to. Please send a.
money by Adams Express, in care OF Y. m
.finters, Esq, Dayton, Ohio If you fail >
pay US for faithful labors in the past we az
n have little faith in your promises in tn
Q future. We trust the good Maker has :
ened your eyes to the wrongs which you I
d your fathers have done to me and nv l
hers, in making Us toll for you for gene.
without recompense. Here I draw s.
? wages every Saturday night, but in
innessee there was never any pay day -:
the negroes any more than for tie =
Fsas and COWS. Surely there will be q
= of reckoning for those who deiraud the !
,orer Of his hire. f.!
In answering this letter please state if !
re would be any safety for my Mily and =
ne who are now grown up and both =
ID looking girls. You know how it was -
h poor Matilda and Catharine. / would "a
her stay here and starve and die if it -
uld come to that than have nv girls Q
ught to shame by the violence and nr
,kedness Of their young masters. You -
/ also please state if there has been any ID
ools opened for the colored children in
II neighborhood, the great desire of my VI
now is to give my children an educs- ",
J, and have them form %virtuous hsbits.
From your old servant .
JoURDoH ANDERSON For
.6-Say howdy to George Garter, and
X him for taking the pistol from YOU =,
n you were shooting ct ne. 4 "