The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1901-01-24
FIRST SLAVE FREED.
An Incident That Occurred In AIexan-
aria Before Lincoln's Proclamation.
[Rashlnrton Erenlnr star. }

Col. Charles p. Lincoln OF this city was
the first man to set slave fres after the
breaking out OF the late civil War. he
ferring TO the incident. Col. Lincoln, In
a resent conversation with reporter,
said:
ut IL q matter OF history that the First
Michigan Regiment OF Infantry (three
months me1), under command Of Col.
(atterward Gen Orlando b. Wilcox. who
still later was governor of the Soldiers
Home in this city, was the first regiment
to GROSS the Potomac on the Long bridge
at the beginning OF the war OF the Rebel
lion. This was this night of May 20, 1861,
the command reaching Alexsn1ria about
daylight the morning Of the 24th. The
New York Fire Zouaves, under command
of Col. Ellsworth, reached Alexandria by
steamer from Washington at the same
hour.
Company @ OF the First Michigan
Regiment was from Coldwaser. 1t YVES
commanded by Capt. Ebenezer Butter
worth, who was wounded and made
prisoner at the first battle Of Bull Kun
aud died wh.ls prisoner at CHARACTERS
villa, Va 1 was then a lad Is years Of
age ana was the orderly sergeant OF the
company.
"As the regiment filed into Fairfax
street what subsequently proved to be
Ellsworth's troops wors seen TO our lefs
and were supposed to be the enemy, and
Company q was called upon to depioy as
administers upon centre to right. and left.
As orderly sergeant was at the extreme
right of the c,mpany, AMI as we were
deploying double quick to the right along
Fairfax street we saw some forty rebel
soldiers rush out of large building q
short distance down the street and at
tempt TO mount their horses with the
view OF escaping.
Eat THIS moment two pieces Of Rick
etts's be ttsry came by, their horses under
whip ana spur, and, Immediately upon
our tight, unlimbered aud prepared to
fire upon the enemy. The battery occu
Iisd tae street and, possibly, the enemy
SO near at hand on our right flank put
q stop to our depioy. AT once the rebel
captain BALI advanced and handed his
sword to Col. wilcox, ard the enemy
was ours.'
"Ths building occupisd BY the retel
troops as headquarters proved 20 be
oommodious structure, with large
court or slave pen, on each side OF which
and across the entrance was sign which
read, Price, Burch 81 Co, dealers in
slaves
"As a sort OF recognition of Company
C's valor in SO promptly responding 60
tue command to act as skirmishers It was
assigned quarters In the building and
placet In onarge of the captured enemy.
The slave pen on either siie OF the main
t..s Tar ad mo -aI cf N In roa
formed Of high walls, near the top and
on the inner side OF which there was
narrow shed roof running around the en-
tire square or court This served as
profession from Sunshine ami storm to
the occupants. who, by standing close to
the wall, would be under this roof.
Elm one of theFe Enclosures was col
ored hoy shout Is years OF age. who coon
became know n to Us as George Washing
ton. We ascertafned & o. he had been
sold aud was here held for safe keeping,
pending the arrival of his purchaser or
new master. 1t was not long, however,
befors we found that he was nat at all
averss to beiag liberated.
al had discover In a desk drawer in
ons OF the office rooms n bunch of keys,
one Of which provtd to bs the key to an
immense pao lock by which the grateI
iron door TO the slave pen was fast sned
In the preser CO OF sever al OF the boys
aihtilS WSloihg ~ AS0 ACSdAAy WoAo VII
liam IL. Bryan, now OF kayenswood, Ill
Smith W. Fisk OF MINNIE ipoiis, Milan
ke1ny Achrer, then Of AigAnsse, / I'M
Locked tie door, and we babe our colored
brother TO sep out into the air OF freq
dom and dsclare himself for the cd flag
and the Union. This he did with many
exnressions OF pleasure ana RratitU de, de-
claring tnat he would stay with that
company and so with IL through purga-
tory, II need be-
1.-The ex-slays beca ne at onoe an i'm
portant factor as a sort of auxiliary
mempe of our company. Soon after this
the company Joined the regiment upon
we were enaamptd for several weeks.
During that period a gentleman with t no
attencants came into camp and called
upon Col, Wilcox, the former demanding
the Immediate delivery OF the negro, who,
he claimsd had b5en taken from the GUS
tody OF the propsr authorities at the old
slave pen buil1ing. Col. Wilcox having
no aut aority to detlin such property, al
vised the gentleman that ha was at par
feet liberty to take the nagro IL he found
him within the camp. The young fell
low, who had learned what was transpir-
ing, soon trie1 TO escape. An attempt
was made by the gentleman and his at
tendants to ca ture him, but the soldiers
rallied TO the mans aid and in a moment
missilss flew thick and fast through the
air, making the vicinity 50 uncom foriatls
that the slayeh older and his aids teat
hasty retreat from the camp and did not
again attempt to modest the negro or mis-
newly found friends.
1.-The oolored boy accompanied the
company and regiment into the BniI
HUN fight. Joining with the others in
doing good service with muskes in hand.
He went with the company on its return
to Coldwster, and for some time was EN-
ployed as a Porter In the Southern Miohi-
gan Hotel in that place. lie enlisted In
the first colored regiment organized in
Michigan, ana served With 1t until the
elsa Of the war. Latsr he returned to
Coldwater, whsre he remained until
about 1867, and subsequently he came TO
Washington, where he died about ten
years ago.
''At my In lance he became q member
OF Charles Sumner Post. q. A. r., De-
partment OF the Potomac. For many
years preceding his death he was known
as George q Smith, lie was without
doubt the first slave actually liberated