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tabatha

(18,795 posts)
Wed Feb 1, 2012, 02:35 PM Feb 2012

One of the best letters EVER! It's written by a slave to his former master. [View all]

In August of 1865, a Colonel P.H. Anderson of Big Spring, Tennessee, wrote to his former slave, Jourdan Anderson, and requested that he come back to work on his farm. Jourdan — who, since being emancipated, had moved to Ohio, found paid work, and was now supporting his family — responded spectacularly by way of the letter seen below (a letter which, according to newspapers at the time, he dictated).

Rather than quote the numerous highlights in this letter, I'll simply leave you to enjoy it. Do make sure you read to the end.

(Source: The Freedmen's Book; Image: A group of escaped slaves in Virginia in 1862, courtesy of the Library of Congress.)

Dayton, Ohio,

August 7, 1865

To My Old Master, Colonel P.H. Anderson, Big Spring, Tennessee

Sir: I got your letter, and was glad to find that you had not forgotten Jourdon, and that you wanted me to come back and live with you again, promising to do better for me than anybody else can. I have often felt uneasy about you. I thought the Yankees would have hung you long before this, for harboring Rebs they found at your house. I suppose they never heard about your going to Colonel Martin's to kill the Union soldier that was left by his company in their stable. Although you shot at me twice before I left you, I did not want to hear of your being hurt, and am glad you are still living. It would do me good to go 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 all, and tell them I hope we will meet in the better world, if not in this. I would have gone back to see you all when I was working in the Nashville Hospital, but one of the neighbors told me that Henry intended to shoot me if he ever got a chance.

http://www.lettersofnote.com/2012/01/to-my-old-master.html

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du rec. limpyhobbler Feb 2012 #1
Definately a good read dipsydoodle Feb 2012 #2
That site is a marvel. What a fascinating concept. dixiegrrrrl Feb 2012 #3
These are the lines that jumped out at me rocktivity Feb 2012 #4
Kicked and recommended. Uncle Joe Feb 2012 #5
What a thrilling find! yellerpup Feb 2012 #6
Wow, he certainly left none of the horrors out. fasttense Feb 2012 #7
for later tnlurker Feb 2012 #8
Heeehaaa! BB1 Feb 2012 #9
"Surely there will be a day of reckoning for those liberalhistorian Feb 2012 #10
I was thinking that there's too much in that letter that could be said today... tech_smythe Feb 2012 #12
My hat is off to you for enduring even one day of work liberalhistorian Feb 2012 #14
i somehow survived 3+ months tech_smythe Feb 2012 #19
What a great letter! lavenderdiva Feb 2012 #11
What a magnificent piece of work. Mira Feb 2012 #13
You're welcome. tabatha Feb 2012 #15
What a great letter! neverforget Feb 2012 #16
Wow, this is really an amazing letter. kas125 Feb 2012 #17
That Jourdan was one clever fellow. Kablooie Feb 2012 #18
I wonder if he had a ghost writer. ZombieHorde Feb 2012 #20
I think he was educated while being a slave. tabatha Feb 2012 #21
He dictated the letter yellerpup Feb 2012 #23
K&R Sherman A1 Feb 2012 #22
So powerful. Love his voice. byronius Feb 2012 #24
Great to the very end! progressoid Feb 2012 #25
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