Though I was a mere child during the
preparation for the Civil War and during the war itself, I now recall
the many late-at-night whispered discussions that I heard my mother
and the other slaves on the plantation indulge in. These discussions
showed that they understood the situation, and that they kept
themselves informed of events by what was termed the "grape-vine"
telegraph.
During the campaign when Lincoln was first a candidate for the
Presidency, the slaves on our far-off plantation, miles from any
railroad or large city or daily newspaper, knew what the issues
involved were. When war was begun between the North and the South,
every slave on our plantation felt and knew that, though other issues
were discussed, the primal one was that of slavery. Even the most
ignorant members of my race on the remote plantations felt in their
hearts, with a certainty that admitted of no doubt, that the freedom
of the slaves would be the one great result of the war, if the
northern armies conquered. Every success of the Federal armies and
every defeat of the Confederate forces was watched with the keenest
and most intense interest. Often the slaves got knowledge of the
results of great battles before the white people received it. This
news was usually gotten from the coloured man who was sent to the
post-office for the mail.
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