Fleeing for Freedom : Stories of the Underground Railroad as Told by Levi Coffin and William Still
Author:
Genre: History
Book Type: Paperback
Author:
Genre: History
Book Type: Paperback
Due to my interest in the Civil War I've read a large number of books on the issue of slavery. This includes numerous books about that wonderful institution---The Underground Railroad. There are just some laws which need to be defied. And it warms my heart to know there were American men and women who, at cost to themselves of time and money, risked fines, jail and even their lives at a time when many ignored the plight of the enslaved. I would feel proud if my own family were included among them, but my first ancestor to arrive in this country didn't do so until 1916.
This book is different from many of the books I've read, as it is composed entirely of the actual writing and testimony of those who escaped enslavement and those who helped them. "Uncle Tom's Cabin" contains the story of Eliza's flight with her child across ice floes on the Ohio River. Unlike what many believe, this was an actual event by a black woman fleeing with her child. I've read other accounts of how this occurred and how it made its way into the book. The account here seems to be the truest as it was written at that time. Another story tells of a man who first encountered an escaped 'slave' and helped him to freedom. That man then dedicated his life to "going south" to help many hundreds of others to escape. He finally paid with his life for doing so.
I only gave this four stars, as the final chapter of the book was a detailed report of a trial where numerous local citizens helped resist the capture of "fugitive slaves" in violation of the Fugitive Slave Act. While important, numerous pages included the legal papers for and against those who were on trial. I'm one of those people who dislike reading copious amounts of legalese.
This book is different from many of the books I've read, as it is composed entirely of the actual writing and testimony of those who escaped enslavement and those who helped them. "Uncle Tom's Cabin" contains the story of Eliza's flight with her child across ice floes on the Ohio River. Unlike what many believe, this was an actual event by a black woman fleeing with her child. I've read other accounts of how this occurred and how it made its way into the book. The account here seems to be the truest as it was written at that time. Another story tells of a man who first encountered an escaped 'slave' and helped him to freedom. That man then dedicated his life to "going south" to help many hundreds of others to escape. He finally paid with his life for doing so.
I only gave this four stars, as the final chapter of the book was a detailed report of a trial where numerous local citizens helped resist the capture of "fugitive slaves" in violation of the Fugitive Slave Act. While important, numerous pages included the legal papers for and against those who were on trial. I'm one of those people who dislike reading copious amounts of legalese.
