BH-Chapter4

women pounding rice

cotton fields

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AN INSPIRING HISTORICAL FICTION DRAMA SCRIPT BASED ON SCOTT V SANFORD, THE (7-2) U.S.SUPREME COURT RULING READ BY CHIEF JUSTICE ROGER TANEY ON MARCH 6,1857 THAT STATED THAT NEGROES-WHETHER FREE OR SLAVE-ARE NOT UNITED STATES CITIZENS BY THE CONSTITUTION. ADDITIONALLY, THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE OF 1787 COULD NOT CONFER CITIZENSHIP OR FREEDOM TO NEGROES WITHIN THIS TERRITORY. AND FINALLY, THE 1820 MISSOURI COMPROMISE PROVISION DISALLOWING SLAVERY NORTH OF MISSOURI EXCEEDED CONGRESSIONAL POWER AND THUS, THIS PORTION OF THE LEGISLATIVE ACT WAS NULL AND VOID. AS A RESULT DRED AND HARRIET SCOTT WITH THEIR CHILDREN (ELIZA AND LIZZY) HAD NO JURISDICTIONAL POWER TO UTILIZE THE FEDERAL COURTS TO OBTAIN FREEDOM OR CITIZENSHIP. THIS RULING SET THE STAGE FOR THE LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATES OF 1858 AND THE CIVIL WAR. HARRIET SCOTT’S TREMENDOUS SUPPORT OF HER HUSBAND, DRED, IN HIS FREEDOM SUIT, FIGHTING TO KEEP HER FAMILY TOGETHER, AND THE UNENDING PLIGHT TO HAVE HER DAUGHTERS LIVE”FREE”IS A REMARKABLE TRIBUTE TO WOMEN AND MANKIND. THE STORY BEGINS AT FORT SNELLING IN WISCONSIN TERRITORY IN MAY 1836 WHERE DRED AND HARRIET SCOTT ACTUALLY MEET.

black children soon after civil war era

JANUARY 1, 1846 HARRIET I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD SEE YOU, DRED, AFTER LAST JUNE WHEN WE GOT TOGETHER AT JEFFERSON BARRACKS SOUTH OF ST. LOUIS. DRED THAT IS SUCH A BUSY PLACE WITH THE MEXICAN WAR AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

slave quarters

HARRIET I’M CERTAIN YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW ELIZA IS DOING. WHERE IS SHE? I’VE HIDDEN HER. FROM ME?

DRED HARRIET DRED

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HARRIET NO-FROM SLAVERY. THEY ARE SELLING HUNDREDS OF SLAVES ON MORGAN AND GARRISON STREETS IN ST. LOUISSOMETIMES BY THE LOT FOR EXTREMELY HIGH PRICES. IRENE EMERSON HAS HER HANDS FULL OF EXPENSES KEEPING UP HER LIFESTYLE-AND IF SHE GETS STRESSED AND SEES HOW BEAUTIFUL ELIZA IS-WELL, SHE’LL BE . . .

SOLD.

DRED

HARRIET BUT IRENE KEEPS ASKING ABOUT ELIZA AS IF SHE WANTS TO REVIEW HER SITUATION. I’M THINKING ABOUT RUNNING. plantation cooking scene

DRED DON’T DO THAT-YOU’LL NEVER GET YOUR FREEDOM, HARRIET. THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD IS A WAY-BUT MANY NEGROES HAVE BEEN MORTALLY WOUNDED AND SEVERELY WHIPPED. HARRIET DRED, THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE I NEED TO TELL YOU. YOU LOST YOUR PEARLS?

DRED

HARRIET NO-YOU ARE TO BE A FATHER AGAIN. WHEN?

DRED

HARRIET OH-IN A BIT-ABOUT TWO MONTHS. I THINK IT’S A GIRL. WE LOST TWO BOYS SO WE ARE DUE FOR A GIRL.

former slaves post civil war

DRED GREAT-I’M REAL HAPPY-EVEN MORE REASON THAT WE NEED OUR . . .

FREEDOM.

HARRIET

DRED WELL, I ASKED MR. BAINBRIDGE-IRENE’S BROTHER IN LAW-FOR THE SCOTT’S FREEDOM AND HE JUST LAUGHED. BAINBRIDGE SAID-DO YOU HAVE $3000 CASH? WHAT DID YOU SAY?

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HARRIET

NOT NOW BUT I WILL GET IT.

DRED

HARRIET AND HE JUST KEPT LAUGHING? DRED EXACTLY. HE’S NOT NICE-WORKS ME TO THE BONE. I WON’T HOLD UP LONG. I FRANKLY HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE. WE HAVE TWO GIRLS WHO MAY GET STOLEN AWAY IN THE NIGHT AND SOLD THE NEXT DAY-AND WE’D NEVER SEE THEM AGAIN. HARRIET I WONDER HOW THESE WHITE MASTERS WOULD FEEL IF THEY WERE SOLD? DRED OH, HERE WE GO AGAIN-IT’S JUST THE WAY IT IS, HARRIET. YOU WERE RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING. WE CAN’T ESCAPE.

plantation smokehouse

HARRIET WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR IDEALISM ABOUT FREEDOM? DRED IT WENT WHEN I FELL IN LOVE WITH YOU AND ACCEPTED AS TO HOW YOU WERE-AND SO I’VE JUST LIVED WITH MYSELF AND . . .

HARRIET THERE IS STILL THAT LITTLE FIRE OF FREEDOM WITHIN YOURSELF DRED-I SURELY HOPE SO. THAT IS ONE THING UNIQUE ABOUT YOU-YOU NEVER QUIT! DRED ALWAYS WILL BE FIRE FOR FREEDOM-IT WILL NEVER LEAVE-I WILL BE FREE SOME DAY-I JUST HOPE I DON’T LEAVE MY KIDS BEHIND IN BONDAGE. OUR FAMILY WILL LIVE IN FREEDOM SOME DAY-I KNOW THIS. I CANNOT WAIT. WITH ALL THE BOAT TRAFFIC IN ST. LOUIS THESE DAYS-WELL, YOU RUN INTO PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD-BELIEVE ME-MANY COUNTRIES OPPOSE THE UNITED STATES’S SLAVE POLICIES.

execution of a deserter

HARRIET DO YOU HAVE A NAME PICKED OUT FOR THE BABY GIRL? DRED YES-LIZZY. DOES THAT SOUND GOOD?

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IT IS BEAUTIFUL, DRED. OK-BUT IF IT’S A BOY....

HARRIET DRED

HARRIET DON’T WORRY-IT WON’T BE. SO WHERE IS ELIZA?

DRED

HARRIET OH-I FOUND A HEART-WARMING GERMAN FAMILY WITH A BASEMENT BELOW A BIG MANSION ON BREMEN AVENUE. IT’S NOT FAR FROM HERE. picking cotton in the south

DRED SO ELIZA IS NOT LIVING WITH YOU SINCE I HAD TO GO SOUTH FOR THIS STUPID MEXICAN WAR STUFF? BELIEVE ME, IT’S HARD FOR ME TO BE FOR THE CAUSE OF AMERICAN FREEDOM IN MEXICO TERRITORIES BECAUSE WHO KNOWS? MAYBE THE MEXICANS WILL BE THE NEW SLAVES! HARRIET ENOUGH, DRED! ELIZA-YES-I CHECK ON HER DAILY-SHE IS OK-IN FACT SHE IS GREAT AND BEAUTIFUL AND MISSES HER DAD. THE FAMILY SHE IS STAYING WITH IS ABOLITIONISTTHEY LOVE ELIZA. SHE COULDN’T BE IN A BETTER PLACE. DRED HOW DID YOU FIND THIS HIDING PLACE?

slave auction scene

HARRIET OH-I JUST HAPPENED TO HEAR AT ONE OF IRENE’S TEA PARTIES THAT THIS GERMAN LADY WHO IS KNOWN ALL OVER ST. LOUIS AS A GOOD PERSON IS ALSO HIGHLY RESPECTED AS AN ABOLITIONIST-CONVERTED HUNDREDS OF FOLKS. DRED SO YOU INTRUDED ONTO HER PLACE? HARRIET NO-I FOLLOWED HER HOME-SHE SAW ME AND INVITED ME FOR A RIDE ON A NICE HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE. DRED AND YOU TWO MADE A DEAL?

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HARRIET YES! I WOULD HELP HER-AS WOULD ELIZA-AND IN TURN SHE WOULD ENROLL ELIZA IN SCHOOL UNDER JOHN MEACHUM WHO IS SPEAR HEADING EDUCATION FOR YOUNG BLACKS IN MISSOURI. DRED AMAZING! SO ELIZA IS LEARNING THE THREE R’S. HARRIET YES-AND DOING WELL-SHE IS PROTECTED BY THIS FAMILY QUITE WELL-THEY LOVE HER. DRED BUT WHAT IF IRENE FINDS OUT AND . . .

HARRIET IRENE ONLY GETS A CHECK, EVERY MONTH FROM THE GROCER RUSSELL BENNETT WHO I WORK FOR AT 82 WATER STREET.

cotton fields scene

DRED I HAD HEARD THAT MANY AFRICAN KIDS WERE BEGINNING TO BE EDUCATED AT THE CHURCH SCHOOLS-LIKE SECOND AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH-DESPITE EDUCATION OF SLAVES BEING AGAINST MISSOURI LAW. HARRIET WELL, MEACHUM HAS A BARGE ON THE MISSISSIPPI AND IT’S UNDER FEDERAL LAW-AND APPARENTLY IT’S OK WITH THE FEDERAL COURT TO EDUCATE ON FEDERAL PROPERTY-THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER-ALREADY GONE TO TRIAL AND WE WON. DRED BUT WE STILL NEED TO GO TO COURT AND PETITION FOR FREEDOM. MAYBE THIS FAMILY WILL HELP US GO TO COURT. HARRIET I DON’T KNOW-THERE IS SUCH A THING IN ST. LOUIS ABOUT DOING THE RIGHT THING IN SOCIETY. I KNOW IRENE WOULDN’T BE CAUGHT DEAD ALLOWING HER SLAVES FREEDOM. SHE IS SUCH A . . .

slave auction

DRED WELL, WE MUST STRONGLY PETITION THE COURT FOR FREEDOM SINCE IT’S JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE IRENE RUNS OUT OF MONEY AND SELLS ELIZA AND LIZZY. HARRIET LIZZY ISN’T EVEN BORN YET, DRED.

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DRED BUT IT WILL HAPPEN-THE SLAVE TRADE HAS MULTIPLE PLACES DAILY NOW-WHY, THERE IS A PLACE ON 6TH STREET, ON PINE, ON CHESTNUT, IN FRONT OF THE COURT HOUSE-THE STREET MARKETS ARE FULL OF VENDORSHECK, I WOULD SELL 10 YEARS AGO FOR OVER $1000.

HARRIET THERE ARE WHITE AND FREE BLACK FOLKS ALL OVER ST. LOUIS WHO ARE JUST BEGINNING TO HELP SLAVES-LIKE REVEREND JOHN ANDERSON, ATTORNEY MURDOCH, AND MAYBE THE BLOWS-THEIR FAMILY IS PROMINENT-AND I KNOW THEY NEVER FORGOT YOU, DRED-YOUR BEST BOYHOOD FRIENDS. I’VE ACTUALLY HEARD THIS FROM OTHER NEGROES AND WHITES. slave auction scene

DRED THE BLOWS WERE AMAZING PEOPLE-VERY COURTEOUSWOULD HAVE DONE ANYTHING FOR ME. WELL, I THINK AFTER LIZZY IS BORN WE WILL PETITION THE COURT. HARRIET SOUNDS GOOD-ARE YOU GOING BACK TO JEFFERSON BARRACKS SOUTH OF ST. LOUIS TONIGHT? DRED YES-MY MASTER ALWAYS CHECKS-HE WANTS ME FRESH IN THE MORNING FOR WORK. HARRIET SOUNDS GOOD-I’LL FIND YOU THE LAST WEEK BEFORE LIZZY IS BORN. GOOD NIGHT AND LOVE. GOOD NIGHT AND LOVE.

slave auction scene

DRED

MARCH 31, 1846 HARRIET DRED-YOUR DAUGHTER IS ON THE WAY. I’M IN LABOR AND WILL DELIVER . . .

DRED WHAT, HARRIET? I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO THE GERMAN MANSION ON BREMEN AVENUE WHERE ELIZA WAS LIVING AND DELIVER IN THE BASEMENT WITH A MIDWIFE. WASN’T THIS ALL ARRANGED?

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HARRIET YES-BUT I WON’T MAKE IT THERE. WE WILL DELIVER UNDER OUR LEAN-TO BEHIND BROADWAY IN THE BACK ALLEY. DRED NO-LET’S GO TO THE MANSION-THEY WILL GET THE MIDWIFE. HARRIET NO-IRENE IS VERY SUSPICIOUS OF ALL OF US-SHE KNOWS I’M NOT HAPPY WITH HER-SHE PROBABLY WANTS TO SELL US-OR WORK US TO DEATH AT THE GROCER BUSINESS SINCE WE ARE HER MAIN SOURCE OF MONEY. DRED SO WHAT. LET’S JUST GO TO THE GERMAN MANSION AND DELIVER. WHAT WOULD IRENE CARE?

black family shortly after civil war era

HARRIET IRENE SANFORD EMERSON KNOWS ALL-SHE WOULD FILE SUIT AGAINST THE ABOLITIONISTS FOR HARBORING SLAVES. YOU JUST DON’T KNOW HER LIKE I DO, DRED. IRENE IS VICIOUS! I DON’T WANT ELIZA THREATENED. I WANT MY KIDS TO STAY WITH US. WE’LL SURVIVE. DRED BUT THE LEAN-TO IS SO COLD. HARRIET WE’LL GET BLANKETS AND WOOD. START A FIRE. I DON’T CARE. I JUST WANT TO HAVE THIS BABY. WE ARE NOT HAVING ANY MORE-THIS IS IT. DRED SO WHO WILL DELIVER THE BABY? HARRIET YOU.DRED-IT IS EASY. JUST GENTLY BRING HER DOWN THROUGH THE BIRTH CANAL AND . . .

plantation work scene

DRED NO, HARRIET-I’LL DO ANYTHING-BUT I WON’T DELIVER LIZZYISN’T THERE A MIDWIFE OR DOCTOR AROUND TO HELP? HARRIET YES-THEY ARE ALL AT ST. LOUIS CITY HOSPITAL. WHY WOULD THEY WANT TO DELIVER A MEANINGLESS SLAVE GAL LIKE HARRIET SCOTT? THINK, DRED! THOSE DOCTORS HAVE HIGH END ST. LOUIS GALS TO ATTEND TO. THIS IS REAL LABOR DEMANDING REAL SOLUTIONS. THINK AND HELP ME-I REALLY NEED IT. 57

DRED I KNOW AN ORDERLY AT THE HOSPITAL-MAYBE HE CAN GET US IN-I KNOW THEY TAKE CARE OF SOME AFRICANS THERE. THAT IS AT 14TH AND LAFAYETTE-MAYBE TOO FAR-AND IT’S FULL OF CHOLERA PATIENTS. BUT THERE ARE DOCTORS AND NURSES THERE WHO CAN HELP. HARRIET AND CAN DELIVER BABIES. DRED BUT I HEARD HOSPITALS ONLY TAKE FREE NEGROES AND SLAVES IN EMERGENCIES.

picking cotton

HARRIET SO YOU THINK THIS ISN’T AN EMERGENCY, DRED? THINGS WOULD BE DIFFERENT IF BABIES WERE CARRIED AND DELIVERED BY MALES-I KNOW IT WOULD. MOST MALES JUST DON’T GET WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE PREGNANT-IT AIN’T FUN. YOU FEEL AWFUL MOST OF THE TIME AND THIS LABOR IS KILLING ME. DRED WELL, I’LL SEE IF WE CAN’T GET TO THE ST. LOUIS CITY HOSPITAL. HARRIET NO, DRED-WE’LL NEVER MAKE IT-I FEEL LIKE PUSHING-THAT IS THE FINAL SIGN-IT IS CLOSE. WASH YOUR HANDS. DRED OK-I’LL CARRY YOU TO THE LEAN-TO. WE’LL MAKE IT HAPPEN. HARRIET OK-JUST LAY ME DOWN WITH MY HEAD UP AND HOLD MY HAND DURING THESE GOD AWFUL CONTRACTIONS.

lincoln with matthew brady, civil war era photographer and union general

DRED I HAVE SOME WHISKEY IN THE BACK THAT A FRIEND GAVE ME. DO YOU WANT SOME, HARRIET? HARRIET DRED, I’LL TAKE ANYTHING-THIS IS THE MOST PAINFUL THING A WOMAN CAN HAVE-IT’S JUST GOD AWFUL-THESE CONTRACTIONS JUST KEEP COMING. DRED HERE, DRINK THIS-I’LL MASSAGE YOUR TUMMY-AND THERE IS SOME ICE OUTSIDE -I WILL RUB THAT AROUND THE BIRTH CANAL.

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HARRIET YES-ANYTHING. IT SHOULDN’T BE LONG. ALL THESE THINGS ARE HELPING WITH THE PAIN. KEEP IT UP-YOU ARE A GREAT PARTNER. I’M SORRY FOR THE STUFF I SAID ABOUT MEN. DRED WE ARE GOING TO DO IT, HARRIET. BUT WE HAVE NO FOOD FOR THE BABY! HARRIET LIZZY WILL BREAST FEED-WE HAVE PLENTY OF FOOD. ELIZA BREAST FED UNTIL SHE WAS ONE. DRED YES-OH, I CAN SEE THE BABY’S . . .

HEAD?

HARRIET

Dred scott’s grave in st louis

DRED NO! IT’S HER RUMP COMING FIRST. HARRIET MY GOD! NO WONDER THIS IS SO PAINFUL. SHE’S A BREECH BABY. DRED, YOU’LL HAVE TO BE VERY GENTLE AND SLOWLY TWIST AND TURN THE BABY OUT. DRED I’VE GOT THE BOTTOM OUT-AND I’M GENTLY TEASING THE HEAD-BUT IT SEEMS TO BE STUCK. HARRIET REACH UP THERE AND GENTLY TEASE OUT THE ARMS AND FEET-I’LL REALLY PUSH WITH THE NEXT CONTRACTION. DRED I WISH I HAD THOSE FORCEPS THAT DR. EMERSON HAD WITH ELIZA-THAT WOULD HELP. HARRIET WELL, YOU DON’T-JUST KEEP GENTLE PRESSURE DOWNWARD.

view of scott’s living area at field museum

DRED OK-WE ARE ALMOST THERE-WITH YOUR NEXT CONTRACTION PUSH HER REAL HARD AND I’LL PULL DOWNWARD-ONLY ONE OF THE ARMS IS OUT. OK-HERE COMES BABY! GREAT! DONE! FINALLY DELIVERED! HARRIET REMEMBER TO TIE OFF THE BABY’S CORD.

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DRED I DON’T GET THAT-OH, I SEE THE CORD. HARRIET THIS CONNECTS US TWO-WE HAVE TO BE SEPARATED. TIE IT IN A KNOT AND CUT IT AWAY FROM THE KNOT-TOWARDS THE AFTER BIRTH. OK-DONE. WHAT’S NEXT?

chancellorsville,

DRED

HARRIET JUST GIVE LIZZY TO ME. SHE’S GETTING COLD. I WILL START BREAST FEEDING TO GET HER WARM AND MAKE MY AFTER BIRTH COME QUICKER. CLEAN UP THE AFTER BIRTH AND EVERYTHING ELSE, DRED. OTHERWISE WE’LL HAVE RATS. DRED OK-DONE. LIZZY QUIT CRYING. EVERYTHING OK? HARRIET YES-SHE IS WARM AND BREAST FEEDING AND BEAUTIFUL. GREAT! NOW WHAT?

DRED

HARRIET WELL, SHE NEEDS CLOTHES-I’VE SAVED SOME OF ELIZA’S. THERE ARE SOME OTHER CLOTHES.THEY WERE QUITE GOOD AT THE GERMAN MANSION-MANY OF THE ABOLITIONIST SOCIETY AND THE GERMAN FAMILY HAVE GIVEN PLENTY. DRED GREAT-I’LL GO GET THEM NOW. harriet’s Grave marker

HARRIET JUST BE CAREFUL IRENE DOESN’T SEE YOU-SHE’LL GET SUSPICIOUS. I DON’T EVEN KNOW IF SHE KNOWS ABOUT LIZZY COMING. THE LESS SHE KNOWS THE BETTER. DRED I HAD HEARD IRENE’S FINANCES WERE REALLY STRETCHED. HARRIET WHICH MEANS SOME OR ALL OF US WILL BE SOLD SOON AND WE MAY ALL BE SEPARATED.

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DRED SO MAYBE WE SHOULD FILE A PETITION FOR FREEDOM NOW. I KNOW WHERE TO GET THE FORMS AT THE COURT HOUSE.

HARRIET AND I’VE LEARNED FROM THE GERMAN ABOLITIONIST FAMILY SOME ATTORNEYS IN ST. LOUIS WHO MAY HELP US GET FREE. I’M NOT WAITING ANY LONGER. I DON’T WANT TO LOSE MY FAMILY AND DAUGHTERS TO SLAVERY LIKE I LOST MY FAMILY IN VIRGINIA YEARS AGO. I WILL NOT LET THIS HAPPEN. DRED GREAT! I’LL GET THE FORMS AND HAVE A CLOSE FRIEND FILL THEM OUT WHO CAN READ AND WRITE.

fort snelling, minnesota territory

HARRIET IS HE A FRIEND OF ATTORNEY MURDOCH WHO HELPS FREE A LOT OF SLAVES? DRED YES, HE’S A GOOD PERSON. HE’LL FILL OUT THE FORMS IMMEDIATELY FOR US. WE CAN FILE ON APRIL 6TH. I ALREADY HAD CHECKED OUT COURT FILING DATES. HARRIET GO AHEAD AND GET ALL THIS DONE-I’LL BE HIDING LIZZY AT THE GERMAN MANSION BASEMENT ON BREMEN AVENUE. YOU CAN SNEAK IN AT NIGHT PRETTY EASILY. DRED OK-I’LL SEE YOU WHEN ALL THE PAPERS ARE DONE. IS THE BABY SLEEPING NOW? HARRIET YES, SHE IS-SOUNDLY-SHE CAN’T WAIT TO BE FREE. GOOD NIGHT AND LOVE.

court house, st louis, missouri

DRED GOOD NIGHT AND LOVE. I REALLY FEEL LIKE A FATHER ALL OVER AGAIN.

APRIL 6, 1846

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HARRIET ARE THE PAPERS FILED? DID WE GET THE PETITION CORRECT, DRED? DRED YES WE DID. ATTORNEY CHARLES DRAKE WHO MARRIED PATSY BLOW HELPED A BIT. HARRIET WE NOW JUST HAVE TO WAIT FOR A COURT DATE, RIGHT? DRED YES, BUT THE FOLKS AT THE COURT HOUSE SAY IT WILL BE MONTHS SINCE THERE IS SUCH A BACK LOG OF CASES.

eugene field ‘s house

HARRIET I CAN’T WAIT-I’VE HEARD OF OTHER SLAVES RECENTLY WITH GOOD CAUSE PETITIONING FOR THEIR FREEDOM AND THE COURTS AT TIMES ARE GRANTING FREEDOM. I HOPE WE OBTAIN FREEDOM-OR AT LEAST ARE ABLE TO BUY OUR FREEDOM FROM IRENE. DRED WELL, THE BAD NEWS IS THAT IRENE WILL CONTEST OUR RELEASE-SHE WILL CONTEND THAT HER HUSBAND’S MILITARY PRESENCE WASN’T THE SAME THING AS A PERMANENT RESIDENCE IN FREE WISCONSIN COUNTRY. HARRIET I THINK IRENE WILL FIGHT AGAINST OUR RELEASE NO MATTER WHAT-WHETHER SHE HAS GOOD REASON OR NOT. DRED IT WILL BE A LONG FEW MONTHS-THEY WILL WORK US ESPECIALLY HARD NOW THAT THE SANFORDS, IRENE’S ORIGINAL FAMILY, AND EMERSONS KNOW WE WILL BE ASKING FOR FREEDOM THROUGH THE COURTS.

the field’s sons

HARRIET I DON’T FEEL SORRY FOR IRENE-SHE COULD’VE EASILY ALLOWED US TO GO FREE WITHOUT CONTESTING THIS-SHE KNOWS WE DESERVE THIS-BUT SHE IS SO PERSISTENT IN MAINTAINING OUR SLAVE STATUS. DRED I GUESS SO-I MEAN, I AGREE. BUT MUCH OF THIS IS FINANCIAL. NOW THAT WE HAVE FOUR OF US-ALL IRENE’S PROPERTY-WELL, SHE’S NOT ABOUT TO LET US GO. WE COULD GO FOR $4000 AS A FAMILY-OR HIGHER AS SEPARATE UNITS AT THE DOWNTOWN SLAVE AUCTIONS.

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HARRIET THAT IS WHY I WILL KEEP OUR DAUGHTERS IN THE GERMAN MANSION BASEMENT. IF IRENE WANTS TO SELL US, THERE IS A FREEDOM TRAIL OF ABOLITIONISTS THAT WE CAN PLUNGE INTO. DRED WE WOULD RISK BEING CAUGHT, WHIPPED, AND SENT SOUTH. WE’VE DISCUSSED THIS BEFORE. RECENTLY IT HASN’T LOOKED GOOD FOR ESCAPING NEGRO SLAVES. HARRIET THIS MAY HAPPEN ANYWAY, DRED. I DON’T TRUST IRENE OR THE SANFORD’S, THE COURTS, OR ANYONE. THE ONLY THING YOU CAN TRUST IS THE ABOLITIONIST SOCIETY PEOPLE-MANY WHO DON’T OPENLY PROCLAIM WHO THEY ARE BUT ACTIVELY SUPPORT OUR FREEDOM CAUSE. DRED WELL, OVER ON LEMP AVENUE THERE IS A CAVE THAT LEADS TO THE RIVER AND MANY OF THE SLAVES HAVE FOUND SECRET BOATS TAKING THEM TO ILLINOIS AND ON TO ALTON. HARRIET YES-I’VE HEARD THIS UNDERGROUND RAILROAD GOES ALL THE WAY TO CHICAGO AND EVEN MAINE AND CANADA.

Surrender of Fort Donelson, Tennessee

DRED BUT HARRIET, IF THE JUDGE GIVES US OUR FREEDOM, WE DON’T HAVE TO MOVE. WE STAY HERE WITH OUR FAMILY INTACT. IN FACT IF WE LEAVE AND ARE CAUGHT, THE FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW WILL REQUIRE US TO RETURN TO OUR MASTERS-IRENE AND HENRIETTA SANFORD. WE WILL CERTAINLY BE SOLD, WHIPPED, AND SEPARATED AT THAT POINT. HARRIET I JUST DON’T TRUST THE COURTS. I FULLY UNDERSTAND THE ABOLITIONISTS WANTING TO HELP AND ALL, BUT WHERE WILL THEY BE IF IRENE SENDS THE CALVARY AFTER US? THE MILITARY KNOWS THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD ALL THE WAY TO CANADA, WHERE MANY SLAVES GO. THE GOVERNMENT MAY CHASE US ALL THE WAY TO CANADA AND WE CAN BE EXTRADITED BACK TO THE UNITED STATES IF CAUGHT.

slave auction lithograph

DRED BUT THAT WOULD BE THE SUREST ESCAPE: JUST GO NORTH WITH OUR KIDS UNTIL WE ARE IN MONTREAL OR TORONTO. HARRIET I DON’T KNOW. DRED. GOING THAT FAR NORTH WITH TWO LITTLE KIDS, RISKING IRENE CHASING US . . . MAYBE 63

WE WILL LUCK OUT AND THE COURT WILL GIVE US OUR FREEDOM. DRED BUT MOST ASSUREDLY IRENE AND HENRIETTA WILL CONTEST THE RULING IF THEY DON’T WIN. HARRIET WELL, AT LEAST WE MAY AT SOME POINT BE ABLE TO BUY OUR FREEDOM FROM HER. SHE MAY TIRE FROM THE FREEDOM SUIT-AND IT MAY DAMAGE HER REPUTATION.

Roswell field

DRED IT MAY DAMAGE IRENE’S REPUTATION IF SHE DOESN’T CONTEST THE FREEDOM SUIT. YOU KNOW THE CROWD SHE MIXES WITH. FOR NOW WE’LL KEEP THE GIRLS AT THE GERMAN MANSION AND WE’LL JUST STAY IN THIS LOVELY HOMEY LEAN-TO IN DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS. IF IRENE WOULD AT LEAST PROVIDE US SOME SHELTER IT WOULD BE NICE. HARRIET I’D RATHER STAY HERE. IRENE ONLY CARES IF YOU SHOW UP AND WORK AT THE GROCER’S BUSINESS, WHICH ISN’T BAD. AT LEAST THAT FAMILY TREATS US WELL. I’LL TAKE LIZZY OVER TO THE GERMAN MANSION TONIGHT. DRED OK-I’LL CHECK, AT THE COURTHOUSE TOMORROW AND SEE IF OUR CASE HAS MOVED UP. GOOD NIGHT AND LOVE. LOVE.

HARRIET End of Chapter 4, Beloved Harriet.

sign to field house, modern day

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