Comments
on W.
Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Henry Bibb, an American Slave, Written
In 1839 "Bro.
"
Gatewood sold me to Madison Garrison, a slave trader, of Louisville,
Kentucky, with my wife and child--at a depreciated price because I was
a runaway. In the same year he sold me with my family to "Bro. "
Whitfield, in the city of New Orleans, for $1200. In 1841 "Bro. "
Whitfield sold me from my family to Thomas Wilson and Co. , blacklegs.
In the same year they sold me to a "Bro. " in the Indian Territory. I
think he was a member of the Presbyterian Church. F. E. Whitfield was a
deacon in regular standing in the Baptist Church. A. Sibley was a
Methodist exhorter of the M. E. Church in good standing. J. Sibley was
a class-leader in the same church; and Wm. Gatewood was also an
acceptable member of the same church.
Is this Christianity? Is it honest or right? Is it doing as we would
be done by? Is it in accordance with the principles of humanity or
justice?
I believe slaveholding to be a sin against God and man under all
circumstances. I have no sympathy with the person or persons who
tolerate and support the system willingly and knowingly, morally,
religiously or politically.
Prayerfully and earnestly relying on the power of truth, and the aid
of the divine providence, I trust that this little volume will bear
some humble part in lighting up the path of freedom and
revolutionizing public opinion upon this great subject. And I here
pledge myself, God being my helper, ever to contend for the natural
equality of the human family, without regard to color, which is but
fading _matter_, while _mind_ makes the man.
NEW YORK CITY, _May 1, 1849_.
HENRY BIBB.
INDEX.
Introduction. 1
Author's Preface. 12
Chap. I. --
Sketch of my Parentage, 15.
Early separation from my Mother, 15.
Hard Fare, 16.
First Experiments at running away, 16.
Earnest longing for Freedom, 17.
Abhorrent nature of Slavery, 18.
Chap. II. --
A fruitless effort for education, 19.
The Sabbath among Slaves, 19.
Degrading amusements, 19.
Why religion is rejected, 20.
Condition of poor white people, 20.
Superstition among slaves, 21.
Education forbidden, 25.
Chap. III. --
My Courtship and Marriage, 26.
Change of owner, 31.
My first born, 32.
Its sufferings, 32.
My wife abused, 33.
My own anguish, 33.
Chap. IV. --
My first adventure for liberty, 34.
Parting Scene, 34.
Journey up the river, 35.
Safe arrival in Cincinnati, 36.
Journey to Canada, 37.
Suffering from cold and hunger, 38.
Denied food and shelter by some, 38.
One noble exception, 38.
Subsequent success, 39.
Arrival at Perrysburgh, 39.
Obtain employment through the winter, 39.
My return to Kentucky to get my family, 40.
Chap. V--
My safe arrival at Kentucky, 41.
Surprise and delight to find my family, 41.
Plan for their escape, projected, 42.
Return to Cincinnati, 43.
My betrayal by traitors, 43.
Imprisonment in Covington, Kentucky, 45.
Return to slavery, 46.
Infamous proposal of the slave catchers, 47.
My reply, 47.
Chap. VI. --
Arrival at Louisville, Kentucky, 50.
Efforts to sell me, 50.
Fortunate escape from the man-stealers in the public street, 51.
I return to Bedford, Ky. , 55.
The rescue of my family again attempted, 55.
I started alone expecting them to follow, 2.
After waiting some months I resolve to go back again to Kentucky, 57.
Chap. VII. --
My safe return to Kentucky, 58.
The perils I encountered there, 59.
Again betrayed, and taken by a mob, ironed and imprisoned, 60.
Narrow escape from death, 62.
Life in a slave prison, 63.
Chap. VIII. --
Character of my prison companions, 65.
Jail breaking contemplated, 66.
Defeat of our plan, 67.
My wife and child removed, 67.
Disgraceful proposal to her, and cruel punishment, 67.
Our departure in a coffle for New Orleans, 68.
Events of our journey, 69.
Chap. IX. --
Our arrival and examination at Vicksburg, 70.
An account of slave sales, 71.
Cruel punishment with the paddle, 71.
Attempts to sell myself by Garrison's direction, 72.
Amusing interview with a slave buyer, 73.
Deacon Whitfield's examination, 74.
He purchases the family, 75.
Character of the Deacon, 75.
Chap. X. --
Cruel treatment on Whitfield's farm, 77.
Exposure of the children, 77.
Mode of extorting extra labor, 78.
Neglect of the sick, 80.
Strange medicine used, 80.
Death of our second child, 81.
Chap. XI. --
I attend a prayer meeting, 82.
Punishment therefor threatened, 82.
I attempt to escape alone, 82.
My return to take my family, 84.
Our sufferings, 85.
Dreadful attack of wolves, 85.
Our recapture, 88.
Chap. XII. --
My sad condition before Whitfield, 89.
My terrible punishment, 89.
Incidents of a former attempt to escape, 91.
Jack at a farm house, 92.
Six pigs and a turkey, 93.
Our surprise and arrest, 94.
Chap. XIII. --
I am sold to gamblers, 96.
They try to purchase my family, 97.
Our parting scene, 98.
My good usage, 99.
I am sold to an Indian, 100.
His confidence in my integrity manifested, 100.
Chap. XIV--
Character of my Indian Master, 101.
Slavery among the Indians less cruel, 101.
Indian carousal, 102.
Enfeebled health of my Indian Master, 102.
His death, 102.
My escape, 103.
Adventure in a wigwam, 103.
Successful progress toward liberty, 104.
Chap. XV
Adventure on the Prairie, 106.
I borrow a horse without leave, 108.
Rapid traveling one whole night, 108.
Apology for using other men's horses, 109.
My manner of living on the road, 109.
Chap. XVI.
Stratagem to get on board the steamer, 111.
My Irish friends, 112.
My success in reaching the Ohio, 113.
Reflections on again seeing Kentucky, 113.
I get employment in a hotel, 113.
My fright at seeing the gambler who sold me, 114.
I leave Ohio with Mr. Smith, 115.
His letter, 115.
My education, 116.
Chap. XVII.
Letter from W. H. Gatewood, 117.
My reply, 118.
My efforts as a public lecturer, 119.
Singular incident in Steubenville, 119.
Meeting with a friend of Whitfield in Michigan, 121.
Outrage on a canal packet, 122.
Fruitless efforts to find my wife, 124.
Chap. XVIII.
My last effort to recover my family, 126.
Sad tidings of my wife, 126.
Her degradation, 126.
I am compelled to regard our relation as dissolved for ever, 127.
Chap. XIX.
Comments on S. Gatewood's letter about slaves stealing, 130.
Their conduct vindicated, 131.
Comments on W. Gatewood's letter, 132.
Chap. XX.
Review of my narrative, 134.
Licentiousness a prop of Slavery, 134.
A case of mild slavery given, 135.
Its revolting features, 135.
Times of my purchase and sale by professed Christians, 136.
Concluding remarks, 137.
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Gatewood sold me to Madison Garrison, a slave trader, of Louisville,
Kentucky, with my wife and child--at a depreciated price because I was
a runaway. In the same year he sold me with my family to "Bro. "
Whitfield, in the city of New Orleans, for $1200. In 1841 "Bro. "
Whitfield sold me from my family to Thomas Wilson and Co. , blacklegs.
In the same year they sold me to a "Bro. " in the Indian Territory. I
think he was a member of the Presbyterian Church. F. E. Whitfield was a
deacon in regular standing in the Baptist Church. A. Sibley was a
Methodist exhorter of the M. E. Church in good standing. J. Sibley was
a class-leader in the same church; and Wm. Gatewood was also an
acceptable member of the same church.
Is this Christianity? Is it honest or right? Is it doing as we would
be done by? Is it in accordance with the principles of humanity or
justice?
I believe slaveholding to be a sin against God and man under all
circumstances. I have no sympathy with the person or persons who
tolerate and support the system willingly and knowingly, morally,
religiously or politically.
Prayerfully and earnestly relying on the power of truth, and the aid
of the divine providence, I trust that this little volume will bear
some humble part in lighting up the path of freedom and
revolutionizing public opinion upon this great subject. And I here
pledge myself, God being my helper, ever to contend for the natural
equality of the human family, without regard to color, which is but
fading _matter_, while _mind_ makes the man.
NEW YORK CITY, _May 1, 1849_.
HENRY BIBB.
INDEX.
Introduction. 1
Author's Preface. 12
Chap. I. --
Sketch of my Parentage, 15.
Early separation from my Mother, 15.
Hard Fare, 16.
First Experiments at running away, 16.
Earnest longing for Freedom, 17.
Abhorrent nature of Slavery, 18.
Chap. II. --
A fruitless effort for education, 19.
The Sabbath among Slaves, 19.
Degrading amusements, 19.
Why religion is rejected, 20.
Condition of poor white people, 20.
Superstition among slaves, 21.
Education forbidden, 25.
Chap. III. --
My Courtship and Marriage, 26.
Change of owner, 31.
My first born, 32.
Its sufferings, 32.
My wife abused, 33.
My own anguish, 33.
Chap. IV. --
My first adventure for liberty, 34.
Parting Scene, 34.
Journey up the river, 35.
Safe arrival in Cincinnati, 36.
Journey to Canada, 37.
Suffering from cold and hunger, 38.
Denied food and shelter by some, 38.
One noble exception, 38.
Subsequent success, 39.
Arrival at Perrysburgh, 39.
Obtain employment through the winter, 39.
My return to Kentucky to get my family, 40.
Chap. V--
My safe arrival at Kentucky, 41.
Surprise and delight to find my family, 41.
Plan for their escape, projected, 42.
Return to Cincinnati, 43.
My betrayal by traitors, 43.
Imprisonment in Covington, Kentucky, 45.
Return to slavery, 46.
Infamous proposal of the slave catchers, 47.
My reply, 47.
Chap. VI. --
Arrival at Louisville, Kentucky, 50.
Efforts to sell me, 50.
Fortunate escape from the man-stealers in the public street, 51.
I return to Bedford, Ky. , 55.
The rescue of my family again attempted, 55.
I started alone expecting them to follow, 2.
After waiting some months I resolve to go back again to Kentucky, 57.
Chap. VII. --
My safe return to Kentucky, 58.
The perils I encountered there, 59.
Again betrayed, and taken by a mob, ironed and imprisoned, 60.
Narrow escape from death, 62.
Life in a slave prison, 63.
Chap. VIII. --
Character of my prison companions, 65.
Jail breaking contemplated, 66.
Defeat of our plan, 67.
My wife and child removed, 67.
Disgraceful proposal to her, and cruel punishment, 67.
Our departure in a coffle for New Orleans, 68.
Events of our journey, 69.
Chap. IX. --
Our arrival and examination at Vicksburg, 70.
An account of slave sales, 71.
Cruel punishment with the paddle, 71.
Attempts to sell myself by Garrison's direction, 72.
Amusing interview with a slave buyer, 73.
Deacon Whitfield's examination, 74.
He purchases the family, 75.
Character of the Deacon, 75.
Chap. X. --
Cruel treatment on Whitfield's farm, 77.
Exposure of the children, 77.
Mode of extorting extra labor, 78.
Neglect of the sick, 80.
Strange medicine used, 80.
Death of our second child, 81.
Chap. XI. --
I attend a prayer meeting, 82.
Punishment therefor threatened, 82.
I attempt to escape alone, 82.
My return to take my family, 84.
Our sufferings, 85.
Dreadful attack of wolves, 85.
Our recapture, 88.
Chap. XII. --
My sad condition before Whitfield, 89.
My terrible punishment, 89.
Incidents of a former attempt to escape, 91.
Jack at a farm house, 92.
Six pigs and a turkey, 93.
Our surprise and arrest, 94.
Chap. XIII. --
I am sold to gamblers, 96.
They try to purchase my family, 97.
Our parting scene, 98.
My good usage, 99.
I am sold to an Indian, 100.
His confidence in my integrity manifested, 100.
Chap. XIV--
Character of my Indian Master, 101.
Slavery among the Indians less cruel, 101.
Indian carousal, 102.
Enfeebled health of my Indian Master, 102.
His death, 102.
My escape, 103.
Adventure in a wigwam, 103.
Successful progress toward liberty, 104.
Chap. XV
Adventure on the Prairie, 106.
I borrow a horse without leave, 108.
Rapid traveling one whole night, 108.
Apology for using other men's horses, 109.
My manner of living on the road, 109.
Chap. XVI.
Stratagem to get on board the steamer, 111.
My Irish friends, 112.
My success in reaching the Ohio, 113.
Reflections on again seeing Kentucky, 113.
I get employment in a hotel, 113.
My fright at seeing the gambler who sold me, 114.
I leave Ohio with Mr. Smith, 115.
His letter, 115.
My education, 116.
Chap. XVII.
Letter from W. H. Gatewood, 117.
My reply, 118.
My efforts as a public lecturer, 119.
Singular incident in Steubenville, 119.
Meeting with a friend of Whitfield in Michigan, 121.
Outrage on a canal packet, 122.
Fruitless efforts to find my wife, 124.
Chap. XVIII.
My last effort to recover my family, 126.
Sad tidings of my wife, 126.
Her degradation, 126.
I am compelled to regard our relation as dissolved for ever, 127.
Chap. XIX.
Comments on S. Gatewood's letter about slaves stealing, 130.
Their conduct vindicated, 131.
Comments on W. Gatewood's letter, 132.
Chap. XX.
Review of my narrative, 134.
Licentiousness a prop of Slavery, 134.
A case of mild slavery given, 135.
Its revolting features, 135.
Times of my purchase and sale by professed Christians, 136.
Concluding remarks, 137.
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