Introduction
The “Testimony by the Superintendent of Contrabands at Fortress Monroe, Virginia, before the American Freedmen’s Inquiry Commission,” was given by a Superintendent from Virginia in 1863. In this document, he describes his experience of encountering slaves that were running away from North Carolina. The “Testimony by the Superintendent of Contrabands at Fortress Monroe, Virginia, before the American Freedmen’s Inquiry Commission,” is proof that the slaves in the 19th century were seeking freedom, by escaping from their plantations, undergoing dangerous long-distance journeys, and returning to salve states to save their families.
The Testimony
Firstly, before slavery was abolished completely in the United States, African-Americans made attempts to escape from their masters. In the first section of this testimony, the Superintendent discusses his encounters with enslaved Americans who escaped from North Carolina – “some 10,000 have come under our control” (“Testimony by the Superintendent”). As the Superintendent notes in the subsequent paragraphs, these are only some of the people he met personally, suggesting that the number of African-Americans escaping slavery was significantly larger. Therefore, in 1863 many African Americans attempted to escape from North Carolina and go to Virginia.
Next, the former slaves escaped regardless of the dangers and many unknowns, searching for freedom. As the Superintendent suggests, many of them were ready to go on a journey, not knowing if they would be sent to Cuba or if people in Virginia would “put balls on their legs” (“Testimony by the Superintendent”). However, between choosing to work for free in inhuman conditions and a chance of having freedom, even considering the dangers, they chose the latter. According to the testimony, “ there was one gang that started from Richmond 23 strong and only 3 got through” (“Testimony by the Superintendent”). This means that out of more than twenty people, only three managed to get the Fortress Monroe. Presumably, the others died or were captured during this journey. Thus, the slaves choose a dangerous journey to escape from their masters.
Thirdly, some former slaves had to leave their families – wives, and children because they did not know if the rumors about freedom were true. As the Superintendent notes, some told him that they would earn some money and go back to bring their families to Fort Monroe (“Testimony by the Superintendent”). The return would be as dangerous as the initial journey since the slaves risked being captured by their masters. However, after ensuring that they could live as free people in Virginia, they went back to bring their families.
Next, even when the slaves reached Fortress Monroe, they risked being captured and returned to their masters. Some soldiers collaborated with slaveowners to sell the African-Americans who escaped back into slavery. This is another example of the danger that slaves faced since even after they reached the Fortress, their masters would chase them. The Superintendent described this in the following manner – “masters will come into Suffolk in the daytime and with the help of some of the 99th carry off their fugitives” (“Testimony by the Superintendent”). The soldiers were paid to catch the former slaves and return them to their masters. Therefore, even after African-Americans reached Fortress Monroe, they were in danger because the soldiers were ready to sell them back into slavery.
Finally, at the time of the testimony, the laws and social attitudes towards slavery and people escaping from it were changing. One of the questions to the Superintendent implies that the local government wanted to change policies applied to African-Americans. The Superintendent was asked if “a change in our policy which would cause them to be treated with fairness” would affect slaves in other states (“Testimony by the Superintendent”). Hence, some historical context of the events should be discussed. The “Fort Monroe Doctrine,” issued by Major General Benjamin Butler on May 27, 1861, gave the right to escaping male slaves who came to the Union lines to be considered contraband and thus, not to be returned (Foner, 2008). This decision led to thousands of African Americans fleeing to the Fort and subsequently to the Union.
It is essential to mention that this Testimony was given before the American Freedmen’s Inquiry Commission. The latter was designed to investigate the status of former slaves, their living conditions, their settlement, and the protection of their rights (Foner, 2008). Conducted in March 1863, it involved interviewing former slaves of the American South and field commanders of the Union field. Hence, this testimony reflects some of the changes in the way American society viewed slaves and slavery in the 19th century.
Conclusion
Overall, this testimony is proof that many slaves were unhappy with their role and the treatment they received from the slaveowners and tried to escape to free states. The significance of this topic is the importance of having historical evidence that proves the unfair treatment of enslaved African-Americans. Moreover, as suggested by the Superintendent, in 1863, many slaves attempted to escape from Nort Carolina and undergo a dangerous journey to be free.
Works Cited
Foner, Eric. Give Me Liberty! An American History.Brief Volume I. 5th ed., WW Norton & Company, 2017.
“Testimony by the Superintendent of Contrabands at Fortress Monroe, Virginia, before the American Freedmen’s Inquiry Commission.” Freedmen and Southern Society Project, Web.