Thomas Wright's Diary

October 1859

                                    1, October 1859

Ma and Betsy returned! Lan sakes I am happy! Betsy never looked so good, Ma looked a little older thinkin could be she is just tired an all. Mister Bowman a clear those thirty acres fer us.
We get 400 fer the wood, plus some of the branches fer firewood. Hell I know I am bein took fer the lumber. Still can'ts turns it down, need the ground ta increase the crops.

Slaves be out Monday ta start. Saturday Betsy wants ta go ta Church, in the mornin. Fine just do some fishin. No Sermon don't want ta hear it. Uncle Thom, he is stayin out in the cabin him an Poppy built. When they first came. Last time I checked they was snakes in it, rattlers they was. Thom either a fool or just don't care. My thinkin is both. Last thin before I close fer the day.

Made sure, that on my death Betsy, is freed. Theo Bowman will make, sure she is sent North ta Canada. He told me he would. Theo is a good man, hope ta be as good as him, one day. Theo has improved in his math, that I'm proud of. Make a fine Officer he will. That's it fer the day.

                                  2, October 1859

Betsy went on ta Church,well, I went fishin didn't catch a thin. Was in the mood fer some fish, guess won't be havin fish fer supper. Tuey showed about the time, I was leavin. Was all smiles, say Sunday Thomas, should be happy, why they is no work taday. Told him hope he has better luck, patted him on the back. I say, Tuey enjoy ya time.

Betsy as always was happy, seems she go ta Church in a might fine mood. Don't think it's all Church, think maybe it be with her few friends.  Uncle Thom caught some fish over near the New Place.
Five good size bass. We had that some fried tatters an cornbread. My what a supper.

He brought some beer, four lan sakes they was good, that lager is good. Uncle Thom he starts as an Overseer fer Mister Bowman, on Monday. Wonder how long that a last. Well best get some sleep, Betsy just went up, been a while.

                            4, October 1859

Slaves worked till well past the sun goin down. They was puttin tools away after dark. Could hear thum as they sat down ta eat. Loud at first then slowly it got quiet. I could hear, thank ya Lor fer this food. They ate Grits little bacon fat poured over it, biscuits. How they can work after a meal like that, never know. Probably have rice an cornbread tomorrow.

Told Betsy ta see they gets some pigs feet or fatback fer supper. She say don't have any. I nodded say have ta see about a little meat. Don't need thum not eatin right. Talk ta Bowman tomorrow about some fatback. They made decent progress taday. Late best get some sleep.

                             6, October 1859

Finally got some fatback, they least have meat.
Enough fer two days if done right, maybe three.
Got couple acres cleared, stumps not gone but the trees fell and all the branches an such cleared. Uncle Thom say he a start the stumps after we clear four more acres. The rest aren't near as many tight small trees like the four acres are. That was land first cleared when, Poppy an uncle Thom came ta Kentucky. Land been restin now ten years.

Good crew a workin an overseers with them, they aren't over pushin the work. Over hard on the slaves. They worked again till well past the sunset.

Betsy fried up some apples an pressed some cider the past couple days. Havin fried apples bacon an few beans. Most the apples have been pressed inta cider few left ta go inta the cellar. Betsy has been happy. Mostly smiles laughin. Think she finally came out of that hole she was in. Might frisky also, makes fer couple good nights. Late guess I best check on the overseers. Before bed.

                        7, October 1859

Some progress made, it rained hard taday. Taa hard ground got wet and muddy. The type that make loggin dangerous. Don't needs people gettin killed like last year. Rather it take an extra three days ta a week. Some worked on sharpenin the tools. Others they cleaned brush cut that fer firewood. Uncle Thom kept thum busy best he could.

Doctor was out, James wife was ready, that baby wasn't waitin. Sent Betsy ta help out, James he was excited. Lan sakes looked happy, just hope Betsy do a good job. Baby comes healthy an all.

                            8, October 1859

Just hit the 8th, little after midnight. Baby boy came inta this world. Lan sakes didn't think it ever come. James well it's his an Sara's first. Sara looks plum tuckered Betsy don't look much better.

Me an Betsy slept on the floor near the front of the small cabin. That late wasn't about ta try makin it home. Don't know ifin Betsy slept good or not. Know I didn't. We left about sun up. Betsy made sure they gots breakfast an Sara's sister showed up ta help out.

They worked best they could with the mud makin thins worse. About seven called a stop, had the overseers get thum back to Rivers Edge. Saturday, Betsy wants ta go ta Church, tomorrow. Still early not yet eight, think I best sleep.

                               21, October 1859

Friday had ta go inta Ripley, needed few axe handles. Three be exact, had beer an sausage at Joe's Saloon. Looked at the paper, seems that feller John Brown. The one from Bleeding Kansas, Raided Harpers Ferry. Took the Arsenal in Harpers Ferry, hopin the Slaves would revolt an come to him. Done that on the 16th a Sunday ta beat all.

On the 17th a Colonel Robert E. Lee and a Lieutenant J.E.B. Stuart arrived, on the 19th they over ran that Fool. Ten men were killed includin two of his sons. Now I call him a fool, he should of been hung in Kanas fer murder. Slave uprisin with no advance help settin it up. Sure been a few revolts.

Gotta think, that mean death ta a slave, no if ans or buts. Hope they hang him this time. Takin over a federal Arsenal.  Took the paper with me, want ta read more. Other than that news, day was normal.

                               Few Facts

George Washington established the Arsenal at Happers Ferry. Impressed by it's location at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers.
By 1796 the Arsenal was established, machine shop and rifle works were established. Bringing work and Industry to Happers Ferry.

This made Happers Ferry a transportation hub, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal and the Baltimore and Ohio railroad all had hubs in Happers Ferry.

Happers Ferry was a strategic site, changing hands 14 times during the War. Little known fact although located in what was known as Virginia. The only State formed due to the Civil War West Virginia is it's actually location. If you remember I mentioned this earlier in my Tidbits of History.

One towns member said when the Union had the town they were referred to as Rebles when the Confederacy had the town Yankees.

Another interesting Tidbit Saint Peters a Roman Catholic Church, flew the British Flag to avoid destruction during the Conflict. It went undamaged the entire Conflict. Being used as a makeshift Hospital, by both sides.

As always thanks for your support vote comment if you please.