Twelve Years a Slave (AmazonClassics Edition) by Northup Solomon

Author:Northup, Solomon [Northup, Solomon]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
ISBN: 9781542099615
Publisher: Amazon Classics
Published: 2017-12-04T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 14

Destruction of the Cotton Crop in 1845—Demand For Laborers in St. Mary’s Parish—Sent Thither in a Drove—The Order of the March—The Grand Coteau—Hired To Judge Turner on Bayou Salle—Appointed Driver in His Sugar House—Sunday Services Slave Furniture, How Obtained—The Party at Yarney’s in Centreville—Good Fortune—The Captain of the Steamer—His Refusal To Secrete Me—Return To Bayou Bœuf—Sight of Tibeats—Patsey’s Sorrows—Tumult and Contention—Hunting the Coon and Opossum—The Cunning of the Latter—The Lean Condition of the Slave—Description of the Fish Trap—The Murder of the Man from Natchez—Epps Challenged By Marshall—The Influence of Slavery—The Love of Freedom.

The first year of Epps’ residence on the bayou, 1845, the caterpillars almost totally destroyed the cotton crop throughout that region. There was little to be done, so that the slaves were necessarily idle half the time. However, there came a rumor to Bayou Bœuf that wages were high, and laborers in great demand on the sugar plantations in St. Mary’s parish. This parish is situated on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, about one hundred and forty miles from Avoyelles. The Rio Teche, a considerable stream, flows through St. Mary’s to the gulf.

It was determined by the planters, on the receipt of this intelligence, to make up a drove of slaves to be sent down to Tuckapaw in St. Mary’s, for the purpose of hiring them out in the cane fields. Accordingly, in the month of September, there were one hundred and forty-seven collected at Holmesville, Abram, Bob and myself among the number. Of these about one-half were women. Epps, Alonson Pierce, Henry Toler, and Addison Roberts, were the white men, selected to accompany, and take charge of the drove. They had a two-horse carriage and two saddle horses for their use. A large wagon, drawn by four horses, and driven by John, a boy belonging to Mr. Roberts, carried the blankets and provisions.

About 2 o’clock in the afternoon, having been fed, preparations were made to depart. The duty assigned me was, to take charge of the blankets and provisions, and see that none were lost by the way. The carriage proceeded in advance, the wagon following; behind this the slaves were arranged, while the two horsemen brought up the rear, and in this order the procession moved out of Holmesville.

That night we reached a Mr. McCrow’s plantation, a distance of ten or fifteen miles, when we were ordered to halt. Large fires were built, and each one spreading his blanket on the ground, laid down upon it. The white men lodged in the great house. An hour before day we were aroused by the drivers coming among us, cracking their whips and ordering us to arise. Then the blankets were rolled up, and being severally delivered to me and deposited in the wagon, the procession set forth again.

The following night it rained violently. We were all drenched, our clothes saturated with mud and water. Reaching an open shed, formerly a gin-house, we found beneath it such shelter as it afforded. There was not room for all of us to lay down.

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