The Colored Cadet at West Point | Page 5

himself till death to agricultural pursuits.
The nature of the marriage contract prevented the selling of any of the
property without the mutual consent of husband and wife. No such
consent was ever asked for by either. No one was, therefore, in that
state of affairs, afraid of being sold away from his or her relatives,
although their mistress frequently threatened so to sell them. "I'll send
you to Red River," was a common menace of hers, but perfectly
harmless, for all knew, as well as she did, that it was impossible to
carry it into execution.
In this condition of affairs the "servants" were even more contented
than ever. They hired their time, as usual, and paid their wages to their

mistress, whose only thought or care was to remember when it became
due, and then to receive it.
The guardian, an influential stockholder in several railroads, and who
resided in another city, made periodical visits to inspect and do
whatever was necessary to a proper discharge of his duties.
Circumstances being highly favorable, one of the mechanics, who had
acquired the rudiments of an education, applied to this dissolute
mistress for permission to teach the children of her "servants." She
readily consented, and, accordingly, a night- School was opened in the
very woodshop in which he worked by day. Here young Flipper was
initiated into the first of the three mysterious R's, viz., "reading 'riting
and 'rithmetic." Here, in 1864, at eight years of age, his education
began. And the first book he ever studied--I dare say ever saw--was a
confederate reprint of Webster's "Blueback Speller." His then tutor has
since graduated at Westminster College in Pennsylvania, and is, at the
time of this writing, United States Consul at Malaga, Spain, having
served in the same capacity for four years at Port Mahon, Spain.
But alas! even this happy arrangement was destined to be disturbed.
This dissolute mistress and her slaves, with all valuable movable
property, were compelled to flee before Sherman's victorious arms.
Macon, a city just one hundred and three miles south-east of Atlanta,
became the new home of the Flippers. A spacious dwelling was secured
in West Macon. In a part of this was stored away Mrs. Ponder's plate
and furniture, under the guardianship of Flipper, who with his family
occupied the rest of the house. Here all was safe. The terrible fate of
Atlanta was not extended to Macon. The only cause of alarm was
Wilson, who approached the city from the east, and, having thrown in a
few shells, withdrew without doing further damage or being molested.
Every body was frightened, and it was deemed advisable to transfer
Mrs. Ponder's effects to Fort Valley, a small place farther south.
However, before this could be done, it became indisputably known that
Wilson had withdrawn.
After an uneventful stay--other than this incident just related--of nine
months in Macon, the office of custodian was resigned, and although

yet a slave, as far as he knew, and without permission from any one,
Flipper returned to Atlanta with his wife and two sons, Henry, the elder,
and Joseph, the younger. This was in the spring of 1865. Atlanta was in
ruins, and it appeared a dreary place indeed to start anew on the
unfinished journey of life. Every thing was not destroyed, however. A
few houses remained. One of these was occupied. The people were
rapidly returning, and the railroads from Atlanta were rapidly being
rebuilt.
During all this time the education of the young Flippers had been
necessarily neglected. In the early spring of 1865, the family of an
ex-rebel captain became neighbors of the Flippers, now well to do, and
were soon on the most, friendly terms with them. With remarkable
condescension the wife of this ex-rebel offered to instruct Henry and
Joseph for a small remuneration. The Offer was readily and gladly
accepted, and the education of the two, so long neglected, was taken up
again. This private school of only two pupils existed but a short time.
The American Missionary Association having opened better schools,
the Flippers were, in March, 1866, transferred to them. They attended
school there till in 1867 the famous Storrs' School was opened under
the control of the American Missionary Association, when they went
there. In 1869, the Atlanta University having been opened under the
same auspices, they entered there. At the time of receiving his
appointment Henry was a member of the freshman class of the
collegiate department. His class graduated there in June, 1876, just one
year before he did at West Point.
The following article from a Thomasville paper, published in June,
1874, will give further information concerning his early life:
"'It is not generally known that Atlanta has a negro cadet at the United
States National Military Academy