The Story of Mattie J. Jackson | Page 6

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my work without interruption until three weeks after. One morning I
entered Mrs. Lewis' room, and she was in a room adjoining,
complaining of something I had neglected. Mr. L. then enquired if I

had done my work. I told him I had. She then flew into a rage and told
him I was saucy, and to strike me, and he immediately gave me a
severe blow with a stick of wood, which inflicted a deep wound upon
my head. The blood ran over my clothing, which gave me a frightful
appearance. Mr. Lewis then ordered me to change my clothing
immediately. As I did not obey he became more enraged, and pulled
me into another room and threw me on the floor, placed his knee on my
stomach, slapped me on the face and beat me with his fist, and would
have punished me more had not my mother interfered. He then told her
to go away or he would compel her to, but she remained until he left
me. I struggled mightily, and stood him a good test for a while, but he
was fast conquering me when my mother came. He was aware my
mother could usually defend herself against one man, and both of us
would overpower him, so after giving his wife strict orders to take me
up stairs and keep me there, he took his carriage and drove away. But
she forgot it, as usual. She was highly gratified with my appropriate
treatment, as she called it, and retired to her room, leaving me to myself.
I then went to my mother and told her I was going away. She bid me go,
and added "May the Lord help you." I started for the Arsenal again and
succeeded in gaining admittance and seeing the Adjutant. He ordered
me to go to another tent, where there was a woman in similar
circumstances, cooking. When the General found I was there he sent
me to the boarding house. I remained there three weeks, and when I
went I wore the same stained clothing as when I was so severely
punished, which has left a mark on my head which will ever remind me
of my treatment while in slavery. Thanks be to God, though tortured by
wrong and goaded by oppression, the hearts that would madden with
misery have broken the iron yoke.

MR. LEWIS CALLS AT THE BOARDING HOUSE
At the expiration of three weeks Mr. Lewis called at my boarding house,
accompanied by his brother-in-law, and enquired for me, and the
General informed him where I was. He then told me my mother was
very anxious for me to come home, and I returned. The General had
ordered Mr. Lewis to call at headquarters, when he told him if he had

treated me right I would not have been compelled to seek protection of
him; that my first appearance was sufficient proof of his cruelty. Mr. L.
promised to take me home and treat me kindly. Instead of fulfilling his
promise he carried me to the trader's yard, where, to my great surprise,
I found my mother. She had been there during my absence, where she
was kept for fear she would find me and take my brother and sister and
make her escape. There was so much excitement at that time, (1861),
by the Union soldiers rendering the fugitives shelter and protection, he
was aware that if she applied to them, as he did not fulfill his promise
in my case, he would stand a poor chance. If my mother made
application to them for protection they would learn that he did not
return me home, and immediately detect the intrigue. After I was safely
secured in the trader's yard, Mr. L. took my mother home. I remained in
the yard three months. Near the termination of the time of my
confinement I was passing by the office when the cook of the Arsenal
saw and recognized me and informed the General that Mr. L. had
disobeyed his orders, and had put me in the trader's yard instead of
taking me home. The General immediately arrested Mr. L. and gave
him one hundred lashes with the cowhide, so that they might identify
him by a scarred back, as well as his slaves. My mother had the
pleasure of washing his stained clothes, otherwise it would not have
been known. My master was compelled to pay three thousand dollars
and let me out. He then put me to service, where I remained seven
months, after which he came in great haste and took me into the city
and put me into the trader's yard again. After he received the
punishment he treated my mother and the children worse than ever,
which caused her to