The Story of Mattie J. Jackson | Page 7

take her children and secrete themselves in the city,
and would have remained undetected had it not been for a traitor who
pledged himself to keep the secret. But King Whiskey fired up his brain
one evening, and out popped the secret. My mother and sister were
consequently taken and committed to the trader's yard. My little brother
was then eight years of age, my sister sixteen, and myself eighteen. We
remained there two weeks, when a rough looking man, called Capt.
Tirrell, came to the yard and enquired for our family. After he had
examined us he remarked that we were a fine looking family, and bid
us retire. In about two hours he returned, at the edge of the evening,
with a covered wagon, and took my mother and brother and sister and

left me. My mother refused to go without me, and told him she would
raise an alarm. He advised her to remain as quiet as possible. At length
she was compelled to go. When she entered the wagon there was a man
standing behind with his hands on each side of the wagon to prevent
her from making her escape. She sprang to her feet and gave this man a
desperate blow, and leaping to the ground she made an alarm. The
watchmen came to her assistance immediately, and there was quite a
number of Union policemen guarding the city at that time, who
rendered her due justice as far as possible. This was before the
emancipation proclamation was issued. After she leaped from the
wagon they drove on, taking her children to the boat. The police
questioned my mother. She told them that Capt. Tirrell had put her
children on board the boat, and was going to take them to Memphis and
sell them into hard slavery. They accompanied her to the boat, and
arrived just as they were casting off. The police ordered them to stop
and immediately deliver up the children, who had been secreted in the
Captain's private apartment. They were brought forth and returned.
Slave speculation was forbidden in St. Louis at that time. The Union
soldiers had possession of the city, but their power was limited to the
suppression of the selling of slaves to got out of the city. Considerable
smuggling was done, however, by pretending Unionism, which was the
case with our family.

RELEASED FROM THE TRADER'S YARD AND TAKEN TO HER
NEW MASTER
Immediately after dinner my mother called for me to accompany her to
our new home, the residence of the Captain, together with my brother
and sister. We fared very well while we were there. Mrs. Tirrell was
insane, and my mother had charge of the house. We remained there
four months. The Captain came home only once a week and he never
troubled us for fear we might desert him. His intention was to smuggle
us away before the State became free. That was the understanding
when he bought us of Mr. Lewis, as it was not much of an object to
purchase slaves while the proclamation was pending, and they likely to
lose all their property; but they would, for a trifle purchase a whole

family of four or five persons to send out of the State. Kentucky paid as
much, or more than ever, for slaves. As they pretended to take no part
in the rebellion they supposed they would be allowed to keep them
without interference. Consequently the Captain's intention was to keep
as quiet as possible till the excitement concerning us was over, and he
could get us off without detection. Mr. Lewis would rather have
disposed of us for nothing than have seen us free. He hated my mother
in consequence of her desire for freedom, and her endeavors to teach
her children the right way as far as her ability would allow. He also
held a charge against her for reading the papers and understanding
political affairs. When he found he was to lose his slaves he could not
bear the idea of her being free. He thought it too hard, as she had raised
so many tempests for him, to see her free and under her own control.
He had tantalized her in every possible way to humiliate and annoy her;
yet while he could demand her services he appreciated and placed
perfect confidence in mother and family. None but a fiendish
slaveholder could have rended an honest Christian heart in such a
manner as this.
Though it was her sad and weary lot to toil in slavery But one thing
cheered her weary soul When almost in despair That she could gain a
sure relief in attitude of prayer

CAPT. TIRRELL REMOVES THE FAMILY--ANOTHER
STRATEGY
One day the Captain commenced complaining of the expense of