The Story of Mattie J. Jackson | Page 9

or I will break it down." In a moment in
rushed seven men, four watchmen and three traders, and ordered
mother to take my brother and me and follow them, which she hastened
to do as fast as possible, but we were not allowed time to put on our
usual attire. They thrust us into a close carriage. For fear of my mother
alarming the citizens they threw her to the ground and choked her until
she was nearly strangled, then pushed her into a coach. The night was
dark and dreary; the stars refused to shine, the moon to shed her light.
'Tis not strange the heavenly orbs In silence blushed neath Nature's

sable garb When woman's gagged and rashly torn away Without
blemish and without crime. Unheeded by God's holy word:-- Unloose
the fetters, break the chain, And make my people free again, And let
them breath pure freedom's air And her rich bounty freely share. Let
Eutopia stretch her bleeding hands abroad; Her cry of anguish finds
redress from God.
We were hurried along the streets. The inhabitants heard our cries and
rushed to their doors, but our carriage being perfectly tight, and the
alarm so sudden, that we were at the jail before they could give us any
relief. There were strong Union men and officers in the city, and if they
could have been informed of the human smuggling they would have
released us. But oh, that horrid, dilapidated prison, with its dim lights
and dingy walls, again presented itself to our view. My sister was there
first, and we were thrust in and remained there until three o'clock the
following afternoon. Could we have notified the police we should have
been released, but no opportunity was given us. It appears that this
kidnapping had been in contemplation from the time we were before
taken and returned; and Captain Tirrell's kindness to mother,--his
benevolence towards Mr. Adams in assisting him to furnish his
house,--his generosity in letting us work for ourselves,--his approbation
in regard to the contemplated marriage was only a trap. Thus instead of
a wedding Thursday evening, we were hurled across the ferry to
Albany Court House and to Kentucky through the rain and without our
outer garments. My mother had lost her bonnet and shawl in the
struggle while being thrust in the coach, consequently she had no
protection from the storm, and the rest of us were in similar
circumstances. I believe we passed through Springfield. I think it was
the first stopping place after we left East St. Louis, and we were put on
board the cars and secreted in the gentlemen's smoking car, in which
there were only a few rebels. We arrived in Springfield about twelve
o'clock at night. When we took the cars it was dark, bleak and cold. It
was the 18th of March, and as we were without bonnets and clothing to
shield us from the sleet and wind, we suffered intensely. The old trader,
for fear that mother might make her escape, carried my brother, nine
years of age, from one train to the other. We then took the cars for
Albany, and arrived at eight o'clock in the morning. We were then

carried on the ferry in a wagon. There was another family in the wagon,
in the same condition. We landed at Portland, from thence to Louisville,
and were put into John Clark's trader's yard, and sold out separately,
except my mother and little brother, who were sold together. Mother
remained in the trader's yard two weeks, my sister six, myself four.

THE FARE AT THEIR NEW HOMES
Mother was sold to Captain Plasio. My sister to Benj. Board, and
myself to Capt. Ephraim Frisbee. The man who bought my mother was
a Spaniard. After she had been there a short time he tried to have my
mother let my brother stop at his saloon, a very dissipated place, to wait
upon his miserable crew, but my mother objected. In spite of her
objections he took him down to try him, but some Union soldiers called
at the saloon, and noticing that he was very small, they questioned him,
and my brother, child like, divulged the whole matter. The Captain,
fearful of being betrayed and losing his property, let him continue with
my mother. The Captain paid eight hundred dollars for my mother and
brother. We were all sold for extravagant prices. My sister, aged
sixteen, was sold for eight hundred and fifty dollars; I was sold for nine
hundred dollars. This was in 1863. My mother was cook and fared very
well. My sister was sold to a single gentleman, whose intended took
charge of her until they were married, after which they took her to her
home. She was her waiter,