A Freed Slave’s Astonishing Letter to His Former Master

With the emancipation of slaves after the American Civil War and the beginning of Reconstruction, the long-term goals of abolitionists had finally been achieved. But that did not mean it was the end of the road to equality. Many of these slaves still lacked work and housing and former slave owners attempted to take advantage of that to bring back their previous slaves. But many African-Americans weren’t about to surrender their new-found freedoms and resisted these efforts just as you can see here.

Jourdon Anderson’s Letter

After the American Civil War in 1865 and the defeat of the Confederate States, slavery was officially abolished across the entire United States. This was made official with the Emancipation Proclamation,

issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, declaring all slaves in Confederate-held territory free. The Thirteenth Amendment, ratified in December 1865, abolished slavery throughout the United States. However, this did not mean that equality was achieved overnight.

The war left large parts of the country devastated and both the freed slaves and defeated confederates were in dire need of support. That is why the US spent the next 12 years focused on reconstruction to restore the South and integrate the slaves. While made with good intentions, it was a time of resistance from the former Confederates to try and reassert themselves over their former slaves.

Among these freed slaves was a man named Jourdon Anderson. He was previously a slave of Colonel P.H. Anderson in Tennessee. But after gaining his freedom, he managed to move to Ohio with his family and began making a life for himself there. Not long after, he received a letter from his former master, requesting that he return to work for him on his plantation.

Although Jourdon made a decent living in his new life, Colonel Anderson’s offer was tempting as he promised to pay him a substantial wage if he came back and lived with him. But these experts from Jourdon’s letter show his clever response.

To My Old Master, Colonel P.H. Anderson, Big Spring, Tennessee:

Sir: I got your letter, and was glad to find that you had not forgotten Jourdon, and that you wanted me to come back and live with you again, promising to do better for me than anybody else can. I have often felt uneasy about you. I thought the Yankees would have hung you long before this, for harboring Rebs they found at your house.

-Jourdon Anderson

Mandy says she would be afraid to go back without some proof that you were disposed to treat us justly and kindly; and we have concluded to test your sincerity by asking you to send us our wages for the time we served you. This will make us forget and forgive old scores, and rely on your justice and friendship in the future. I served you faithfully for thirty-two years, and Mandy twenty years. At twenty-five dollars a month for me, and two dollars a week for Mandy, our earnings would amount to eleven thousand six hundred and eighty dollars. Add to this the interest for the time our wages have been kept back, and deduct what you paid for our clothing and three doctor’s visits to me, and pulling a tooth for Mandy, and the balance will show what we are in justice entitled to.

-Jourdon Anderson

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