I's born a slave, known nothin' else
an been sold off a time or two.
I'm whip-scarred all across my back
all cuz of what I would not do.
All day I pulled a plow through fields.
Don't cotton bein' another's mule,
but chained and whipped I had no choice.
Black skin said I was Massa's tool!
Don't know much 'bout that awful war,
how it started, who to blame.
One day smoke rises 'bove the trees.
I smell gun powder, see some flame.
Then soldiers ridin' hard appear.
They wearin' blue not Dixie gray.
One yells at me, "You slaves are free!
We've burnt this place. No need to stay."
"We's free?" I cried, I danced about.
"You surely are," the soldier said.
"We're off to Charlotte. Follow us.
We'll give you guns, new clothes and bread."
He needn't have to ask me twice.
Right soon most others tag along.
We brung our women, chillun too,
but not the old, the trek too long.
Their Gen'ral Davis led us north.
Our women foraged, cooked fer them,
while bucks like me brushed down their mounts
or kept their fires from growin' dim.
But Joseph Wheeler's cavalry
was chasin', wouldn't let us go.
We come to Ebenezer Creek,
our horde now huge and movin' slow.
Them Yankees built a pontoon bridge.
I watched the final blue coat cross.
A few then yanked it onto shore.
They stood and laughed, betrayin' us.
I swam across, but many drowned.
Then howlin' Rebs with sabers red
charged down the banks and slaughtered scores.
I's "free" but now my fam'ly's dead.
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| Writing Prompt |
February is Black History month. Write a poem in any style that has something to do with the topic. It must be at least 8 lines long and not more than 40 lines. |
Author Notes
This painting is about the attempted crossing of Ebenezer Creek. Artist unknown.
Okay, I confess. I could not help but emulate the title of that famous Civil War story "Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" by Ambrose Bierce.
This story is based on a true incident that happened at Ebenezer Creek in Georgia, December 8, 1864. General Sherman's army had burned a swath across Georgia heading toward the sea. As it moved, it burned down many plantations and slaves were told they were free. Many, having nowhere else to go and fearing retribution from the Confederate forces, followed the Union soldiers. But soon there were so many "contrabands," that resources ran out. Union General Jefferson C. Davis (often called General Reb because of his counterpart, the president of the Confederate States of America) already had a reputation for brutality. Allegedly he gave orders to "not let that horde across the creek . . . burn the pontoon bridge if necessary." His "orders" were carried out, the bridge was withdrawn. The Black followers panicked. Some tried to swim across the raging creek and drowned. Others froze as the Confederate forces of General Wheeler caught up. These soldiers, angry because the slaves had joined the other side, showed no compassion or mercy, but massacred hundreds.
Yes, there were witnesses. The Northern press got wind of what happened and demanded an investigation. Despite testimony of some Union soldiers, General Davis merely got a reprimand and nothing further was done. No foul deed was ever OFFICIALLY admitted.
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