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Slaves Escaping at Fort Monroe
| Scene of 16 figures. A slave owner is raising his whip as black families are racing towards Fort Monroe, with some remaining behind picking cotton. The slave owner is saying: "Come back here, you black rascal." One slave is facing the slave owner thumbing his nose, saying: "Can't come back nohow, massa, Dis chile's contraban." This is a reference to General Benjamin Butler's contraband policy, by which escaping slaves reaching Union lines would not be returned to slavery. Butler, a trained attorney, used Virginia's secession to argue that under international law escaped slaves were "contraband of war" and he was not required to return them to their former owners. Black ink on cream envelope, elaborate illustration covers entire top of envelope. Mounted on a decorative border and collected in an album. |
| Image ID: | 75847 |
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| Creation Date: | after 1860 |
| Creator Name: | Unknown |
| City: | |
| County: | |
| State: | |
| Collection Name: | Civil War illustrated envelopes, 1861-1865 |
| Genre: | |
| Original Format Type: | prints, photomechanical |
| Original Format Number: | PH 2630, Box#1, page 42 |
| Original Dimensions: | 5.5625 x 3.0625 inches |
| Envelopes printed during Civil War depicting mostly pro-Union and anti-Confederate themes. |
| Fortification |
| Military bases |
| African Americans |
| Men |
| Women |
| Americana |
| Cotton |
| Civil War, 1861-1865 |
| Ephemera |
| Hats |
| Clothing and dress |
| Slavery |
| This image is issued by the Wisconsin Historical Society. Use of the image requires written permission from the staff of the Collections Division. It may not be sold or redistributed, copied or distributed as a photograph, electronic file, or any other media. The image should not be significantly altered through conventional or electronic means. Images altered beyond standard cropping and resizing require further negotiation with a staff member. The user is responsible for all issues of copyright. Please Credit: Wisconsin Historical Society. |
| Location: | Wisconsin Historical Society Archives, 4th Floor, Madison, Wisconsin |
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