Incredible story of survival and perseverance. Just one account of man's inhumanity to man. Thank God for those who stood against the institution of slavery..... both North and South.
What a sad story, indeed. I hope that October was able to find his wife and child again. I also pray that he was able to have a decent life after escaping from slavery.
Ron, thank you for focusing on the nature of the " peculiar institution". Slavery was the ultimate cause of the war, and people need to understand that.
Yes, the economic interests between the and north and south were HUGE ... The laws passed in Congress did NOT favor the South .... conflict was inevitabl 12:29 e.
How can we not? It's jammed in our faces every time we turn around. What people need to understand (probably to the surprise of most of them) is how economics, taxation and tariffs also played a huge role in the North/South rift. That's the part that needs its fair share of "focus", but.....if one tries to do that, one gets attacked as it they're trying to defend slavery.
@@richiephillips1541 l wouldn't assume that making an economic argument for the causes of the war means someone is pro-slavery. That would be condescending at the very least. Although there are those who seem to be looking for any excuse to avoid admitting slavery's role in the crisis. I understand that economics played an important part in the war. The north was rapidly industrializing and mondernizing; this was a rather unique phenomenon. In the 1800s only a few nations were in the Industrial Revolution club. The south was more typical of the old kingdoms and aristocracies that dominated the world then. It was rural, agrarian, ruled by a relatively small class of wealthy planters. The south was losing its economic and political contest with the north. It couldn't catch up without industrializing, but lacked the capital to do so. Because almost all the wealth of the south was invested in land and slaves. The south suffered disproportionately from tariffs because it had few factories and mills to produce domestic goods. Even basic products like dishes and cookware were mostly imported or purchased from the north, and the south lacked capital to produce its own goods. It was a case of a new world overtaking an old way of life. And southerners had convinced themselves that slavery was natural, ordained by God, even beneficial to the slaves. There was little room for negotiation. So ultimately, slavery was the root cause of all themajor conflicts between north and south. It fanned northern resentment of efforts to expand slavery into free states, threatening northern (paid) jobs. Southern planters hated abolition because it threatened their social order. They hated the Underground Railroad, which they saw as theft of valuable assets. The south could no more free its slaves than the north could burn down all its banks. And as the south fell further behind, war became inevitable. Gosh, that was a long explanation. Thanks for listening.
Ron, I enjoy your talks very much. I have a question that you may know the answer to: did RE Lee have a person who took care of Traveller during the war? If so, do you know his name?
Thanks, Alan. Looking through my notes, I find Lee had an enslaved man from Arlington House, Perry Parks, who acted as his body servant during the war. Parks performed a variety of chores for Lee. He is a likely candidate to have taken care of Traveller, but I've found no direct reference to establish this was one of his assigned tasks. You can read a well-researched biographical sketch of Parks by Lisa Denton: myemail.constantcontact.com/Henrico-History-Progress--Summer--21.html?soid=1107062676367&aid=vlSQqgw9TAc
The Emamcipation Proclamation excluded slaves areas in Southern states under occupation by the Union Army. They were, by definition, no longer "in rebellion." October attained emancipation by reaching occupied Louisiana because Arkansas was still in rebellion. He qualified. But those slaves on plantations in Union-occupied areas did not. The "property rights" of slaveowners in Union-controlled territory were constitutionally protected from Lincoln's proclamation.
I had ancestors on both sides of the war, and hearing this poor man’s story, could not help but sympathize with him and despise the overseer. I would like to think that I would never have fought for the South, but I have the benefit of 160 years of hindsight. I don’t judge those of my ancestors who did fight for the South, and I think that some of the things that the North did was wrong as well. Perhaps I would have skedaddled out west like Mark Twain did, or I would have joined my friends, rightly or wrongly. I am glad that I live in this time, and can see that the institution of slavery was truly evil, and needed to be stopped. Too bad that the South didn’t avoid the war by permitting the North to buy out their slaves and avoid all the bloodshed. That would have been ideal.
Not sure what that means. Perhaps you meant a Russian trawler as it appears to have caught a blowfish in its net. Try to find something more productive to do with your time my friend.
yeah, but the romans were not much better at treating their white skinned slaves. whites make the best slaves, and mistreating a white slave will not piss off the God created by the dark skinned men that wrote the Bible.
At that time, in Louisiana, would an escaped slave kill his persuers? Rather than get caught, which meant whipping, they ed be able to get away with it..
I have not researched this possibility, or come across references to such events. It does seem plausible, considering the displacement caused by the Union forces moving into Southern territory and collapse of civil order in other parts of the Confederacy towards the end of the war.
I hope you are not one of those who say that. If it was good for them, what was the best part of it? The beatings, the hard work or the total lack of control over their lives? Maybe the best part was the job security. Knowing that if they tried to leave, they'd be branded, shot or torn apart by dogs. These horrific crimes were routine in the old South. There is photographic evidence of it. As for being an institution of the times, only in America was slavery a condition that people were born into, and could never escape, because of their color. Even in ancient Rome, a slave could hope to work off his debts and regain his freedom. In Tsarist Russia, the peasants had at least the right to marry and keep their children. In the antebellum South, it was illegal to free a black slave.
@@brianniegemann4788 I am not one of those folks. I raise it because I come across it in commentary and whether heartfelt or tongue-in-cheek, I find that sentiment abhorrent as you clearly do.
Geez Louise. Give it a rest. Look at the virtue signaling going on here, as if you need to make it known that you think slavery was bad. OK, here's your moral superiority pat on the back. Move on now.
With stories such as this you have relayed to us Ron, can there be any question that just the very presence of the U.S. Army was Kryptonite to the institution of slavery and thus to the entire Confederate cause? I wonder if anybody in the South had any idea just how incredibly corrosive the army they had invited down there would actually be. To those who had ancestors that fought for the South, be proud of their bravery and admire them for the horrific conditions they had to endure, but don't for a second try to excuse the terrible cause for which they served or ignorantly adhered to; an unctuous lie their political leaders used to lead them into that war, calling it "States Rights" or "tariffs" or other such foolishness.
Great post ! I have been interested in the civil war for years, I use to have great sympathy for the southern cause, the songs, the films, but in reality ? It was a rich plantation owners war ! 🇬🇧🏴🇺🇸
@@mmm091000 Thank you. Yes indeed, perhaps the best example of "A rich man's war and a poor man's fight." In the words and expressions of the time: "A Southern Gentleman's war (to protect his "property" {AKA, "slave holdings"}) and a ruffian's (AKA, "Poor White Trash's") fight.
Who the hell do you think you are telling descendants of Confederates what they can and can't think the war causes were? Tariffs DID play a big role in it. Get off of your moral high horse. You have no clue WHAT the "cause" each Southern soldier had for fighting. It was different for each family and soldier. You need to back off on your arrogant condescension.
@@richiephillips1541 Who the hell do you think YOU are telling anybody else THEY don't read and understand the history that is plain as the nose on your face? This is my take on what happened and why and you, despite your "Lost Cause" willful ignorance, don't tell me not to have it. Talk about arrogant condescension, yours tops it.
@youtubeprofilewordsname12345 (Yawn) There it goes, the tired old "South Carolina" gotcha line. You forgot the Georgia governor's pro-slavery rants. Apparently you are unable or unwilling to see ALL of the "facts". You stick with the self back patting, comfortable 'facts' that make you feel good. If you are ignorant of the tariff issues, you need to dismiss yourself from the conversation.
Everyone tells a story, some closer to the truth than others. Many people (all people?), have at one point or another, thought they were 'good'. History or our conscience reveals our errors. Society changed (changing) and it was an ugly process for all people - everyone alive. Winners? Looser? Heroes march in parades Over innocent peoples in their graves.....
Every few years the preferred euphemism for such people shifts a little. This allows us to differentiate good people from racists. Good people use the latest nomenclature, and the old polite term becomes the new racist dog whistle.
Thank you, Ron. Stories like this are sacred.
Your channel is now my favourite on RUclips. Thank you for this very moving story. Keep up the good work!
Incredible story of survival and perseverance. Just one account of man's inhumanity to man. Thank God for those who stood against the institution of slavery..... both North and South.
Thank you. Painful to read, and yet also important to read and reflect upon.
What a sad story, indeed. I hope that October was able to find his wife and child again. I also pray that he was able to have a decent life after escaping from slavery.
Thank you for posting this.
Great channel
best RUclips channel it is just so informative to me
Heart-rending!
Ron, thank you for focusing on the nature of the " peculiar institution". Slavery was the ultimate cause of the war, and people need to understand that.
Yes, the economic interests between the and north and south were HUGE ... The laws passed in Congress did NOT favor the South .... conflict was inevitabl 12:29 e.
How can we not? It's jammed in our faces every time we turn around. What people need to understand (probably to the surprise of most of them) is how economics, taxation and tariffs also played a huge role in the North/South rift. That's the part that needs its fair share of "focus", but.....if one tries to do that, one gets attacked as it they're trying to defend slavery.
@@richiephillips1541 - SPOT ON !!
@@richiephillips1541 l wouldn't assume that making an economic argument for the causes of the war means someone is pro-slavery. That would be condescending at the very least. Although there are those who seem to be looking for any excuse to avoid admitting slavery's role in the crisis.
I understand that economics played an important part in the war. The north was rapidly industrializing and mondernizing; this was a rather unique phenomenon. In the 1800s only a few nations were in the Industrial Revolution club. The south was more typical of the old kingdoms and aristocracies that dominated the world then. It was rural, agrarian, ruled by a relatively small class of wealthy planters.
The south was losing its economic and political contest with the north. It couldn't catch up without industrializing, but lacked the capital to do so. Because almost all the wealth of the south was invested in land and slaves.
The south suffered disproportionately from tariffs because it had few factories and mills to produce domestic goods. Even basic products like dishes and cookware were mostly imported or purchased from the north, and the south lacked capital to produce its own goods. It was a case of a new world overtaking an old way of life. And southerners had convinced themselves that slavery was natural, ordained by God, even beneficial to the slaves. There was little room for negotiation.
So ultimately, slavery was the root cause of all themajor conflicts between north and south. It fanned northern resentment of efforts to expand slavery into free states, threatening northern (paid) jobs.
Southern planters hated abolition because it threatened their social order. They hated the Underground Railroad, which they saw as theft of valuable assets. The south could no more free its slaves than the north could burn down all its banks. And as the south fell further behind, war became inevitable.
Gosh, that was a long explanation. Thanks for listening.
Powerful story.
Ron, I enjoy your talks very much. I have a question that you may know the answer to: did RE Lee have a person who took care of Traveller during the war? If so, do you know his name?
Thanks, Alan. Looking through my notes, I find Lee had an enslaved man from Arlington House, Perry Parks, who acted as his body servant during the war. Parks performed a variety of chores for Lee. He is a likely candidate to have taken care of Traveller, but I've found no direct reference to establish this was one of his assigned tasks. You can read a well-researched biographical sketch of Parks by Lisa Denton: myemail.constantcontact.com/Henrico-History-Progress--Summer--21.html?soid=1107062676367&aid=vlSQqgw9TAc
The Emamcipation Proclamation excluded slaves areas in Southern states under occupation by the Union Army. They were, by definition, no longer "in rebellion." October attained emancipation by reaching occupied Louisiana because Arkansas was still in rebellion. He qualified. But those slaves on plantations in Union-occupied areas did not. The "property rights" of slaveowners in Union-controlled territory were constitutionally protected from Lincoln's proclamation.
I had ancestors on both sides of the war, and hearing this poor man’s story, could not help but sympathize with him and despise the overseer. I would like to think that I would never have fought for the South, but I have the benefit of 160 years of hindsight. I don’t judge those of my ancestors who did fight for the South, and I think that some of the things that the North did was wrong as well. Perhaps I would have skedaddled out west like Mark Twain did, or I would have joined my friends, rightly or wrongly. I am glad that I live in this time, and can see that the institution of slavery was truly evil, and needed to be stopped. Too bad that the South didn’t avoid the war by permitting the North to buy out their slaves and avoid all the bloodshed. That would have been ideal.
Very vividly written. If the good Chaplin were alive today, he'd likely have a promising career as a Hollywood script writer.
This address has been designated as a Russian trolling site.
Not sure what that means. Perhaps you meant a Russian trawler as it appears to have caught a blowfish in its net. Try to find something more productive to do with your time my friend.
@@davide9658 This address has been designated as a Russian trolling site.
Is it Rob Brown who confers such designations? No Russians here dude. Go bother someone else.
The repetitive replies suggest AI.
How the indignity was in those days for white overseers over their slaves. Very interesting story, Ron!
yeah, but the romans were not much better at treating their white skinned slaves. whites make the best slaves, and mistreating a white slave will not piss off the God created by the dark skinned men that wrote the Bible.
At that time, in Louisiana, would an escaped slave kill his persuers? Rather than get caught, which meant whipping, they ed be able to get away with it..
I have not researched this possibility, or come across references to such events. It does seem plausible, considering the displacement caused by the Union forces moving into Southern territory and collapse of civil order in other parts of the Confederacy towards the end of the war.
Interview some of the former slaves who decided to stay in their homes, instead of leave
But some will tell you slavery was a good experience for the slaves. That it was just an institution of the time
I hope you are not one of those who say that.
If it was good for them, what was the best part of it? The beatings, the hard work or the total lack of control over their lives? Maybe the best part was the job security. Knowing that if they tried to leave, they'd be branded, shot or torn apart by dogs. These horrific crimes were routine in the old South. There is photographic evidence of it.
As for being an institution of the times, only in America was slavery a condition that people were born into, and could never escape, because of their color. Even in ancient Rome, a slave could hope to work off his debts and regain his freedom. In Tsarist Russia, the peasants had at least the right to marry and keep their children. In the antebellum South, it was illegal to free a black slave.
@@brianniegemann4788 I am not one of those folks. I raise it because I come across it in commentary and whether heartfelt or tongue-in-cheek, I find that sentiment abhorrent as you clearly do.
It was an institution of the time. All races were subjected to it in one form or another, see - North AFrica. you are a remedial.
@@ozzyphil74 ok glad to hear it. Simetimes difficult to tell the tone of voice in these comments. Thank you.
Geez Louise. Give it a rest. Look at the virtue signaling going on here, as if you need to make it known that you think slavery was bad. OK, here's your moral superiority pat on the back. Move on now.
With stories such as this you have relayed to us Ron, can there be any question that just the very presence of the U.S. Army was Kryptonite to the institution of slavery and thus to the entire Confederate cause? I wonder if anybody in the South had any idea just how incredibly corrosive the army they had invited down there would actually be.
To those who had ancestors that fought for the South, be proud of their bravery and admire them for the horrific conditions they had to endure, but don't for a second try to excuse the terrible cause for which they served or ignorantly adhered to; an unctuous lie their political leaders used to lead them into that war, calling it "States Rights" or "tariffs" or other such foolishness.
Great post ! I have been interested in the civil war for years, I use to have great sympathy for the southern cause, the songs, the films, but in reality ? It was a rich plantation owners war ! 🇬🇧🏴🇺🇸
@@mmm091000 Thank you. Yes indeed, perhaps the best example of "A rich man's war and a poor man's fight." In the words and expressions of the time: "A Southern Gentleman's war (to protect his "property" {AKA, "slave holdings"}) and a ruffian's (AKA, "Poor White Trash's") fight.
Who the hell do you think you are telling descendants of Confederates what they can and can't think the war causes were? Tariffs DID play a big role in it. Get off of your moral high horse. You have no clue WHAT the "cause" each Southern soldier had for fighting. It was different for each family and soldier. You need to back off on your arrogant condescension.
@@richiephillips1541 Who the hell do you think YOU are telling anybody else THEY don't read and understand the history that is plain as the nose on your face? This is my take on what happened and why and you, despite your "Lost Cause" willful ignorance, don't tell me not to have it. Talk about arrogant condescension, yours tops it.
@youtubeprofilewordsname12345 (Yawn) There it goes, the tired old "South Carolina" gotcha line. You forgot the Georgia governor's pro-slavery rants. Apparently you are unable or unwilling to see ALL of the "facts". You stick with the self back patting, comfortable 'facts' that make you feel good. If you are ignorant of the tariff issues, you need to dismiss yourself from the conversation.
Everyone tells a story, some closer to the truth than others. Many people (all people?), have at one point or another, thought they were 'good'. History or our conscience reveals our errors. Society changed (changing) and it was an ugly process for all people - everyone alive. Winners? Looser?
Heroes march in parades
Over innocent peoples in their graves.....
Gimme a thumb’s-up if you also say “Hey All” out loud during every video at the beginning
critical history, never forget. Efforts to reinslave are rampant today in 2024.
What is this "enslaved people" nonsense? That's as insulting as calling them "persons held to service."
Every few years the preferred euphemism for such people shifts a little. This allows us to differentiate good people from racists. Good people use the latest nomenclature, and the old polite term becomes the new racist dog whistle.