Historical Documents - 1840s

   STAMPEDE.––There is a great commotion among the slave owners of Maryland, in consequence of the large number of slaves who have seen proper to take 'French leave' of their masters, and emigrate into free States. The papers published in border counties come teeming full of advertisements offering rewards for runaways, and editorial notices of the absconding of whole gangs and families of slaves, who are seldom ever caught, and only heard of when safe far north of Mason & Dixon's line. So great has been the loss to planters on the Eastern Shore counties of the State, that the owners of slaves are proposing to construct a line of telegraph through the centre [center] of the counties for the purpose of giving early information to police agents of the flight of their property, and thus aid in their detection. Several instances have occurred lately, of gangs of slaves having run away in one night, and successfully got off, whose value would be from 5,000 to $8,000.

   SLAVE STAMPEDE.––A Baltimore correspondent of the N.Y. Tribune says: -

   STAMPEDE AMONG THE KENTUCKY SLAVES.––The Elizabethtown (Ky.) Register, of Wednesday last, says:

   ANOTHER STAMPEDE.––We learn from the Winchester (Va.) Republican, that ten or twelve negroes left that county on Saturday night, belonging to Messrs. Swann, Stickley, and others. Six of them were retaken, and in the effort they and several white men were severely injured. 

   SLAVE STAMPEDE.––FOUR DROWNED.––Seven runaway negroes from Mason county attempted to cross the Ohio in a skiff on the 9th inst. six miles above Maysville. The boat upset and four of the negroes were drowned. The three others, and a slave who they had hired to take them across, saved themselves by clinging to the skiff, until relieved by a Mr. Mitchell, who heard them call for help. They were all taken to jail, and the negro who attempted to ferry them across was tried before a magistrate and sentenced to receive 39 lashes. 

SLAVE STAMPEDE.  A Baltimore correspondent of the New York Tribune says: “I mentioned a few days since, the fact of so large a number of slaves absconding from their masters. There appears to be a regular stampede among the negroes, not only of Maryland, but of Virginia also, for they are running off in droves. Scarce a country paper from this State, or northern or western Virginia, but is full of rewards for the apprehension of runaways or accounts of their recapture–in some instances not without serious rencontres [reencounters] with the pursuers, in which serious wounds have been given or received, and in one or two instances lately, lives lost. The effect of this stampede has been to cause many owners to dispose of their slaves to Southern dealers. The slave population from these two causes will greatly diminish and I am much mistaken if the next census does not show a considerable decrease.”

   SLAVE STAMPEDE.––Four Drowned.––Seven runaway negroes from Mason county attempted to cross the Ohio in a skiff, on the 9th inst., six miles above Maysville. The boat upset, and four of the negroes were drowned. The three others, and a slave whom they had hired to take them across, saved themselves by clinging to the skiff until relieved by a Mr. Mitchell, who heard them call for help. They were all taken to jail, and the negro who attempted to ferry them across was tried before a magistrate, and sentenced to receive thirty-nine lashes.

   THE VIRGINIA RUNAWAYS––BLOODY RESISTANCE––The Catoctin Whig gives the following account of the recent slave stampede from Jefferson and Petersville, Va.:

"They were striking a straight course, for the Pennsylvania line, but were discovered and arrested about two miles above Wolfsville. It required a strong force to secure them, the men making a desperate resistance, being armed with bowie-knives, dirks, &c. Two young men, Uriah Hurley and ---Lewis, who assisted in arresting them, received some pretty hard blows, and were also badly cut by knives in the hands of the negroes. We understood that the greatest excitement prevailed among the citizens of Wolfsville, upon hearing of the bloody resistance made by the runaways."

At the latest dates, says the Whig, the young men were not expected to recover, being dreadfully lacerated.

             RUNAWAY NEGROES.

    We notice that three negroe men recently ran away from Shelby county. We may look out for a renewal of the scenes, on a larger scale, which some time ago spread alarm and terror through Lewis, Marion, and the surrounding counties, in North-East Missouri, and threatened with extinction, the whole slave property of the country. We fondly hoped that the fanatic spirit wich [sic] stirred the storm of that period; had been quenched forever; and that peace and harmony would hereafter characterize our border relations; but we much fear the hope was in vain. Recent events portend no good––coming events cast their dark and frowning shadows across our pathway, while int he gloomy distance the haggard form of ABOLITION, in "FREE-SOIL" DISGUISE stalks along, holding in one hand the dark lantern of robbery and plunder and in the other, the torch of civil war, disunion, and death. 

   Slave Stampede.––Four Drowned.––Seven runaway negroes from Mason county attempted to cross the Ohio in a skiff on the 9th inst. six miles above Maysville. The boat upset and four of the negroes were drowned. The three others, and a slave who they had hired to take them across, saved themselves by clinging to the skiff, until relieved by a Mr. Mitchell, who heard them call for help. They were all taken to jail, and the negro who attempted to ferry them across was tried before a magistrate and sentenced to receive 39 lashes. 

   SLAVE STAMPEDE.––Seven runaway negroes from Mason county attempted to cross the Ohio river in a skiff on the 9th ult., six miles above Maysville. The boat upset and four of the negroes were drowned. The three others, and a slave who they had hired to take them across, saved themselves by clinging to the skiff, until relieved by a Mr. Mitchell, who heard them call for help. They were all taken to jail, and the negro who attempted to ferry them across was tried before a magistrate and sentenced to receive 39 lashes. 

   "RICHES HAVE WINGS." Aye, and slaves have feet, too, which they seem disposed to use to some purpose. The great and increasing risk of losing this kind of property, [unknown] ere long, have an important bearing on the slave question in the northernmost slave States. The Baltimore correspondent of the New York Tribune, says:

   “It is seriously talked of holding a Convention of Slaveholders in the State, with a view of devising means to put a stop to the constant absconding of slaves. What such a convention could accomplish I cannot guess, I leave for time alone to show. If the slaves continue their stampede to the North, at the same rate as now, in a few years the slave census will exhibit a great falling off of numbers. Well – who can blame them these “human chattels” for exercising their limbs, freely, as pedestrians?

   A Stampede of some half a dozen slaves took place from the neighborhood of Centerville, Md., on Saturday night week. Their course was south-east, across Caroline county to the Delaware Bay shore, and thence to New Jersey. 

   STAMPEDE AMONG THE SLAVES.––The Under Ground Railroad.––The Wilmington (Del.) Chicken, of yesterday, has the following, which, added to the accounts from Centerville (Md.) papers, before given, show that the abolitionists are again pursuing a course well calculated to excite fierce animosity against them in this State, and which can only result in injury to the slaves, by making further restrictions necessary upon them:

   A STAMPEDE.––Saturday night six negroes, owned in this city, came up missing at their homes, having taken sudden leave for parts unknown. Recently several different gangs have mysteriously ran off, inclining many to believe that they have been stampeded. 

   A Stampede of some half a dozen slaves took place from the neighborhood of Centerville, Md., on Saturday night week. Their course was southeast, across Caroline county to the Delaware Bay shore, and thence to New Jersey. 

       The Great Stampede of slaves from the eastern shore of Maryland is attracting considerable attention among the slaveholders in all sections of the state, and measures are being taken to form a combination from mutual protection. They make their way, it seems, through the state of Delaware, where a strong abolition force has been organized for their protection and assistance. Not less than one hundred are known to have made their escape to the North, by way of Newcastle and Wilmington, during the past month. It is said that many of the slaveholders in the eastern counties contemplate disposing of most of their slave property as the only means of protection, and in Accomac a telegraph line is proposed as a means of safety. [Baltimore Correspondent of Washington Union.]

   SLAVES.––The great stampede of slaves from the eastern shore of Maryland is attracting considerable attention among slaveholders in all sections of the State, and measures are being taken to form a combination for mutual protection. They make their way, it seems, through the State of Delaware, where a strong abolition force has been organized for their protection and assistance.–– Not less than one hundred are known to have made their escape to the North, by the way of New Castle and Wilmington, during the past month. It is said that many of the slaveholders in the eastern counties contemplate disposing of most of their slave property as the only means of protection, and in Accomac a telegraph line is proposed as a means of safety.––Balt. Cor. Wash. Union. 

   STAMPEDE AMONG SLAVES.––In Delaware and Maryland, the Abolitionists appear busily at their work. Almost every day, we notice by the papers of these States, slaves make their escape by means of the "underground railroad." Such a course, we think, is only calculated to excite animosity and produce injury to the slaves. 

   STAMPEDES.––Some half dozen negroes left their masters in St. Louis on Saturday night last. Numbers have also runaway from their masters in Maryland recently. 

               ESCAPE OF SLAVES.

   The Baltimore correspondent of the Washington Union says:

                The Lewis County Stampede of Negroes

   Yesterday’s mail brought us a letter from Tully, dated on the 2d inst., giving some of the some of the particulars of the Negro Stampede in Lewis county.

Apprehension of Runaway Negroes––Conduct of Abolitionists in Illinois.

     Great Slave Stampede in Missouri.

            A Negro to be burned alive.

St. Louis, Nov. 5.       

   A dispatch from Quincy, Ill., yesterday says: “Fifty negroes of all ages and both sexes with teams, stampeded from the Missouri side the night previous.

   A second dispatch says that the slaves who stampeded from Iowa country, had been overpowered, and after a desperate  resistance with the loss of their leader, captured.

   A negro belonging to Mr. Glasscock, near Palmyra, committed violence on and murdered Miss Bright, aged 14, and killed her brother, aged 11. The negro will be burned alive on Friday.

   Cholera has re-appeared at St. Genevieve, and is quite prevalent and fatal.

     Cholera at St. Genevieve––Negro Stampede––Fight with the Indians near Santa Fe––Runaways captured––Desearate fight and loss of life––Horrible Atrocity––Rape and Murder.

                                     ST. LOUIS, Nov. 5. 

   The cholera has reappeared at St. Genevieve, where it is very fatal. 

   Barnum, who was shot by Montesques, is better and there is now some hope of his recovery. 

   A dispatch from Quincy, Ill., yesterday, says fifty negroes of all ages and sexes, with teams, made a stampede from the Missouri side. Their owners were Messrs. Milton, Wm. McKim and McCutcheon, of Sugar Creek, and Ellis, of Monticello, Lewis county––destination unknown.

Slave Stampede and Resistance--Their Leader Killed.

   Quincy, (Ill.) Nov. 6.

   Last night about fifty negroes, of all ages and sexes, with teams, stampeded from the Missouri side of the river. The slaves were owned by Miss Miller, Mr. McKim and Mr. McCutcheon, of Sugar Creek, and Mr. Ellis, of Monticello, Lewis county. The slaves were overhauled on Saturday morning, and after a desperate resistance and the loss of their leader, they were captured. The slave who was killed belonged to Miss Miller. 

Effect of Benton's Visit!---Stampede Among the Negroes!

   The St. Louis Republican publishes a the following extract of a letter from Lewis county, dated Tully, Nov. 2, giving an account of the stampede among the negroes in that county.

NEGRO STAMPEDE

   A telegraphic despatch in Saturday's Republican, dated Quincy, (Ill.) Nov. 2d, says that about fifty negroes (men women and children.) with teams, owned by Miss Miller, McKim and McCutchin, of Sugar creek, and Wm. Ellis, of Monticello, Lewis county, Mo. started for parts unknown about one o'clock last night.

   NEGRO STAMPEDE.––We obtain from a gentleman of Lewis county, the following particulars of the recent attempt made by a number of negroes in that county to make their escape from their masters, which may be relied on as correct. The negroes (men, women and children, twenty-seven in number,) belonging to Messrs. James Miller,––McCutchen, –– –– McKim, living about ten miles north of Monticello, and Wm. Ellis, living in or near the latter place. They took with them a two-horse wagon, an ox cart, with an abundance of provisions, bedding, &c., and were armed with guns, knives and bludgeons.––They were discovered about 3 or 4 o'clock on Friday morning, moving in the direction of Canton. The alarm was immediately given, and when a sufficient number of citizens had collected, an effort was made to take them, which they resisted. A negro man belonging to Mr.

   BILL WILLIAMS, the free negro, found in company with the runaway slaves belonging to Messrs. McCune, Block and others, and who confessed his agency in enticing them away and endeavoring to secure their escape, has been sent to jail to await his trial. His example of a few years service in the Penitentiary may convince others, perhaps, of the impropriety of interfering with the slaves in Missouri. 

           Great Negro stampede!  

   A great excitement prevails in Lewis county in regard to the recent attempt of the negroes to run-away and rise in insurrection; and as many reports are in circulation in relation thereto, we deem it our duty to publish a true statement of the matter as it occurred. 

   The slaveholders along the eastern coast of Maryland are greatly excited on account of the frequent stampedes among the negroes. Almost every night, says an exchange, slaves flee from bondage to a land of freedom, where they are recognized as men and women, and not as chattels. 

   From the Canton (Lewis co.) Reporter. 

   Great Negro Stampede.

   A great excitement prevails in Lewis county, in regard to the recent attempt of the negroes to run away and rise in insurrection; and as many reports are in circulation in relation thereto, we deem it our duty to publish a true statement of the matter as it occurred.

   Telegraph for the North American.

Slave Stampede and Resistance--Their Leader Killed.

   Quincy, (Ill.) Nov. 6.

   Last night about fifty negroes, of all ages and sexes, with teams, stampeded from the Missouri side of the river. The slaves were owned by Miss Miller, Mr. McKim and Mr. McCutcheon, of Sugar Creek, and Mr Ellis, of Monticello, Lewis county.-- The slaves were overhauled on Saturday morning, and after a desperate resistance and the loss of their leader, they were captured. The slave who was killed belonged to Miss Miller. 

   STAMPEDE NEAR ST. LOUIS.––Fifty slaves were stampeded on Monday, (5th.) from the environs of St. Louis. They were pursued, when a severe fight took place, resulting in their recapture and the death of the ring-leaders. 

   Runaway Slaves.––The Baltimore correspondent of the Washington Union, says that 100 slaves have escaped from the Eastern shore of Maryland, to the North, by way of New Castle, Wilmington, and Delaware. The stampede is great, and causes much excitement. 

   A dispatch from Quincy, Ill., received at St. Louis on the 5th, says:––Fifty negroes, of all ages and both sexes, with teams, started, from the Missouri side the night before. A 2d dispatch says that the slaves who stampeded from Iowa Co., had been overpowered, after a desperate resistance, with the loss of their leader, were captured. 

     Stampede near St. Louis. 

   Fifty slaves were stampeded on Monday, last (5th) from the environs of St. Louis. They were pursued when a severe fight took place, resulting in the recapture and the death of the ringleaders. 

STAMPEDE--The St. Louis papers complain very much about the "stampede" of their negroes, and complain that some of their Illinois neighbors aid them.

NEGRO STAMPEDE IN LEWIS COUNTY. 

   THE LEWIS COUNTY AFFAIR.––The last N.E. Rep'r, after giving an account of the daring attempt made by negroes in that county to escape, says that it has "been ascertained that it was to be a general insurrection; and, to that end, it is believed that nearly all the slaves in the county had notice, and were to have met and rendezvoused at Canton on Friday. The plan was to kill all the negroes who would not join them––and with force of arms move off in a body to Illinois, and thence to Canada. However preposterous the plan may seem, it certainly has a great deal of truth for its foundation. The younger negroes not only disclosed it, but others, who did not join them, acknowledged they were notified and knew of it. Besides, others have made a break.

   Quincy, Ill., Nov. 6.

SLAVE STAMPEDE.--Last night about 50 negroes of all ages and sexes, with teams, stampeded from the Missouri side of the river. They were overhauled on Saturday morning, and after a desperate resistance, and the loss of their leader, they were captured. 

   NEGRO STAMPEDE.––Quincy, Nov. 2.––About fifty negroes, men, women and children, with teams, owned by Messrs. Miller, McKim and McCutchin, of Sugar Creek, and William Ellis, of Monticello, Lewis county, Mo., started for parts unknown about 1 o'clock last night. 

   A Stampede.––Saturday night six negroes, owned in this city, came up missing at their homes, having taken sudden leave for parts unknown. Recently several gangs have mysteriously ran off, inclining many to believe that they have been stampeded.––St. Louis Republican, Oct. 29. 

   THE GREAT SLAVE STAMPEDE IN MISSOURI.––The Canton, Lewis Co., Mo. Reporter, gives the following account of the recent great slave stampede there:

   A great excitement prevails in Lewis county, in regard to the recent attempt of the negroes to run away and rise in insurrection; and as many reports are in circulation in relation thereto, we deem it our duty to publish a true statement of the matter as it occurred. 

   The Slaveholders along the eastern coast of Maryland are greatly excited on account of the frequent stampedes among the negroes. Almost every night, says an exchange, slaves flee from bondage to a land of freedom, where they re-recognized as men and women, not as chattels. 

   SLAVERY IN MARYLAND. Speaking the Legislature of Maryland, a correspondent of the Tribune says, that a majority of Reformers have been elected, and a great effort will be made to enact a bill providing for the call of a Convention to remodel the Constitution of the State. The slaveholders in the Eastern and Southern counties have already taken the alarm at the prospect of an effort to provide for emancipation. A movement once made will lead to beneficial results in a few years. There are those in Maryland who will never cease until this curse is eradicated from the soil; and although the final attainment of the object is distant in appearance, there are hearts that never despair, and yet hope to live to witness its accomplishment. 

   SLAVE STAMPEDE.––The Martinsburg Gazette says that on Saturday night last six slaves made their escape from that county––two belonged to C.J. Faulkner, Esq., one to D.H. Conrad, Esq., one to John Jamison, Esq., one to J.L. Cunningham, Esq, and one to the estate of Collin Peters, deceased. Eight left Jefferson county on Friday night previous. 

   SLAVE STAMPEDE IN VIRGINIA.––Eight slaves ran away from Jefferson county, Va., on Friday night last, and six more fled from bondage in the vicinity of Martinsburg on Saturday night. 

"HAPPY AND CONTENTED."––SLAVE STAMPEDE. 

A Telegraphic despatch from Quincy, Ill, Nov. 5th, says: "Last night about fifty negroes of all ages and both sexes escaped together from the Missouri side of the river. The slaves were owned by Miss Miller, Mr. McKim and Mr. McCutcheon, of Sugar Creek, and Mr. Ellis, of Monticello, Lewis county. The slaves were overhauled on Saturday morning, and after a desperate resistance and the loss of their leader, they were captured.––The slave who was killed belonged to Miss Miller.