Our database contains over 1,000 newspaper articles that specifically label a group escape as a "slave stampede" or some related variant, such as "negro stampede." Our document records also include hundreds of other types of primary sources and newspaper articles related to these stampedes but that do not contain the word itself. The map below provides a sample visualization of the newspaper coverage between 1856 and 1860 with clickable access to the various records inside our database. The detailed listing underneath includes records for all of the documents from the period 1847 to 1865, containing both transcripts and original images.

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Article

            Negro Stampede.

   There was a negro stampede last week from Millersburg, Bourbon Co., Ky., which created considerable excitement thereabouts. The negro's left Millersburg in a splendid carriage, and in passing the toll-gates on the Maysville side, the carriage was driven by a white man, who represented its inmates as a runaway match on their way to Aberdeen, the Gretna Green of Kentucky, to get married. 

   There were seven negroes in all––three men, three women, and one child. They proceeded in the carriage to near Washington, whence they went on foot to East Maysville, where they attempted to cross the Ohio in a skiff. They skiff leaked and sunk, and the three women and child were drowned. The men cried for help, and were rescued by a marketman going from Aberdeen to Maysville, who took them to jail at Maysville, whence they were returned to their homes of bondage. 

Article

                          From the Louisville Courier. 

 Negro Stampede––Three Runaways Drowned.

   Our Paris correspondent writes us that there was a negro stampede from Millersburg, Bourbon County, on the night of the 16th instant, of which he gives us the following particulars:

   They left MIllersburg on Sunday night, in Mr. McMiller's splendid carriage, and in passing the toll-gates on the Maysville pike, the carriage was driven by a white man, who represented its inmates as a runaway match on their way to Aberdeen, the Gretna Green of Kentucky, to get married. 

Article

   A negro stampede took place at Millersburg Bourbon county, on the night of the 16th inst. there were seven negroes in all, three men, three women, and one child. They proceeded to East Maysville, where they attempted to cross the Ohio in a skiff. The skiff leaked and sunk, and the three women and the child were drowned. 

Article

NEGRO STAMPEDE – THREE RUNAWAYS DROWNED— GREAT EXCITEMENT IN BOURBON. – Our ever attentive Paris correspondent writes us that there was a negro stampede from Millersburg, Bourdon county, on the night of the 16th inst., of which he gives us the following particulars.

            They left Millersburg on Sunday night in Mr. Mac. Miller’s splendid carriage, and in passing the toll-gates on the Maysville poke, the carriage was driven by a white man, who represented its inmates as a runaway match on their way to Aberdeen, the Gretna Green of Kentucky, to get married.

Book Excerpt

Under this "Organization of Labor," most of the slaves work rapidly and well. In nearly all ordinary work, custom has settled the extent of the task, and it is difficult to increase it. The driver who marks it out, has to remain on the ground until it is finished, and has no interest in over-measuring it; and if it should be systematically increased very much, there is danger of a general stampede to the "swamp"––a danger the slave can always hold before his master's cupidity. In fact, it is looked upon in this region as a proscriptive right of the negroes to have this inticement to diligence offered them; and the man who denied it, or who attempted to lessen it, would, it is said, suffer in his reputation, as well as experience much annoyance from the obstinate "rascality" of his negroes. Notwithstanding this, I have heard a man assert, boastingly, that he made his negroes habitually perform double the customary tasks. Thus we get a glimpse again of the black side.

Article

   We clip the following article, upon the "Underground Railroad" system, from the New York Daily Times, of the 24th ult., and commend it to the attention of our readers, as furnishing a very clear indication, of the deliberate and systematic manner which the property of the slaveholders is stolen and spirited away, by the Abolitionists of the North. And we tell those fanatics, that their conduct in this regard, while it is villainously immoral, will effect our social compact no more, than would the stealing of the Koran, change the religion of the Turks.--Columbus (Miss.) Eagle.

             THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.

Article

                                 Escape of Fugitives.

Article

      ESCAPE OF FUGITIVES--EXCITING CHASE--UNFORTUNATE CAPTURE OF ONE.--A paper published in the town of Frederick, Md., called The Examiner, gives a description of a late stampede of slaves from that vicinity. It appears that six of them--four men and two women--having two spring wagons and four horses, came to Hood's Mill, on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, near the dividing line between Frederick and Carroll Counties, on Christmas day. After feeding their animals, one of them told Mr. Dixon whence they came; believing them to be fugitives, he spread the alarm, and some eight or ten persons gathered round to arrest them; but the negroes, drawing revolvers and bowie-knives, kept their assailants at bay, until five of the party succeeded in escaping in one of the wagons, and as the last one jumped on a horse to flee, he was fired at first and the load took effect in the small of the back.

Article

   The Memphis Appeal says a dispatch from Natchez announces the stampede of forty negroes from that city. 

Article

   SLAVE STAMPEDE.--It will be seen by our despatches that there had been another slave stampede from this State, and that a portion of the fugitives had been arrested at Cincinnati, after having fired upon and wounded some of their pursuers. A negro woman seeing her capture certain, murdered one of her children and wounded two others. It is high time Kentucky slave holders were taking some prompt and effective measures to secure themselves against the forays of Ohio abolitionists. 

Article

Give me Liberty or Give me Death.

            One of the most touching incidents connected with the accursed system of slavery is contained in the following dispatch:

Article

               Stampede of Slaves.

                         CINCINNATI, Jan. 28.

   A stampede of slaves from the Border counties of Kentucky took place last night. The whereabouts of several having been discovered here, officers at noon to-day proceeded to make arrests. Upon approaching the house where the slaves were secreted, the latter fired, wounding two or three spectators, but not seriously. One slave woman finding escape impossible, cut the throats of her children, killing one instantly, and severely wounding two others. Six of the fugitives were apprehended, but eight are said to have escaped. 

Article

                   Terrible Act of a Slave Mother.

                                                 CINCINNATI, Jan. 28. 

   A stampede among the slaves from the border counties of Kentucky, took place last night. Officers have discovered the place of concealment of the fugitives and proceeded to make the arrests. As they approached the house where the slaves were secreted, they were fired upon. Two or three spectators were wounded, but not seriously. One slave woman, finding escape impossible, cut the throats of her children, killing one instantly, and severely wounding two others. Six slaves were apprehended but eight are said to have escaped. 

Article

               Bloody Stampede of Slaves.

   CINCINNATI, Jan. 28. P.M--A stampede of slaves left the border counties of Kentucky last night. Their whereabouts became known, several having been discovered here. The officers at noon to-day proceeded to make arrests. When approaching the house where the slaves were secreted, the latter fired, wounding two or three spectators, but not seriously. One slave woman finding escape impossible, cut the throat of one of her children, killing it instantly. She wounded severely two others. Six were apprehended. Eight are said to have escaped. 

Article

              Stampede of Slaves.

            A TALE OF HORROR!

         An Arrest by the U.S. Marshal.

        A DEPUTY U.S. MARSHAL SHOT.

A Negro Child's Throat Cut from Ear to Ear by its Father or Mother, and Others Wounded!

               CORONER"S INQUEST. 

    Writ of Habeas Corpus Taken Out.

           GREAT EXCITEMENT!

Article

   SLAVE STAMPEDE.--A stampede of slaves from the border county of Kentucky, took place on the night of the 27th inst. It was ascertained that some of them had taken refuge in Cincinnati, and officers proceeded to make arrests. Upon approaching the house where the slaves were secreted, the latter fired upon them, wounding 2 or 3 spectators seriously-- One slave woman finding escape impossible, cut the throats of her children, killing one instantly, and severely wounding two others. Six of the fugitives were apprehended, but 8 are said to have escaped

Article

Stampede of Kentucky Slaves--A Bloody Tragedy.

    CINCINNATI, Jan. 28.--A stampede of slaves took place from the border counties of Kentucky last night. Several have been discovered here.-- The police, at noon to-day, proceeded to arrest them. Approaching the house where the fugitives were secreted, the latter fired on them, wounding two or three persons who had gathered to witness the arrest. They were not wounded seriously. One of the fugitive women, finding escape impossible, cut the throat of one of her children, killing it instantly. She also severely wounded two other of her children. Eight of the slaves are said to have escaped. 

Article

   CINCINNATI, Jan. 28--There was a regular stampede of slaves from the border counties of Kentucky last night. The whereabouts of several having been discovered here, the officers at noon to-day proceeded to make arrests. On approaching a house where the slaves were secreted, the latter fired, wounding two or three spectators, but not severely. One slave woman finding escape impossible, cut the throat of one of her children killing it instantly. She also severely wounded two others. Six of the slaves were apprehended, and eight are said to have escaped. 

Article

    Slave Stampede and Frightful Tragedy.

    CINCINNATI, January 28.--There was quite a stampede among the slaves in the border counties of Kentucky in this vicinity last night, and several of the fugitives having been discovered here, the officers, at noon to-day, proceeded to arrest them. On approaching the house where the slaves were secreted, the latter fired upon the officers, wounding two or three of the spectators, but not seriously. One slave woman, finding escape impossible, attempted to cut the throats of her three children, and so far succeeded as to kill one of them instantly and wounding the other two very severely. Six of the slaves were apprehended; eight are said to have escaped. 

Article

 ESCAPE AND RECAPTURE OF SLAVES--DESPERATE AND FATAL RESISTANCE. 

                          CINCINNATI, Monday, Jan 28, 1856. 

   A stampede of slaves from the border counties of Kentucky took place last night. The whereabouts of several of the fugitives having been discovered here, officers at noon to-day proceeded to make arrests. Upon approaching the house where the slaves were secreted, the latter fired--wounding two or three spectators, but not seriously. One slave woman, finding escape impossible, cut the throats of her children--killing one instantly, and severely wounding two others. Six of the fugitives were apprehended, but eight are said to have escaped. 

Article

Escape and Recapture of Slaves--Desperate and Fatal Resistance.

                                              CINCINNATI, Monday, Jan. 28. 

   A stampede of slaves from the border counties of Kentucky took place last night. The whereabouts of several having been discovered here, officers at noon to-day, proceeded to make arrests. Upon approaching the house where the slaves were secreted, the latter fired, wounding two or three spectators but not seriously. One slave woman, finding escape impossible, cut the throats of her children, killing one instantly, and severely wounding two others. Six of the fugitives were apprehended, but eight are said to have escaped. 

Article

          The Underground Railroad at Work.

   ESCAPE AND RECAPTURE OF FUGITIVES--DESPERATE AND BLOODY RESISTANCE.

                                              CINCINNATI, Jan. 28. 

   A stampede among the slaves from the border counties of Kentucky, took place last night. The whereabouts of several having been discovered here, officers at noon to-day, proceeded to make arrests. Upon approaching the house where the slaves were secreted, the latter fired, wounding two or three spectators but not seriously. One slave woman, finding escape impossible, cut the throats of her children, killing one instantly, and severely wounding two others. Six of the fugitives were apprehended, but eight are said to have escaped. 

Article

   TROUBLE AMONG SLAVES--FATAL CONSEQUENCES. 

                                   CINCINNATI, Jan. 28.

   A stampede of slaves from the border counties of Kentucky, took place last night. The whereabouts of several having been discovered here, officers at noon to-day proceeded to make arrests. Upon approaching the house where the slaves were secreted, the latter fired upon them, wounding 2 or 3 spectators, but not seriously. One slave woman finding escape impossible, cut the throats of her children, killing one instantly, and seriously wounding two others. Six of the fugitives were apprehended, but eight are said to have escaped. 

Article

Slaves Escaped---Men Wounded, Children Killed.  

                     CINCINNATI, Jan. 28. 

   A stampede among the slaves from the border counties of Kentucky, took place last night. The whereabouts of several having been discovered here, officers at noon-today, proceeded to make arrests. Upon approaching the house where the slaves were secreted, the latter fired, wounding two or three spectators but not seriously; one slave woman, finding escape impossible, cut the throats of her children, killing one instantly, and severely wounding two others. Six slaves were apprehended but eight are said to have escaped. 

Article

Slave Stampede in Kentucky--A Slave Woman Murdering Her Children to prevent their being taken back to Slavery.

    CINCINNATI. JAN 28. -- There was quite a stampede among the slaves of the border counties of Kentucky last night, and the whereabouts of several having been discovered in this city, the officers at noon to day proceeded to make the arrests. On approaching a house where the slaves were secreted the latter fired upon them, wounding two or three spectators slightly. One slave woman, finding that escape was impossible, cut the throats of her children, killing one instantly, and severely wounding two others! Six slaves were apprehended but eight are said to have escaped. 

Article

                Horrid Affair. 

                                   CINCINNATI, 28.

   A stampede of slaves from the border Counties of Ky. took place last night. The whereabouts of several of the fugitives having been discovered here, officers at noon to-day proceeded to make arrests. Upon approaching the house where the slaves were secreted the latter fired wounding two or three spectators but not seriously. One slave woman finding escape impossible cut the throats of her children killing one instantly and severely wounded two others. One of the fugitive, was apprehended but eight are said to have escaped. 

Article

More Difficulty with Fugitive Property.

                      Cincinnati, Jan. 28.

   A stampede of slaves from the border counties of Kentucky took place last night. The whereabouts of several having been discovered here, officers at noon to-day proceeded to make arrests. Upon approaching the house where the slaves were secreted the latter fired upon them, wounding two or three spectators, but not seriously. 

   One slave woman, finding escape impossible, cut the throats of her children, killing one instantly and severely wounding two others. 

    Six of the fugitives were apprehended, but eight are said to have escaped. 

Article

                                 STAMPEDE OF SLAVES.

                                  A TALE OF HORROR.

                          AN ARREST BY THE U.S. MARSHAL

     A Negro Child's Throat Cut from Ear to Ear by its Father or Mother--Others Wounded. 

                               CORONER'S INQUEST.

                           Writ of Habeas Corpus Taken out. 

Article

                                                                                                                                                                                       CINCINNATI, Jan. 28.

Article

              Great Stampede of Slaves.

      Arrest of a Portion of the Fugitives--

                    Dreadful Tragedy.

A SLAVE CHILD KILLED BY ITS MOTHER, AND THREE OTHERS WOUNDED--CONFLICT BETWEEN THE FUGITIVES AND THE OFFICERS--A DEPUTY UNITED STATES MARSHAL SHOT--CORONER'S INQUEST.

            [From the Cincinnati Commercial of the 29th inst.]

Article

    SLAVE STAMPEDE IN KENTUCKY.--Cincinnati, Jan. 28.--There was quite a stampede among the slaves of the border counties of Kentucky, last night, and the whereabouts of several having been discovered in this city, the officers, at noon to-day, proceeded to make arrests. On approaching a house where the slaves were secreted, the latter fired upon them, wounding two or three spectators slightly. One slave woman, finding that escape was impossible, cut the throats of her children, killing one instantly, and severely wounding two others! Six slaves were apprehended, but eight are said to have escaped. 

Article

                                                                                      Slave Stampede. 

    CINCINNATI, Jan. 28. – A regular stampede of slaves occurred last night from the border counties of Kentucky, and it was ascertained to-day that several of them were secreted in this city. When the officers approached the house where they were concealed, they were fired upon from the windows, by which two or three spectators were slightly wounded. A slave woman finding escape impossible killed one of her children by cutting its throat, and severely wounded two others. Six slaves were arrested, and it was through six escaped. 

Article

    The telegraph advises us of some remarkable resolutions passed by the Ohio Know-Nothing Senate in regard to the recent slave stampede at Cincinnati. 

Article

     Great Stampede of Slaves.

      Arrest of a Portion of the Fugitives--

                    Dreadful Tragedy.

A SLAVE CHILD KILLED BY ITS MOTHER, AND THREE OTHERS WOUNDED--CONFLICT BETWEEN THE FUGITIVES AND THE OFFICERS--A DEPUTY UNITED STATES MARSHAL SHOT--CORONER'S INQUEST.

            [From the Cincinnati Commercial of the 29th inst.]

Article

   SLAVE STAMPEDE--The freezing of the Ohio River, by the facilities thus furnished for crossing from Kentucky to Ohio, seems to have stimulated many of the bondsmen of the latter State to attempt their escape. We learn by telegraph from Cincinnati of the recapture there yesterday of several of these fugitives, not withstanding tragical circumstances of the most affecting character. A mother finding escape hopeless from the hands of the slave-catchers, to save her three children from being dragged back to Slavery, cut their throats, instantly killing one and severely wounding the other two. Six of the fugitives were captured, but eight, belonging to another party, are said to have effected their escape. When the slave mothers of the South begin to be afflicted with this fanaticism for freedom, it is not to be believed that either they or their children can long be retained in bondage.

Article

   On Monday night last there was another stampede of slaves into Ohio, from the border counties of Kentucky. 

Article

    STAMPEDE OF SLAVES -- HORRIBLE DENOUEMENT.--Cincinnati, Jan. 28. A stampede of slaves from the border counties of Kentucky took place last night. The whereabouts of several of the fugitives having been discovered here, officers at noon to-day proceeded to make arrests. Upon approaching the house where the slaves were secreted, the latter fired, wounding two or three spectators, but not seriously. One slave woman, finding escape impossible, cut the throats of her children, killing one instantly, and severely wounding two others. Six of the fugitives were apprehended, but it is said that eight escaped. 

Article

SLAVE STAMPEDE. –The freezing of the Ohio River, by the facilities thus furnished for the crossing from Kentucky to Ohio, seems to have stimulated many of the bondsmen of the latter State to attempt their escape. We learn by telegraph from Cincinnati of the recapture their yesterday of several of these fugitives, not without tragical circumstances of the most affecting character. A mother finding escape hopeless from the bands of the slave-catchers, to save her three children from being dragged back to Slavery, cut their throats, instantly killing one and severely wounding the other two.  Six of the fugitives were captured but eight, belonging to another party are said to have effected their scape. When the other slaves of the South begin to be affected with this fanaticism for freedom, it is not to be believed that either they or their children can long be retained in bondage.

Article

   A Cincinnati paper of the 28th ult. says: A stampede of slaves took place on the evening of the 27th--the whereabouts of several of the fugitives having been discovered here, officers at noon, to day, proceeded to make arrests--upon approaching the house where the slaves were secreted, the latter fired, wounding two or three spectators, but not severely. One slave woman, finding escape impossible, cut the throats of her children, killing one instantly, and severely wounding two others: six of the fugitives were apprehended, and eight are said to have escaped. 

Article

   [From the Cincinnati Enquirer, 30th.]

   The Late Slave Stampede Tragedy.

Details of the Bloody Episode--Testimony before the Coroner--Verdict of the Jury.

    The examination was continued yesterday morning at the office of Dr. Menzies. The excitement in the meantime was intense to unravel the bloody mystery, as to whether the father or mother committed the fearful dead. William Robertson, of Covington, testified that he and two others made inquiries for the runaway slaves and traced them to Kite's house. His statement was confirmatory of the evidence given by Moore and Patterson.

Article

   Negro Stampede--Horrible.--Cincinnati, Jan. 28.--A stampede of slaves from the border counties of Kentucky, took place last night. The whereabouts of several of the fugitives having been discovered here, officers at noon to-day proceeded to make arrests.--Upon approaching the house where the slaves were secreted, the latter fired, wounding two or three of the spectators, but not seriously. One slave woman, finding escape impossible, cut the throats of her children, killing one instantly, and severely wounding two others. Six of the fugitives were apprehended, but eight have escaped. 

Article

            THE HUMANITY OF SLAVERY.

   The following article which we copy from the Patapsco American, published at Ellicott's Mills, Maryland, of the 5th ult., is a very striking illustration of the influence the Slave system has upon the humanity of those who are educated up to the full measure of the 'peculiar institution.' The offense of these poor negroes consists simply in having a darker skin than their blacker hearted pursuers, who evidently do not believe in the precept--'Love thy neighbor as thyself:'

   A STAMPEDE OF NEGROES--A party of six negroes from Middleburg, Va., left that place on the 24th December, and passed near Hood's Mill, in this county, on the 25th, about 4 o'clock, P.M. thus traveling 85 to 90 miles on their route to Pennsylvania. 

Article

   The Memphis Appeal says a dispatch from Natchez announces the stampede of forty negroes from that city. 

Article

The Slave Case in Cincinnati. 

     The trial is still progressing in Cincinnati and the excitement is steadily kept up, to connection with the recent slave stampede and the melancholy tragedy that followed. The intensifiers are surely lucky in getting up horrors to startle the public feeling. The end is not yet.

Article

   ESCAPE OF FUGITIVES––EXCITING CHASE––UNFORTUNATE CAPTURE OF ONE––A paper published in the town of Frederick, Md., called the Examiner gives a description of a late stampede of slaves from that vicinity. It appears that six of them––four men and two women––having two spring wagons and four horses, came to Hood's Mill, on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, near the dividing line between Frederick and Carroll Counties, on Christmas day. After feeding their animals, one of them told Mr. Dixon whence they came. Believing them to be fugitives, he spread the alarm, and some eight or ten persons gathered around to arrest them; but the negroes, drawing revolves and bowie-knives, kept their assailants at bay until five of the party succeeded in escaping in one of the wagons, and as the last one jumped on a horse to flee he was fired at, and the load took effect in the small of the back.

Article

   FUGITIVE SLAVES--MURDER.--Cincinnati, Jan. 28.--There was a grand stampede of slaves from the bordering counties of Kentucky last night. The whereabouts of several of them having been discovered in this city, the officers proceeded at noon to day to make a arrest of the fugitives. 

   Upon approaching the house where the slaves were secreted, the latter fired upon them, and wounded two or three of the spectators, but not seriously. 

   One female slaves, finding escape impossible, proceeded to cut the throats of her children. She killed one instantaneously and wounded two others very seriously. Eight of them are said to have escaped. 

Article

   ANOTHER STAMPEDE.--Early yesterday morning Mr. McGuire, of the White Hall, in Kentucky, opposite the Fifth street ferry, discovered at his door a valuable horse attached to a sleigh, the horse in a profuse sweat and dreadfully blown, showing clearly that he had been driven at terrible speed. He learned that another stampede of slaves had occurred. The fugitives numbered seven in all, and consisted of two men, two women, and three children, belonging to Mr. Gaines, of Boone county, brother to the Mr. Gaines who claims the slave Garner, now on trial before Commissioner Pendery. We learn that the latter gentleman has suffered another loss, four more of his slaves having absconded. So far no clue has been obtained of the fugitives. 

Article

            [From the Cincinnati Commercial of the 29th inst.]

           GREAT STAMPEDE OF SLAVES.

      Arrest of a Portion of the Fugitives.

                    DREADFUL TRAGEDY.

A Slave Child Killed by its Mother, and three Others Wounded--Conflict between the Fugitives and the Officers--A Deputy United States Marshal Shot--Coroner's Inquest. 

Article

THE SLAVE STAMPEDE AND TRAGEDY IN CINCINNATI.

   The Cincinnati Commercial gives a long account of the escape of a party of slaves from Kentucky, and the subsequent tragedy, heretofore mentioned by telegraph. The Commercial says:

   About ten o'clock on Sunday, a party of eight slaves, two men, two women, and four children, belonging to Archibald K. Gaines and John Marshall of Richwood Station, Boone county, Kentucky, about sixteen miles from Covington, escaped from their owners. Three of the party are father, mother and son, and whose names are Simon, Mary and Robert, the others are Margaret, wife of Robert, and her four children. The three first are the property of Marshall, and the others of Gaines.

Article

From the Cincinnati Enquirer of the 29th ult.]

           STAMPEDE OF SLAVES.

AN ARREST BY THE U.S. MARSHAL--A DEPUTY U.S. MARSHAL SHOT--CORONER'S INQUEST--GREAT EXCITEMENT.