Allyn
Corporal
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2024
- Location
- northwestern Pennsylvania
Some time ago I had the unexpected good fortune to track a party of slaves escaping on the Underground Railroad through western Pennsylvania to Canada via an assortment of newspapers from four different states, starting with papers from Meadville, PA, and working backwards. I discovered that the Wheeling Intelligencer, Cooper's Clarksburg Register, the Milwaukee Sentinel, the Painesville, Ohio, Telegraph, and several Pennsylvania newspapers all diligently followed the fugitives' escape route.
Three women, two children and five men made what had to be a well-planned and coordinated escape from four different owners near Pruntytown, Taylor Co., Virginia (now West Virginia) on 5 November 1858. Pursued by 25 men on horseback, the group went almost due north toward Morgantown, then swung west to Fayette Co., PA. After a bloody confrontation there, the escapees followed along the western edge of Pennsylvania, passing through Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh Gazette for 9 Nov. 1858, reported that "They were passed along through some mysterious and to us unknown agency, under friendly shelter of the night, and are beyond the immediate reach of their pursuers." Continuing north, they crossed through Crawford Co. within a week or so, and by Sunday, 28 November, the group had passed into Canada. The Crawford Journal, Meadville, PA, for 30 November reported that "The ten negroes who escaped some time since from Morgantown, Va., and fought twenty five men and the Dred Scott decision in Fayette county, passed through this place last week, on their northward journey, and are by this time safe in Canada," and the Spirit of the Age, another Meadville newspaper, noted on 3 December that "Quite a number of passengers by the Underground Railroad passed through this place one night last week." The Painesville newspaper reported that "all of the ten last Sunday morning planted their weary feet upon the free soil of Canada – a land where men's rights are not graded by the hue of their skin. That Sabbath was indeed a day of rest to these hunted fugitives."
Wheeling (WVA) Intelligencer, November 6, 1858 (Saturday)
Ranaway negroes. Ten negroes, three women, two children and 5 men, ran away from Pruntytown on Sunday night about eleven o'clock, taking with them seven horses. Their horses were discovered near the residence of Thos. B. Petty, about six miles south of Morgantown, on the Fairmont Pike, on Monday morning about five o'clock. Three of them belonged to Zed. Shields, three to Cornelius Runnells, three to Col. E. J. Armstrong, and one to Jas. W. Baston. Morgantown Star.
We learn from a gentleman just arrived from the scene, that the negroes were overtaken in Fayette county, Pa., where a desperate fight took place, and the owners and others pursuing were beaten back. Col. Armstrong, of the pursuing party, was attacked by one of the negroes with a corn cleaver, and would have been killed but for the interference of one of his own servants, who stepped in to protect his master. Another of the party pursuing was fiercely attacked and badly injured, while the negroes made their escape. The fight took place on what is known as the Bachelor Farm. Day before yesterday a party of about twenty-five persons, from Morgantown, started in pursuit of the negroes, but nothing additional had been heard at last accounts from either the pursuing or pursued.
Pittsburgh (PA) Gazette, Nov. 9, 1858
CHATTELS. If there are any Shaws running at least in the city they will learn to their great regret that a goodly number of bipedal chattels have recently been within the boundaries of this municipal incorporation without being caught. We published, yesterday morning, a statement from the Morgantown (Va.) Star, of ten "******s" (three women, two children and five men) who, in utter disregard of the Bible doctrine, the American Tract Society or Jimmy Buchanan, had run away. In addition to that fact, we also published from the Wheeling Intelligencer the account of an attempt to re-steal them at Bachelor Farm, in Fayette county, Pa. They – the ******s – fought like good ones for those glittering generalities called "life and liberty," and succeeded in getting away from 25 men who were after them with all sorts of deadly implements, too numerous to mention. We are now prepared to add that at some distance from this city these persons, who are no persons, these creatures, which are the same as horses, *****, etc., have been placed in a condition of rest and safety. They were passed along through some mysterious and to us unknown agency, under friendly shelter of the night, and are beyond the immediate reach of their pursuers. It may, in fact, be said that they are so safe that it would be more dangerous for the pursuer than it would be for the chttel if the former should attempt to follow on and capture the runaways.
Cooper's Clarksburg (WVA) Register, November 12, 1858
Another Stampede. We learn that some nine negroes, including several women, ran away from Taylor county last Sunday night, taking with them seven horses. The negroes belonged to Mr. E. J. Armstrong, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Shields, and others. It was but a short time ago that a similar drove ran away from this county. Barbour Jeffersonian
Sentinel, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Nov. 12, 1858
Stampede of Slaves and a Battle. Ten slaves, three women, two children, and five men ran away from Pruyntown (sic), Va., a few nights ago, taking with them seven other chattles in the shape of horses. They left the horses after the night's ride, and steered for the North Star on foot. They were followed and overtaken in Fayette county, Pa., where a desperate fight for freedom on the part of the negroes, and slavery on the part of the whites took place. The slave catchers were badly beaten, and fugitives from slavery made their escape. Col. Armstrong, one of the owners, in attempting to capture one of the slaves, was resisted with a corn cleaver, and would have been killed but for the interference of one of his own servants, who stepped in to protect his master. Another of the pursuing party was fiercely resisted, and badly injured in the melee. The Wheeling Intelligencer states that on the return of the discomfitted slave hunters, a party of about twenty-five persons from Morgantown started in pursuit of the negroes, but nothing additional had been heard at last accounts from either the pursuing or the pursued.
Cooper's Clarksburg Register, November 19, 1858
The Runaways from Pruntytown. One of the parties, headed by Col. Armstrong, in pursuit of the ten runaway negroes, mentioned in our last issue, came across the negroes on Tuesday afternoon, in the neighborhood of Davistown, Greene Co., Pa., which is a few miles south (west) of the road from Morgantown to Carmichaels. There were about nine persons in Col. Armstrong's party. The negroes entrenched themselves upon a stony piece of ground in a field. Col. A.'s party attacked them, leaving their horses outside the fence. About the time the battle commenced, the majority of Col. A's party considering "discretion the better part of valor," commenced a retreat, leaving Col. A. and one or two others to contend with the whole party. They fought with clubs, stones, pistols, corn cutters, and everything else that could be made available. Finding they were about to be overpowered, and Col. A. in a very exhausted condition, the remaining few also retreated, leaving the field to the negroes. They followed Col. A. yelling and shouting "**** him, kill him." By this time he was all alone, and, hardly able to walk, when he was attacked by a large negro, named Harrison, who was armed with large corn cutter. Harrison (the property of Mr. Runnell's) aimed a blow at Col. A.'s head with the corn cutter, which was very dull. The Col. grasped it in his hand, warding the force of the blow from his head. The Col. appealed to one of his own negroes, Dave, to save him from death. Dave interfered in behalf of his master, and his life was saved. Col. A. was taken off the field in a fainting condition. Dark coming on shortly after the skirmish, the negroes all escaped, and nothing has been heard of them since. Col. A. was brought to Morgantown next day, and is at Mr. Wallace's National House, doing as well as could be expected. His hand is severely wounded, one finger nearly off and others badly mangled. There was a contusion on his left temple, and several bruises on his body. Col. A. barely escaped with his life, and the cowardly conduct of many of his party cannot be too severely reprehended. Great efforts have been made to capture the negroes; more than fifty Men have been searching in Greene and Fayette counties: but the negroes have made good their escape, no doubt, to the Canadas.[/H1]
We copy the following account of the encounter with the fugitive slaves recently escaped from Taylor county, from the Morgantown Star. We are pleased to learn that Mr. Armstrong is doing as well as the severe nature of his wounds will allow. The conduct of those men who left him to the mercy of the infuriated negroes, was most dastardly. The world should know them. Give us their names.
Three women, two children and five men made what had to be a well-planned and coordinated escape from four different owners near Pruntytown, Taylor Co., Virginia (now West Virginia) on 5 November 1858. Pursued by 25 men on horseback, the group went almost due north toward Morgantown, then swung west to Fayette Co., PA. After a bloody confrontation there, the escapees followed along the western edge of Pennsylvania, passing through Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh Gazette for 9 Nov. 1858, reported that "They were passed along through some mysterious and to us unknown agency, under friendly shelter of the night, and are beyond the immediate reach of their pursuers." Continuing north, they crossed through Crawford Co. within a week or so, and by Sunday, 28 November, the group had passed into Canada. The Crawford Journal, Meadville, PA, for 30 November reported that "The ten negroes who escaped some time since from Morgantown, Va., and fought twenty five men and the Dred Scott decision in Fayette county, passed through this place last week, on their northward journey, and are by this time safe in Canada," and the Spirit of the Age, another Meadville newspaper, noted on 3 December that "Quite a number of passengers by the Underground Railroad passed through this place one night last week." The Painesville newspaper reported that "all of the ten last Sunday morning planted their weary feet upon the free soil of Canada – a land where men's rights are not graded by the hue of their skin. That Sabbath was indeed a day of rest to these hunted fugitives."
Wheeling (WVA) Intelligencer, November 6, 1858 (Saturday)
Ranaway negroes. Ten negroes, three women, two children and 5 men, ran away from Pruntytown on Sunday night about eleven o'clock, taking with them seven horses. Their horses were discovered near the residence of Thos. B. Petty, about six miles south of Morgantown, on the Fairmont Pike, on Monday morning about five o'clock. Three of them belonged to Zed. Shields, three to Cornelius Runnells, three to Col. E. J. Armstrong, and one to Jas. W. Baston. Morgantown Star.
We learn from a gentleman just arrived from the scene, that the negroes were overtaken in Fayette county, Pa., where a desperate fight took place, and the owners and others pursuing were beaten back. Col. Armstrong, of the pursuing party, was attacked by one of the negroes with a corn cleaver, and would have been killed but for the interference of one of his own servants, who stepped in to protect his master. Another of the party pursuing was fiercely attacked and badly injured, while the negroes made their escape. The fight took place on what is known as the Bachelor Farm. Day before yesterday a party of about twenty-five persons, from Morgantown, started in pursuit of the negroes, but nothing additional had been heard at last accounts from either the pursuing or pursued.
Pittsburgh (PA) Gazette, Nov. 9, 1858
CHATTELS. If there are any Shaws running at least in the city they will learn to their great regret that a goodly number of bipedal chattels have recently been within the boundaries of this municipal incorporation without being caught. We published, yesterday morning, a statement from the Morgantown (Va.) Star, of ten "******s" (three women, two children and five men) who, in utter disregard of the Bible doctrine, the American Tract Society or Jimmy Buchanan, had run away. In addition to that fact, we also published from the Wheeling Intelligencer the account of an attempt to re-steal them at Bachelor Farm, in Fayette county, Pa. They – the ******s – fought like good ones for those glittering generalities called "life and liberty," and succeeded in getting away from 25 men who were after them with all sorts of deadly implements, too numerous to mention. We are now prepared to add that at some distance from this city these persons, who are no persons, these creatures, which are the same as horses, *****, etc., have been placed in a condition of rest and safety. They were passed along through some mysterious and to us unknown agency, under friendly shelter of the night, and are beyond the immediate reach of their pursuers. It may, in fact, be said that they are so safe that it would be more dangerous for the pursuer than it would be for the chttel if the former should attempt to follow on and capture the runaways.
Cooper's Clarksburg (WVA) Register, November 12, 1858
Another Stampede. We learn that some nine negroes, including several women, ran away from Taylor county last Sunday night, taking with them seven horses. The negroes belonged to Mr. E. J. Armstrong, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Shields, and others. It was but a short time ago that a similar drove ran away from this county. Barbour Jeffersonian
Sentinel, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Nov. 12, 1858
Stampede of Slaves and a Battle. Ten slaves, three women, two children, and five men ran away from Pruyntown (sic), Va., a few nights ago, taking with them seven other chattles in the shape of horses. They left the horses after the night's ride, and steered for the North Star on foot. They were followed and overtaken in Fayette county, Pa., where a desperate fight for freedom on the part of the negroes, and slavery on the part of the whites took place. The slave catchers were badly beaten, and fugitives from slavery made their escape. Col. Armstrong, one of the owners, in attempting to capture one of the slaves, was resisted with a corn cleaver, and would have been killed but for the interference of one of his own servants, who stepped in to protect his master. Another of the pursuing party was fiercely resisted, and badly injured in the melee. The Wheeling Intelligencer states that on the return of the discomfitted slave hunters, a party of about twenty-five persons from Morgantown started in pursuit of the negroes, but nothing additional had been heard at last accounts from either the pursuing or the pursued.
Cooper's Clarksburg Register, November 19, 1858
The Runaways from Pruntytown. One of the parties, headed by Col. Armstrong, in pursuit of the ten runaway negroes, mentioned in our last issue, came across the negroes on Tuesday afternoon, in the neighborhood of Davistown, Greene Co., Pa., which is a few miles south (west) of the road from Morgantown to Carmichaels. There were about nine persons in Col. Armstrong's party. The negroes entrenched themselves upon a stony piece of ground in a field. Col. A.'s party attacked them, leaving their horses outside the fence. About the time the battle commenced, the majority of Col. A's party considering "discretion the better part of valor," commenced a retreat, leaving Col. A. and one or two others to contend with the whole party. They fought with clubs, stones, pistols, corn cutters, and everything else that could be made available. Finding they were about to be overpowered, and Col. A. in a very exhausted condition, the remaining few also retreated, leaving the field to the negroes. They followed Col. A. yelling and shouting "**** him, kill him." By this time he was all alone, and, hardly able to walk, when he was attacked by a large negro, named Harrison, who was armed with large corn cutter. Harrison (the property of Mr. Runnell's) aimed a blow at Col. A.'s head with the corn cutter, which was very dull. The Col. grasped it in his hand, warding the force of the blow from his head. The Col. appealed to one of his own negroes, Dave, to save him from death. Dave interfered in behalf of his master, and his life was saved. Col. A. was taken off the field in a fainting condition. Dark coming on shortly after the skirmish, the negroes all escaped, and nothing has been heard of them since. Col. A. was brought to Morgantown next day, and is at Mr. Wallace's National House, doing as well as could be expected. His hand is severely wounded, one finger nearly off and others badly mangled. There was a contusion on his left temple, and several bruises on his body. Col. A. barely escaped with his life, and the cowardly conduct of many of his party cannot be too severely reprehended. Great efforts have been made to capture the negroes; more than fifty Men have been searching in Greene and Fayette counties: but the negroes have made good their escape, no doubt, to the Canadas.[/H1]
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