In January 1863 I was caught in Onslow County, NC; I was held in jail there through February. I told them I had run from the farm of Starkey McDaniel in Trenton, about 38 miles to the north. I called myself GEORGE. #blackhistory #slavery #nchistory

I ran from the Marlboro County, SC plantation of Thomas C. Weatherly in September 1862; I may have traveled 45 miles to Lumberton, NC where my wife was, or I could have headed to the Union army to find work as a blacksmith. I was still free in March 1863. My name was LEVI.

ABNER and I had been hired out to work on the Western NC Railroad expansion to Morganton, NC, but we ran in February 1863; we may have been able to ride east as far as Salisbury. I may have had family at Edwin Hodges’ farm in Beaufort County to go back to. My name was JIM.

I ran from Joseph O. Wade’s farm in Austin County, Texas in January 1863, after he brought me there from Clinton, Louisiana in November. I had lived in Baton Rouge before I was sold, and I might have had family to get back to there. My name was PHIL. #blackhistory

On this day in February 1863 I took an opportunity to get to Mexico, and ran from William H. Jackson, farmer and stock raiser of Bexar County, Texas. I knew enough Spanish to make friends with a Mexican laborer in a cotton train who helped with my escape. I was called BOB.

I was caught and jailed in Wilmington, NC in February 1863 after running from “Oaks,” the plantation of Christopher B. Miller, a former merchant. My friends in town were not able to keep me hidden. My name was AMANDA. #NCHistory #blackhistory

I ran from John T. Gassaway of Marlin, Texas about February 1863; he and his brother supplied cattle to the Confederate Army and I wanted nothing to do with that. Gassaway was shot and killed in a fight in April 1863. My name was BOB. #TexasHistory #blackhistory #slavery

I was caught in Orange County, Texas, near Beaumont, in January 1863, and held in jail there through March. I told them I had run from Ergo Lebone of Bayou Plaquemine, Louisiana, nearly 200 miles to the east. I called myself LENIES. #blackhistory #slavery #TexasHistory

I was caught with my baby and taken to jail in Wilmington, NC, in February 1863, after running from John Miller of Savannah. We had been sold to him by William McKesson of Burke County, NC, who had bought me from the estate of General John G. Bynum. My name was ADELINE.

I had run away from James Lesesne’s farm on Bakers Creek in Bladen County, and made it to Wilmington, NC before I was caught; I was held in the New Hanover County jail in February, 1863. My name was LAZARUS. #blackhistory #slavery #nchistory

I ran from the farm of Confederate militia colonel John J. D. Lucas of Bladen County, North Carolina in mid-January, 1863. I made it to Wilmington, NC where I hoped to find work, but I was caught and jailed there in February 1863. My name was ABRAHAM. #slavery #nchistory

In January 1863, I was running away from E. C. Wilson of Rusk County, Texas, when I was caught in Harrison County to the northeast and held in jail there. I may have been trying to get to Louisiana or further. My name was CONSTANT. #texashistory #slavery

I ran from merchant Cleon H. Williams near the town of Rusk in east Texas in January 1863; he had brought us from Mississippi to avoid Union forces. I may have headed back east in hopes of freedom. My name was SAM. #slavery #blackhistory #texashistory

I left the house of brickmason Joseph L. Keen in January 1863, located in Wilmington, NC at the corner of 5th and Princess, and may have gone to stay with friends or family. They kept me well hidden, as Keen was looking for me well into May 1863. I was called BECKY. #slavery

I jumped off the train near Brown Marsh, Bladen County, NC in November 1862; I was being conducted back to James P. Robertson, who would soon resign as the Superintendent of the Wilmington & Manchester Railroad. He was still looking for me in March 1863. My name was BELL.

I was only 15 years old when I ran from the house of Robert F. Brown, a commission merchant of Wilmington, NC in mid January 1863. I may have had family to shelter me, as he was still advertising for me into February. My name was REBECCA. #NChistory #blackhistory

I ran from the house of Columbus County, NC Superior Court Clerk Kenneth Haynes in January 1865; I had been likely hired out to him by Peter L. Sellers of Brunswick County. I may have been heading back home, or to Wilmington. My name was ALFRED. #blackhistory #slavery

After James Bartee bought me and took me to Chambers County, Ala., I got on the train there on this day in January, 1863. I rode all the way back to Catawba County, NC, where my family still was. Bartee was still looking for me in May, but I was free. My name was BURT.

I ran from Dr. Robert A. Gholson on this day in January 1865, in Charlotte, NC. Gholson was from Petersburg, Virginia, which was under siege by Union forces at that time. I may have headed north to get to family in Orange County, NC. My name was ISAAC. #slavery #civilwar

I ran from William Medlin’s farm in Clio, SC, near the NC border, in November 1862. He had joined the Confederate NC troops and began looking for me in January 1863, and he was still looking for me in March. I may have headed for the Union line, or the north. My name was WILLIS.