17 September 1849

Tonight is our first night away from the plantation. We been planning our escape for awhile. It’s a good thing our massa— former massa, is a heavy sleeper. We made sure to leave at the darkest time of the night, we’even braved wild coyotes and other things that crawl in the dark. But we’s on our way to becoming a free people, so a couple critters don’t matter. Lord be with us.

-HT

25 September 1849

We almost got caught a few days ago. Been runnin’ and runnin’ with no solid direction. Freedom ain’t come with a map but we still gonna find it. We gonna find it indeed.

-HT

30 September 1849

I’d be lying if I said that life on the plantation wasn’t easier than freedom. Tonight as I hide in the basement of a confidants home, I am compelled to think about the food we’s used to have on our tables. Though it wasn’t a lot, it was always guaranteed that we was gonna eat. Tonight we’s eating for the first time in 4 days. The Lord is good.

-HT

6 October 1849

We’s made it to the promised land. Fought hunger and bounty hunters and death itself. But we made it. We’s in a place called Pennsylvania now. Though I’s sleeping good tonight, I can’t help but think about my family and friends. I’s decided I’m going back for my people. Now that I know the way in and out. They deserve to know freedom too.

The Lord is good.

-HT

December 1850

It’s been over a year and though we’ve lost many a people the rest of us finally found freedom. Oh my Lord oh my Lord, we are all free indeed.

-HT