Reunion

By David Scott

Robert Allen was the son of a plantation owner. Sammy
Allen was the son of a slave living on the same plantation.
They became best friends in 1850 when they were ten
years old. How did the turbulence of the 1850s and the
Civil War affect their friendship and their lives? Find out
in Reunion!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Global Summit House
• Release date: Apr 13, 2020
• ISBN: 9781648716553

David Scott

David Scott is currently a Senior Research Fellow at the History of Parliament Trust and has formerly taught at both York and Yale Universities. His previous book (for Palgrave) 'Politics and War in the Three Stuart Kingdoms 1637-49' was chosen by the Sunday Telegraph as one of its Books of the Year in 2004.

Book preview

Reunion

David Scott

Copyright © David Scott.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by reviewers, who may quote brief passages in a review.

ISBN: 978-1-64871-657-7 (Paperback Edition)

ISBN: 978-1-64871-661-4 (Hardcover Edition)

ISBN: 978-1-64871-655-3 (E-book Edition)

Some characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

Book Ordering Information

Phone Number: 347-901-4929 or 347-901-4920

Email: [e-mail]

Global Summit House

www.globalsummithouse.com

Printed in the United States of America

Contents

Chapter 1 – The Allen Plantation 1830

Chapter 2 – Expansion

Chapter 3 – Marriage and Family

Chapter 4 – Making New Friends

Chapter 5 – Planting the Seeds of Separation

Chapter 6 – Career Change

Chapter 7 – Abolitionists and Fire Eaters

Chapter 8 – The Dred Scott Decision

Chapter 9 – Courting

Chapter 10 – Rock Music

Chapter 11 – Secession

Chapter 12 – Fort Sumter

Chapter 13 – Fireside Chat

Chapter 14 – Battle of First Bull Run

Chapter 15 – Nothing to Do

Chapter 16 – Discussing Abraham Lincoln

Chapter 17 – Draft Dodger

Chapter 18 – Betrayal

Chapter 19 – The Emancipation Proclamation

Chapter 20 – Double Minded Man

Chapter 21 – Escape Planning

Chapter 22 – Turning Point

Chapter 23 – Escape

Chapter 24 – Incident Report

Chapter 25 – Epiphany

Chapter 26 – Reaching Union Lines

Chapter 27 – The 3rd Georgia Infantry Regiment

Chapter 28 – The 39th United States Colored Troops

Chapter 29 – Crucible of Battle

Chapter 30 – Basic Training

Chapter 31 – The Battle of Cold Harbor

Chapter 32 – Assault Planning

Chapter 33 – Assault Training

Chapter 34 – The Battle of the Crater

Chapter 35 – March to the Sea

Chapter 36 – Appomattox

Chapter 37 – Family Hardship Discharge

Chapter 38 – Redemption

Chapter 1

The Allen Plantation 1830

Twenty-five-year-old Thomas Allen was walking around with Franklin Petry the forty-two-year-old owner of a plantation that was for sale. The plantation was located in Wilkes County, Georgia about four miles from the county seat and town of Washington in the eastern part of the state near the South Carolina border.

Thomas had immediately liked red brick two story house with six white Tuscan columns, two chimneys and small balcony on the top floor. Franklin told him the house had been built in 1818.

He had seen the notice for the sale of the plantation while in Charleston settling his father’s estate. He considered the timing of settling his father’s estate and seeing the notice most fortuitous.

Thomas liked the white oak trees that lined the road leading up to the house. Shrubs of yellow honeysuckle were planted alongside the front of the house complimenting magnolia trees. An older male slave was weeding around the honeysuckle shrubs.

The late August weather was sultry.

Why are you selling again sir? Thomas asked Franklin.

Well sir, to be uncomfortably candid with you I have debts to a New York bank I need to pay off, Franklin said in his languid accent.

"After I pay my debts, I can make a fresh start. I made some wrong decisions and I made some bad investments Mr. Allen including a bad investment in the local Bolton Manufacturing Company the first cotton mill in the South.

Allow me to go over it once more. I have 300 acres. Cotton is planted on 250 acres and I have cotton gin building housing two cotton gins. About 30 acres are pasture land that can easily be converted to growing more cotton. Corn planted is planted on 20 acres.

You can always purchase more land. I own ten slaves that are included in my purchase price for the plantation and I’ll let you see the register. I have one white overseer who lives in a small house near the slave quarters."

Franklin had a horse and buggy brought up so he could better show Thomas the lay of the land. As they rode around the plantation Petry showed Allen the approximate land boundaries adjacent to neighboring farms and plantations and the fields of cotton under cultivation.

Thomas noticed red clay, or red earth, seemed to be everywhere.

Thomas could see two sets of slaves working in the distance in the middle of a cotton field flanked by tall pine trees. The overseer Franklin had mentioned was mounted on a horse nearby.

I stopped growing tobacco several years ago because I couldn’t compete on price and quality with North Carolina and Virginia growers, Franklin said. Tobacco depleted my soil. Two years ago, I tried planting rice. I was unsuccessful at growing rice. Ever since I’ve only planted cotton. Cotton has a sure market and good prospects for the future that I can guarantee Mr. Allen. Last year cotton was eight cents a pound. I grew 37,500 pounds of cotton in 1829 about 78 bales.

Thomas took out a notepad from his jacket pocket and using a pencil did some figuring.

For 37,500 pounds of cotton grown on 250 acres that would be a yield of about 150 pounds of cotton to the acre.

Mr. Allen sir, you are correct 150 pounds to the acre.

Thomas saw they were approaching a building.

That’s our cotton gin building, Franklin began. We have two individual cotton gins inside. If I were staying, I would purchase a third one. It’s going to be running full time in a week or two. We’ll be ready to begin harvesting after the first week of September. Next to it is a four-acre horse pasture with a stable.

Thomas saw the barn and two horses confined within a fence cantering. A couple of mules were also milling about.

Next to the horse pasture I have two acres set aside for cattle grazing and a separate barn for them.

Thomas saw the barn and three cows and one bull munching grass confined within another fence. Several hogs were lounging inside a hog pen.

Where are the slave quarters? Thomas asked.

Over there, Franklin replied pointing as they rounded a curve as several structures came into view.

"I have four cabins. The slaves make repairs themselves. I supply the material. Before heading to the fields, they milk the cows and slop the hogs. They feed the cattle and horses. They have their own vegetable garden to supplement their food rations.

Thomas saw two slave children sitting on the porch of one cabin next to a female slave. Chickens were scattered about here and there.

He knew he needed to take heed of Franklin’s experience running a plantation. Thomas had been a young when his father had sold his Charleston rice plantation, bought a home in Charleston and gone into the slave auction business with a partner.

Franklin Petry went on with his sales pitch to Thomas Allen.

My overseer gets the job done using a task and quota system we worked out together. I let him handle the day to day oversight of the slaves. There’s the house he lives in.

They rode past a small unimposing structure.

Mr. Petry, how do you pay the overseer?

He lives in his house rent free and grows how own crops in a plot behind his house. At Christmas I give him a cured ham and five dollars in silver coin. His name is Jeremiah Heth. He’s unmarried and has been with me for two years.

How does he treat the slaves? Thomas asked.

"I don’t pry too deeply into how he does his job sir. Jeremiah is part of a nightly curfew patrol consisting of several local overseers who rotate patrolling. He also administers the plantation’s slave passes.

Every Monday during the cotton planting and harvesting seasons we meet and I give him the quotas he needs to meet for the coming week. Then we meet every Friday to compare the quota against results. He is uneducated, but good with arithmetic.

If you decide to buy my plantation, I will hand these records over to you. You will find them useful for developing your own quota system. After the cotton planting and harvesting is done things slow up for everybody.

Nearby plantations include the Callaway Plantation, the Haywood Plantation and several farms."

The sun was beginning to set and dusk was approaching.

Let’s return to the house and have supper, Franklin said as he snapped the reins to hurry the horse along.

My plantation is called Tuscany in honor of the Tuscan columns in the front of the house. Every plantation in the area has a name."

Franklin as host decided it was time to be less formal.

Please call me Franklin, Mr. Allen.

Please call me Thomas, Mr. Petry.

They shook hands.

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Sally, the slave matriarch of the Allen household, was looking in on Little Buck, the nine-year old son of the field hand Buck. Little Buck had a fever. Martha, her part-time apprentice cook, had fetched him and Little Mary from the slave cabins bringing them to the kitchen building off from the big house.

Sally placed Little Buck in one of two beds in the room she shared with an older slave Jeff.

She and Martha had been cooking all day in preparation for the special supper Franklin told her to prepare. She knew Franklin was planning to host a man who was interested in buying the plantation. She also knew he would want to have the ceiling fan turned because of the heat.

Little Buck usually turned the ceiling fan. Franklin was cautious and determined that children would be less likely to understand the nuances of meal conversations as they turned the fans when he had guests.

Sally had figured this out and had taken countermeasures.

Tonight seven-year old Little Mary would have to turn the fan because there was no one else Franklin trusted except possibly herself and Jeff. However, Franklin would be suspicious if either one of them volunteered even though Jeff could hardly hear. Little Mary would have to rise to the occasion.

Child, tonight you be turning the fan in the dining room, She told Little Mary showing her the long rope. You stand here when supper begins, and pull the rope like this.

Sally demonstrated.

You try it.

She handed the long rope to Little Mary who tried it. That’s good. Sally then guided Little Mary from the dining room outside and into the kitchen where she couldn’t be overheard.

Sally looked at Little Mary earnestly and began speaking in a low voice.

Child, you need to be doing me a big favor. You got to listen to the white folks eating at the table and let me know what they say. Do you understand?

Little Mary’s eyes got wide.

It’s important honey child that you listen carefully. If you hear anything about selling the slaves you got to let me know. You know Marse Petry. The other man is Mr. Allen I don’t know his first name. Try your best to remember much as you can. You will also be fanning them in the study. If you get tired, rest a minute, then start fanning again.

Sally produced a long fan and demonstrated its use.

Ain’t nothing to it. When the white folks go to the study you take the fan and follow them and continue to listen while fanning. Stay in the middle. Do your best honey child.

Little Mary shook her head in affirmation.

Sally propped the long fan up against the dining room wall.

Soon as they done eating you follow them into the study and start fanning and listen carefully. Don’t be forgetting to take the fan.

She brought Little Mary back into the dining room and positioned her far enough away from the dining room table so the rope would be unobtrusive

Sally reminded Little Mary once more to take the fan with her when Franklin Petry and his visitor Thomas Allen retired to the study.

She whispered into Little Mary’s ear.

Remember Little Mary, listen to everything they say and try to remember much as you can.

I will Aunt Sally, Little Mary promised.

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Franklin walked through the side door outside for a twenty-foot walk to the detached kitchen structure to check on the status of the cooking. He saw Sally stirring a large pot of okra as pork chops were being cooked.

Sally, where is Little Buck? I need him to turn the fan.

He’s sick Marse Petry. Unless you wanting me or Jeff to turn, we’ve got to use Little Mary.

Franklin was thinking Jeff was too old to stand and turn the fan even though the advantage in using Jeff was he could hardly hear. Franklin nodded in approval about using Little Mary.

That might be better. Little Buck gets restless turning the fan. Will Little Buck need a doctor?

I think he be doing better by morning Marse Petry if he stays here with me tonight.

That will be fine. Please be sure that Little Mary understands how to turn the fan.

She does, Sally replied. Will you be needing someone to fan you and Mr. Allen when you retire to the study?

Franklin paused. Yes, it is warm this evening. After supper please arrange it.

He returned to the house.

Franklin guided Thomas into the dining room and they took their seats at the table.

Little Mary was already pulling the rope attached to a large swinging fan, fixed to the ceiling directly over the long dining room table.

Thank you Sally, Franklin said as she brought in plates of okra, sweet potatoes and pork chops.

Thomas and Franklin began eating.

The kitchen is a separate building about twenty feet from the main house to guard against fire, Franklin told Thomas. Sally and another servant Jeff live in a room off from the kitchen. She is an excellent cook. Jeff is almost deaf, but a very good domestic servant. They have been with my family for two generations.

The older black man Thomas had seen earlier that afternoon tending to the honeysuckle shrubs emerged from the shadows to refill his almost empty glass with more whisky. He assumed he was Jeff.

This whisky is very good, Thomas said in appreciation.

I was told it originated in Kentucky, Franklin answered.

Franklin began a discourse.

"You may have been wondering if I had a family. My wife and three children died ten years ago in Savannah during a yellow fever epidemic while we were visiting. My wife had just had our third child and was sickly. I had taken her and my children to Savannah thinking closeness to the sea would be a cure for her. I don’t know why I didn’t get ill. Many people died in Savannah during the epidemic of 1820.

My father had a rice plantation outside Savannah. It was tragic for me that Savannah was where I lost my family. Since then I’ve been restless and as I’ve already told you earlier today, I made some foolhardy investments. I need a fresh start sir."

Thomas had been listening to Franklin Petry with a sympathetic ear.

I am truly sorry for the heartbreak you experienced Franklin. To lose one’s entire family is tragic. I would imagine the passage of time is of little solace.

Very little, Franklin agreed.

Franklin, I’m wondering if you knew my father Thomas Allen? I was named after him. He once owned a rice plantation near Charleston. Since your family once owned a rice plantation near Savannah, I thought you might have heard of him. He went into the auction business in Charleston after selling his plantation. He was a partner in Smith and Allen Slave Sales. He recently passed.

Franklin finished his whisky as the older male slave stepped forward and refilled his glass.

I am sorry to hear about the loss of your father. The name Thomas Allen of Charleston is unfamiliar to me. My memory could be faulty. Have you had enough to eat Thomas? he asked.

More than my fill Franklin. Kind of you to inquire.

Let us retire to my study then.

Little Mary took the long fan that was leaning against the dining room wall and followed behind Franklin and Thomas into the study.

Thomas followed Franklin into a room with a fireplace and a book case displaying many leather-bound books. The older male slave followed behind discreetly with a bottle of whisky at the ready. He stood back along the wall after filling their glasses.

Franklin and Thomas sat themselves down in comfortable chairs.

Little Mary did as Sally instructed and stood between the chairs they were sitting in and began fanning.

Sally came in and quickly lit the oil lamps giving Little Mary a supportive look.

Thomas knew the fireplace would be pleasant to have in colder weather. He liked that both the parlor and study each had a fireplace.

Franklin and Thomas clicked each other’s glasses of whisky in a mutual toast.

Thomas, I see by your query letter to my sales notice that you’re a graduate of Yale University.

Yes, class of ’27. I received my degree in philosophy. Eli Whitney is a Yale alumnus.

Franklin took a long sip of whisky.

"Eli Whitney greatly enhanced the cotton trade with his cotton gin. It allowed mechanization of processing of short-staple cotton, making its cultivation profitable. Textile mills in New England are hungry for Southern cotton."

Franklin took another long sip.

How did you like living in the North? he asked Thomas.

Thomas began his own discourse.

"I resided for four years in New Haven, Connecticut while attending Yale with visits home to Charleston in the summer and Christmas. Connecticut, like other parts of New England, has an older history like our South Carolina and Georgia home cities of Charleston and Savannah. Except for the cold winter weather, I enjoyed living there.

I courted a local New Haven girl for one semester. Her family was originally from Boston and disapproved of my planter pedigree. When I broached the subject to my parents in a letter, I received a reply that they were also unwelcoming of the prospect telling me she and I would end up incompatible. It was just as well it ended. I still have pleasant recollections of her."

His story of a courtship with an unhappy ending brought a wistful smile to Franklin.

Are you’re inclined to discuss politics Thomas? Franklin asked.

I am, Thomas replied.

I was wondering how you feel about President Andrew Jackson? What do you think about Jackson’s opposition to the central bank the Bank of the United States? I can tell you this from firsthand experience. The South is too dependent on New York banks for loans. We are too dependent on the North.

I am not versed enough to understand the complexities of a central bank one way or the other to have an opinion. I agree we are too dependent on Northern banks, Thomas answered.

After taking a long sip of whisky Thomas continued.

The South is also lacking in the manufacturing arts. The North has a welcoming approach to it. You had mentioned a local manufactory to me this afternoon. That is an exception to the rule. Perhaps we do not merit it the attention it deserves.

Thomas paused, taking stock to be conservative in expressing his opinions as to not offend his host. However, he was sure that Franklin as a Southerner and plantation owner would be against the Tariff of 1828 and decided to discuss it.

In South Carolina there is great opposition to the Tariff of 1828. It exposes our dependence on foreign and Northern sources for goods we cannot make ourselves.

Franklin nodded vigorously in agreement as Thomas went on.

"There are rumblings from many quarters in my home state. Vice President Calhoun, a native of South Carolina as you may know, strongly opposes the tariff.

Lack of support and action by Jackson on repealing or reducing the tariff has been my greatest disappointment in his administration. He campaigned as a man of the people and now he seems to be surrendering to Northern business interests."

Franklin lit a cigar and extended one to Thomas. Cigar, Thomas?

Thomas took the cigar as the older male slave stepped forward from the shadows and lit it.

After more conversation Thomas finished his cigar and whisky and looked at his pocket watch.

Thank you for your hospitality Franklin. I will extend you an offer tomorrow morning.

Franklin went to his large desk and removed several documents from the top drawer and handed them to Thomas.

Here are title deeds to the property, tax payments, the accounts ledger and the slave register. I trust a perusal of them will render a favorable decision. I regret the need to sell my plantation, but I must settle my debts and depart unpleasant memories as I’ve told you.

Thank you, Franklin. Good night.

Good night, Thomas.

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Martha and Sally were cleaning plates in the kitchen wash basin when Little Mary walked in.

After making sure Franklin and his visitor had gone to bed Sally began gently interrogating Little Mary.

Honey child, what did you hear? Take your time.

Marse Petry say his family dying.

I know his family is dead. That was sad. I raised those children. Go on, child.

Thomas talk about he be from Charleston and his father had slave sale.

Sally became alert.

Thomas? You mean Mr. Allen?

Yes, Aunt Sally.

Thomas must be Mr. Allen’s first name she thought.

Now think child. When he said slave sale he means in Charleston?

I think so, Little Mary replied.

Sally decided this meant his father was a slave trader. She was alarmed by this revelation. Hopefully it didn’t mean any sale of slaves at the plantation.

She stroked Little Mary’s forehead. You doing fine Little Mary. Go on child.

Thomas came from Yale. It be in Conecet, Conecet, I can’t say it. They talk about a tear off.

I be thinking Yale is a city, Sally said to herself mulling things over. That may be a city in South Carolina where Charleston be. You say tear off?

Little Mary shook her head weakly, weary from her exertions turning the ceiling fan and waving the other fan and straining to listen and follow and remember the conversation between Franklin and Thomas.

I tired, Aunt Sally, Little Mary protested.

I know honey child. Just tell me a might more.

That’s all I know. I so tired.

Sally gave Little Mary a loving hug.

You done good. Just one more question. They say nothing about selling slaves?

Little Mary shook her head no.

Say it child so I know for sure. Say it to me child.

They say nothing about selling slaves Aunt Sally.

She hugged Little Mary again.

Martha will take you back down to the cabins.

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In the guest room Thomas reviewed the documents Franklin had provided for his review.

According to the slave register the five adult males, three adult females and two children had a total assessed value of $2,510.

Thomas studied the breakdown that had been neatly written in the register recently using as was noted prevailing 1829 slave prices in Wilkes County, Georgia:

3 male prime field hands Seth (19), Buck (26), Isaiah (27) $350 each x 3 = $1,050

1 male blacksmith John (31) also a field hand $400

1 female Sally (47) family nanny, domestic and cook $300

1 female Martha (20) a cook and field hand in her child bearing years $220

1 female Mary (26) a field hand in her child bearing years $200

1 male Jeff (51) domestic partially deaf $200

1 male child Little Buck (9) $80

1 female child Little Mary (7) $60

Thomas didn’t have the knowledge and experience to determine if the prices listed for the slaves were fair market