‘GREAT EXCITEMENT. Runaway Slaves: The slave uprising that Maryland seems to want to forget

[NewsVine_Mariyam]

‘GREAT EXCITEMENT. Runaway Slaves’: The slave uprising that Maryland seems to want to forget

In the annals of slave rebellions, Nat Turner’s name looms large. The insurrection he led in Southampton County, Va., in 1831, involved the murders of 55 white men, women and children and sent shock waves throughout the slaveholding southern states.

Legislatures enacted more stringent codes restricting the rights of slaves and free blacks, and sectionalism replaced nationalism as the sharply divided country inched inexorably toward civil war.

Turner was hanged but outlived his villainous persona to inspire a 1967 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by William Styron and more recently a 2016 film, “The Birth of a Nation.” Denmark Vesey, in Charleston, S.C., and a Richmond-area slave named Gabriel, are lesser known but still prominent figures in the history of slave rebellions.

Maryland seldom is mentioned in these discussions. Yet, on Easter in 1817, some 200 slaves revolted in St. Mary’s County. The outburst resulted in whites being injured by sticks, brickbats “and other missiles” and the sacking of two houses before peace was restored, according to the late historian Herbert Aptheker.

In July 1845, another uprising occurred in Maryland that is little remembered and rarely mentioned. Starting in Charles County, runaway slaves gained in strength as they passed through St. Mary’s and Prince George’s into Montgomery County, at one time numbering perhaps 75 men armed with pistols, scythe blades, bludgeons, swords, butcher knives and clubs. Their destination was the free state of Pennsylvania.
​

 

[NewsVine_Mariyam]

Of the uprising, the Maryland Journal said, “This is the most daring movement which has ever come under our observation. We have heard of gangs of negroes travelling through parts of the country sparsely inhabited, but never before have we heard of their taking to the public road in open day, within 2 miles of a County town.”

This “daring movement” inspired alarmed white citizens to meet and propose measures to prevent a recurrence. In St. Mary’s County, 10 people in each election district would comprise a “Committee of Vigilance” to closely watch over movements of blacks. The Montgomery Volunteers won praise and more recruits for their efforts.​

The surveillance of the movements of African Americans continues to this day.

 

[TheOldSchool]

The outburst resulted in whites being injured by sticks, brickbats “and other missiles” and the sacking of two houses before peace was restored, according to the late historian Herbert Aptheker.

Too bad they were just injured

 

[katsteve2012]

Of the uprising, the Maryland Journal said, “This is the most daring movement which has ever come under our observation. We have heard of gangs of negroes travelling through parts of the country sparsely inhabited, but never before have we heard of their taking to the public road in open day, within 2 miles of a County town.”

This “daring movement” inspired alarmed white citizens to meet and propose measures to prevent a recurrence. In St. Mary’s County, 10 people in each election district would comprise a “Committee of Vigilance” to closely watch over movements of blacks. The Montgomery Volunteers won praise and more recruits for their efforts.​

The surveillance of the movements of African Americans continues to this day.

Very informative. I had not heard about this before. It is just more proof that unlike what some of the ignorant, backward thinking cretins in this forum believe, no one is happy or better off by being enslaved.

 

[Meathead]

‘GREAT EXCITEMENT. Runaway Slaves’: The slave uprising that Maryland seems to want to forget

In the annals of slave rebellions, Nat Turner’s name looms large. The insurrection he led in Southampton County, Va., in 1831, involved the murders of 55 white men, women and children and sent shock waves throughout the slaveholding southern states.

Legislatures enacted more stringent codes restricting the rights of slaves and free blacks, and sectionalism replaced nationalism as the sharply divided country inched inexorably toward civil war.

Turner was hanged but outlived his villainous persona to inspire a 1967 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by William Styron and more recently a 2016 film, “The Birth of a Nation.” Denmark Vesey, in Charleston, S.C., and a Richmond-area slave named Gabriel, are lesser known but still prominent figures in the history of slave rebellions.

Maryland seldom is mentioned in these discussions. Yet, on Easter in 1817, some 200 slaves revolted in St. Mary’s County. The outburst resulted in whites being injured by sticks, brickbats “and other missiles” and the sacking of two houses before peace was restored, according to the late historian Herbert Aptheker.

In July 1845, another uprising occurred in Maryland that is little remembered and rarely mentioned. Starting in Charles County, runaway slaves gained in strength as they passed through St. Mary’s and Prince George’s into Montgomery County, at one time numbering perhaps 75 men armed with pistols, scythe blades, bludgeons, swords, butcher knives and clubs. Their destination was the free state of Pennsylvania.
​

No one remembers the War of Jenkin's Ear

‘GREAT EXCITEMENT. Runaway Slaves’: The slave uprising that Maryland seems to want to forget

In the annals of slave rebellions, Nat Turner’s name looms large. The insurrection he led in Southampton County, Va., in 1831, involved the murders of 55 white men, women and children and sent shock waves throughout the slaveholding southern states.

Legislatures enacted more stringent codes restricting the rights of slaves and free blacks, and sectionalism replaced nationalism as the sharply divided country inched inexorably toward civil war.

Turner was hanged but outlived his villainous persona to inspire a 1967 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by William Styron and more recently a 2016 film, “The Birth of a Nation.” Denmark Vesey, in Charleston, S.C., and a Richmond-area slave named Gabriel, are lesser known but still prominent figures in the history of slave rebellions.

Maryland seldom is mentioned in these discussions. Yet, on Easter in 1817, some 200 slaves revolted in St. Mary’s County. The outburst resulted in whites being injured by sticks, brickbats “and other missiles” and the sacking of two houses before peace was restored, according to the late historian Herbert Aptheker.

In July 1845, another uprising occurred in Maryland that is little remembered and rarely mentioned. Starting in Charles County, runaway slaves gained in strength as they passed through St. Mary’s and Prince George’s into Montgomery County, at one time numbering perhaps 75 men armed with pistols, scythe blades, bludgeons, swords, butcher knives and clubs. Their destination was the free state of Pennsylvania.​

No one remembers the War of Jenkin's Ear today even though it was far larger and historically significant. But then no one feels compelled to whine about it either centuries later.

 

[NewsVine_Mariyam]

Very informative. I had not heard about this before. It is just more proof that unlike what some of the ignorant, backward thinking cretins in this forum believe, no one is happy or better off by being enslaved.

Or that none of them tried to fight back which is in itself an indication of their discontent, to put it mildly.

 

[TNHarley]

Of the uprising, the Maryland Journal said, “This is the most daring movement which has ever come under our observation. We have heard of gangs of negroes travelling through parts of the country sparsely inhabited, but never before have we heard of their taking to the public road in open day, within 2 miles of a County town.”

This “daring movement” inspired alarmed white citizens to meet and propose measures to prevent a recurrence. In St. Mary’s County, 10 people in each election district would comprise a “Committee of Vigilance” to closely watch over movements of blacks. The Montgomery Volunteers won praise and more recruits for their efforts.​

The surveillance of the movements of African Americans continues to this day.

Very informative. I had not heard about this before. It is just more proof that unlike what some of the ignorant, backward thinking cretins in this forum believe, no one is happy or better off by being enslaved.

LOL surely to gawd no one actually thinks that

 

[katsteve2012]

Of the uprising, the Maryland Journal said, “This is the most daring movement which has ever come under our observation. We have heard of gangs of negroes travelling through parts of the country sparsely inhabited, but never before have we heard of their taking to the public road in open day, within 2 miles of a County town.”

This “daring movement” inspired alarmed white citizens to meet and propose measures to prevent a recurrence. In St. Mary’s County, 10 people in each election district would comprise a “Committee of Vigilance” to closely watch over movements of blacks. The Montgomery Volunteers won praise and more recruits for their efforts.​

The surveillance of the movements of African Americans continues to this day.

Very informative. I had not heard about this before. It is just more proof that unlike what some of the ignorant, backward thinking cretins in this forum believe, no one is happy or better off by being enslaved.

LOL surely to gawd no one actually thinks that

What's even more humorous is that anyone could actually believe that those sentiments are never expressed here.

 

[TNHarley]

Of the uprising, the Maryland Journal said, “This is the most daring movement which has ever come under our observation. We have heard of gangs of negroes travelling through parts of the country sparsely inhabited, but never before have we heard of their taking to the public road in open day, within 2 miles of a County town.”

This “daring movement” inspired alarmed white citizens to meet and propose measures to prevent a recurrence. In St. Mary’s County, 10 people in each election district would comprise a “Committee of Vigilance” to closely watch over movements of blacks. The Montgomery Volunteers won praise and more recruits for their efforts.​

The surveillance of the movements of African Americans continues to this day.

Very informative. I had not heard about this before. It is just more proof that unlike what some of the ignorant, backward thinking cretins in this forum believe, no one is happy or better off by being enslaved.

LOL surely to gawd no one actually thinks that

What's even more humorous is that anyone could actually believe that those sentiments are never expressed here.

IDK if i ever seen someone say slaves were happy.
I have seen arguments that the slaves descendents are lucky.

 

[TNHarley]

I know my ancestors werent happy being enslaved by blacks and arab muslims in the 19th century.

 

[katsteve2012]

I know my ancestors werent happy being enslaved by blacks and arab muslims in the 19th century.

They likely were not, but I was referring to the fact that some here have stated before that:

"Blacks were happy and better off as slaves"

 

[IM2]

Now everybody was enslaved by blacks and Arabs. Where did this happen and to who?