Notes on "Letter from Jourdon Anderson: A Freedman Writes His Former Master"

Background

• Date: August 7, 1865
• Location: Dayton, Ohio
• Recipient: Colonel P. H. Anderson, Big Spring, Tennessee
• Author: Jourdon Anderson, a former slave

Key Points

Response to the Request

• Colonel Anderson requested Jourdon to return and work for him, promising better conditions.
• Jourdon expresses gladness at not being forgotten.
• He recalls past incidents, including being shot at twice by Colonel Anderson.

Current Situation

• Jourdon describes his current life:
  • Earning $25 a month with food and clothing provided.
  • Comfortable home for his wife, Mandy, and children: Milly, Jane, and Grundy.
  • Children attend school and Sunday school.
  • Regular church attendance.
  • Kind treatment by others.

Request for Fair Compensation

• Jourdon questions the offer of freedom, stating he already has his free papers from 1864.
• Asserts that fair compensation for past labor is necessary to consider returning.
  • Calculates back wages for himself and Mandy to be $11,680.
• Seeks assurance of just treatment if they return.
• Requests payment for past work as a test of sincerity.

Concerns for Safety and Education

• Jourdon emphasizes the importance of safety for his daughters, Milly and Jane.
• Mentions past abuses (Matilda and Catherine).
• Expresses a strong desire for his children’s education and virtuous upbringing.

Final Remarks

• Jourdon expresses skepticism about the colonel’s promises without past compensation.
• Ends the letter with a postscript thanking George Carter for a past intervention.