2020-07 2 sessions
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/24/2020
A great (Western) Virginia runaway pursuit slave and religious revival [Quaker?] letter, 8pp. 8vo., written by a certain "Z. T. Ross, Melon Barbour Co. Va., Nov. 9-14, 1858, to his friend James E. Hall, reading, in small part: "…I have just come from meeting…there was about 18 or 20 shouted..I noticed Chesteen Hall…he got up and went in the altar and turned round and round till he fell down and laid there shouting also Anthony Roger who run long the aisles shouting and hollowing. Before that he got up and was speaking bout Gideon getting religion…wanted all that would to rise to there feet and got to speaking bout kings. That is what brought on his fit…James Everit's wife got to shouting. It pleased that he got to shouting an fell sprauling on the floor and laid there laughing. Miss. Hite got to speaking bout her old man and wanted all that would pray that he might get religion…Mr. Hall got up and told them…to git down and pray for Miss. Hite…they got down and I never heard the like of praying…[let] me tell you bout Uncle Nealy Armstrong going after his negroes that runaway. He caught up with them and caught them. When they caught them he had to shoot them to save his life. He shot three times. The first ball cut the skin off one of the negro's forehead. The second ball went through his ear. The third ball missed and the negro stabbed him. I am not certain whether he has got them all or not…whether the stab that Mr. Armstrong got was considered dangerous or not we have not heard……[Thursday evening, Nov. 11th]…yesterday they had a time very mutch like the day before (at church). Last night there was a very good meeting had four movers…today (at church) Anthony Roger and Chesteen Hall took another fit…we heard some more of Mr. Armstrong's case. Him and five others and caught them…all unarmed except Mr. Armstrong…taking hold of them…they refused and commenced fighting…Mr. Armstrong shot three times…they had him down and would have killed him only he called (to his negro) and said "!Dave are you going to let them kill me! and then Dave took them off. They [the slave catchers] did not get one of the negroes, but they got the horses. This happened 9 miles below Morgantown. Mr. Armstrong was taken to Morgantown and got his wound dressed, (he was very badly cut and bruised up.) I do not know whether he is considered beyond reach of recovery or not…[Saturday morning]…last night (November 13th Friday night) Mr. Hall after preaching a very good sermon told the people that he would give them one more chance to flee the wrath to come. He asked them if he had not done his part…and called all that would to come (to the moving bench)…I will not go to school when you are…I will go to the Smithsonian Institute three miles from Washington City after I go to school…and when I get through there I will go to studying Law and then I will be the President of the U. S. and the[n] I will waken the black Abolitionists to there senses if they have any. I must quit. Z. I. Ross…". Also included is the letter's original stamped transmittal cover. Zephaniah Turner Ross, might most likely be the author of our letter. He served in the 13th Virginia Vols. rising from the ranks to an officership before being captured in battle and confined at Fort Delaware in 1864. Overall VG to near fine.
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