While I was researching my novel set during the Civil War with an Abolitionist heroine, I discovered a fascinating
and little-known history at the location we now know as Arlington Cemetery, on
the outskirts of Washington D.C. Once part of Robert E. Lee’s family
plantation, during the war this land was converted into a refuge and temporary
settlement for freed and escaped slaves.
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Schoolchildren at Freedman's Village. Library of Congress, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons. |
With
the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia in April 1862, escaping
slaves from surrounding areas such as Virginia flocked to the nation’s capital.
This influx only increased after the Emancipation Proclamation early in 1863. At
first they were housed in various shelters and cam ps in the city, but as disease
began to spread rampant, a better solution was needed. Since Robert E. Lee’s estate
had been confiscated by the Union government at the start of the war, this land
was seen as a suitable location.
Freedman’s
Village was set up with 100 residents in June of 1863 and officially dedicated
in December. The village eventually housed up to 3000 people at a time. It consisted
of wooden frame houses that held two to four families each, a school that
opened with 150 pupils, a hospital, a home for the elderly, several churches, various
small businesses, and a vocational training school, all built around a central
pond, as seen in the map below.
Map of Freedman's Village. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16520759 |
Conditions
did improve for freed families who moved to Freedman's Village, though disease was
still a problem—deaths from measles, scarlet fever, and whooping cough dropped
from about five a day in the city camps to two a day in the Village. People who
had grown up under slavery also had the chance to begin an education, learn a
trade, or work the land to support themselves, gaining a measure of control
over their lives for the first time.
Life
in Freedman’s Village was not perfect—it was established under military rule
and law, and many residents felt the degree of freedom here didn’t far surpass
what they had experienced under slavery. Tensions arose, whether from the rent
required of residents or from neighboring white farmers kidnapping several
young people back into slavery. With the help of abolitionist heroine Sojourner
Truth, however, who spent a year living in the Village, the mothers of these abducted
youth rose up and swore out warrants, and eventually they did get their
children back.
After
the war, interest in Freedman’s Village waned, but families continued to live
in the settlement for several decades. The Village was finally forcibly closed
by the government in the 1890s and torn down completely in 1900. Many former
residents of Freedman’s Village went on to become prominent members of the community
in Alexandria, including William Syphax, who was elected to the Virginia
General Assembly, William A. Rowe, who became the first black policeman in Arlington
County, and Jesse Pollard, the first black judge in Arlington’s history.
Freedman's Village Display in Arlington Cemetery Visitor's Center |
If
you visit Arlington Cemetery today, there is little hint of this important part
of its history. With a little digging, though, when my friend and sister and I visited
three years ago, we found traces. In the visitor’s center, there is a map and a
few photos of Freedman’s Village—and apparently a model of it in the historic
Arlington House, though we didn’t make it in there.
And when
we walked to the southern part of the cemetery, in Section 27 not far from the
Iwo Jima Marine war memorial, we found gravestones marked “citizen” or “civilian.”
These stones, formerly labeled “contraband,” a Civil War era term for an
escaped slave, mark the graves of residents of Freedman’s Village. A number of
black U.S. Civil War veterans are also buried here, marked by stones with the
label “USCT,” for United States Colored Troops.
Grave of Lewis Sutton, Civil War Veteran, US Colored Troops |
Gravestone of Mary Grey, Freedman's Village resident |
But
you have to look for these stones yourself—no marker points out this
spot as the former site of Freedman’s Village, other than the small round sign for "Section 27."
Section 27 at Arlington Cemetery, site of Freedman's Village |
It
seems rather astonishing and sad, that the remarkable history of these American families in
their earliest climb out of slavery to a life of their own has been so
overlooked and hidden. But if we take the time to seek out and learn their
history, to walk on the land where they lived and honor not only where they are
buried but their amazing contributions to building this country, then they will
not be truly forgotten.
Had you ever heard of Freedman’s Village
before? What part of this story struck you most? Please comment and share--I’d
love to hear your thoughts!
Kiersti Giron holds a life-long passion for history and historical
fiction. She loves to write stories that show the intersection of past and
present, explore relationships that bridge cultural divides, and probe the
healing Jesus can bring out of brokenness. Kiersti has been published in
several magazines and won the 2013 ACFW Genesis Award - Historical for her
manuscript Beneath a Turquoise Sky. A high school teacher and
member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Kiersti loves learning and
growing with other writers penning God's story into theirs, as well as blogging
at www.kierstigiron.com. She lives
in California with her wonderful husband, Anthony.
I never have heard of Freedman's Village. It is a puzzle to me why there isn't more mention of it in "black history". Thanks for the information.
ReplyDeleteOr in American history...which black history is so much a part of. I hadn't heard of it either till this research began! Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing, Connie.
DeleteHow interesting, Kiersti! I never heard of Freedman's Village before either. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Marilyn! :)
DeleteThank you for sharing your very interesting post. I have not heard of Freedman's Village.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Melanie. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
DeleteThank you for sharing this interesting information Kiersti. I had not heard of the Freedman's Village.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,Tina
Thanks for stopping by and sharing, Tina! I hadn't heard of Freedman's Village before my research, either.
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ReplyDeleteThis is the first I've heard about Freedman's Village. Thank you for sharing.
It's amazing how little-known it is. Thanks for stopping by, Marilyn!
DeleteWow. Just ... wow. We actually just had a family discussion about Arlington and General Lee this past Sunday around the dinner table. I'm forwarding this to my grown kids!
ReplyDeleteHow awesome. Thanks so much for sharing, Stephanie!
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