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Davis, Mary Brown (fl. 1862) to Major General Wool

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: JB00025 Author/Creator: Davis, Mary Brown (fl. 1862) Place Written: Type: Autograph letter signed Date: Pagination: Order a Copy

A letter from Mary Brown Davis to Major General Wool regarding helping "contraband" or escaped enslaved people who have taken refuge in Fort Monroe. Davis outlines her history and where she lived before Chicago. She mentions having been born in Fauquier County and lived at Alexandria Washington, and Mount Vernon. She also mentions editing a newspaper in Wheeling and Winchester. Davis declares that she is strongly Union but loves her native South and prays that the rebellion is crushed and peace restored. Davis volunteers to teach in some capacity among the escaped enslaved people, but mentions she would need to bring her son who is "somewhat afflicted". At the end of the letter she says" When in Virginia where all my relatives are slaveholders I was on the constant habit of instructing the people of color."

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