A letter to... "My Old Master"

[ethiostar]

You really should read this......


In August of 1865, a Colonel P.H. Anderson of Big Spring, Tennessee, wrote to his former slave, Jourdan Anderson, and requested that he come back to work on his farm. Jourdan — who, since being emancipated, had moved to Ohio, found paid work, and was now supporting his family — responded spectacularly by way of the letter seen below (a letter which, according to newspapers at the time, he dictated).



http://www.lettersofnote.com/2012/01/to-my-old-master.html

 

[cowboyblue31]

Wow. What a great read.

 

[Meat-O-Rama]

Wow, good stuff indeed.

 

[Wimbo]

Jourdan, in a very Samuel L Clemens style, told Col. Anderson to "go <blank> yourself." I like it.

 

[Faerluna]

That was awesome and so very funny!

 

[arglebargle]

Nicely done indeed! Thanks for the link.

 

[DragonCowboy]

Really great letter. Shows how horrible people can be, it's great he gave him the written version of the finger.

 

[Khartun]

Jourdan, in a very Samuel L Clemens style, told Col. Anderson to "go <blank> yourself." I like it.

Indeed. That is hilarious.

:laugh1:

 

[Hoofbite]

Only thing that would make this story better is if the guy actually send the money and they never returned.

 

[ethiostar]

I would love to read the letter Colonel P.H. Anderson sent to Jourdan.

 

[Cajuncowboy]

That was fantastic. I love stuff like this. As a history buff this really interests me. Especially since it is very close to where I am here in Nashville. I will look into this story a bit more.

If you are into the Civil War check out the story of Silas Chandler. His story is remarkable.

 

[SaltwaterServr]

Only thing that would make this story better is if the guy actually send the money and they never returned.

Well, he did say the back pay was for consideration to come back only.

It would have been great though if he did get the cash, invest it, and then buy out the Colonel's estate later in life so that the Colonel could work for him.

Poetic justice at its finest.

The letter is great though.

 

[kimrose]

:clap2: Bravo! Kill 'em with kindness. I would have loved to see the look on ole Henry's red face when he read this fine letter.

 

[Joe Realist]

I saw it this morning. If you think about it, it really was not that long ago.

 

[Longboysfan]

Only thing that would make this story better is if the guy actually send the money and they never returned.

Or at the least a reply.

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

Good letter but you have to know whoever he dictated it to took generous liberties in responding given I highly doubt an ex slave just shortly after the war would have used such good english.

 

[bbgun]

Good letter but you have to know whoever he dictated it to took generous liberties in responding given I highly doubt an ex slave just shortly after the war would have used such good english.

Especially since literacy for slaves was forbidden. I wonder what he did for a living in Ohio.