African-American, slavery, Washington, D.C., Lincoln
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Title: 1865 letter from a clergyman teacher of ex-slaves in "wicked" Washington, D.C. - "a perfect Sodom, a den of rogues, robbers and rebels"
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Autograph Letter, unsigned (incomplete?) by a teacher of Black freedmen, possibly a former Chaplain of the 63rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Washington, D.C., June 8, 1865. 4pp. + original mailing envelope. To his aunt, Mrs. Jane Augustus, Anderson, Ross County, Ohio.
"...The president's funeral and the grand review of the armies was the most interesting scene that perhaps was ever witnessed in Washington... I am much pleased with my field of labor so far. It would surprise even a copper head to see how fast these Children of Slavery learn. There are about 30 schools for freed men in this city and more in Alexandria...Washington City seems to me to be a vast dram shop, the wickedest place that I ever was in, a perfect Sodom. A den of rogues, robbers and rebels...every other man whom you meet has an oath upon his lips and it is no uncommon thing to hear a woman swear like a Sailor. If God blesses the preaching of northern Copperheads, I think that they are in duty bound to get up a Missionary Society for the especial benefit of Washington... to reclaim their erring brethren and wayward Sisters for they won't believe an Abolitionist."
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