January, 1861, was an unusually warm month, feeling more like an early spring than winter. Yet, in spite of the warm temperatures and mild days, the cold winds of secession and war loomed on the ever darkening horizon.
Abraham Lincoln had been elected President of the United States of America, and had made it clear that he would not accept secession, declaring that he had been elected to be, and would be, President of the entire nation, including those states in the south. South Carolina had already voted toward secession, and others were quickly following suit.
Mister Lincoln had verbally advised his future Secretary of State, William Seward, that he also would not support the expansion of slavery in the new states. This position further added to the already growing hostilities with the southerners.
I had been in Washington City for almost four years now, and the city was coming to life with civilians, most of whom were refugees fleeing the coming conflict over the issue of secession. Others were additional military troops, present for the potential need to defend Washington City against an armed invasion by southern state forces. Most feared that when Mister Lincoln took office the following March, the issue of secession would escalate into armed conflict at the request of the new President.
In addition to the refugees and soldiers, there was an additional increase in the number of contraband, those run away slaves who had escaped from the south into the north, seeking their freedom. Many had arrived in this city, hoping that Father Abraham, as the President had come to be known by the Negro slave, would be able to free them and give them hope for a better future.
It was during this time that I met “Missy”. She was a beautiful, young, mullato girl about twenty years old. As I came out of my home at 17th and K Streets, I saw her sitting on the street corner, huddled among her possessions, begging for food, or whatever assistance anyone would or could offer.
Dressed in rags that still bore the evidence that they had, at one time, been fine clothing, it was obvious that she had not eaten or bathed in some time. She sat staring, with blank eyes that spoke of longing and suffering.
I stopped to speak, though I was on my way to the train station to travel to a prearranged meeting with Governor Thomas Hicks, the Governor of Maryland, in Frederick. “My dear, you are so tired and hungry looking. Let me help you. Where are you staying?”
The young woman looked up at me with disbelief that I would have even spoken to her. For the most part, those who passed by either went about their business, or simply threw a few coins at her feet. No one had, to this point, taken the time to speak. “Are you able to speak, or has life taken that away, as well? I inquired.
“Yes, Ma’am, I is able to speak. Just not too good, that be all. You gonna hit me an’ make me leave here too, jest like the other folks do?”
I was taken back somewhat by her speech and concern, for looking at her clothes and skin, I was certain that if she were a run away slave, she certainly would have been a house servant and better educated than the field hands of the day.
“No, I am not going to run you off and hit you. Now, where are you staying, and what is your name?”
“I be staying no place, jest where I can lay my head at night, but not with no man. They’s call me Missy, Missy Stanford. That’s what they call me. My Master is, was, Thomas Stanford of Front Royal. I’s run away and gots no place to go now. I gonna see Master Abraham when he git here and he help then.”
“What did you do for Mister Stanford, Missy?”
“I was his house servant and took care of Missus Stanford until she died. Then I cleaned and cooked for Master.”
I had been living at the home on the corner of 17th and K for a little over two years now. I had purchased it with the funds I had saved from my father’s estate after he died in 1836. Unfortunately, it was a large town home and I lived there, along with Caroline. I was in desperate need of a house keeper, but none was to be found at this time.
“Missy, my name is Elizabeth, and we need to get you off this street and someplace warm and safe for the day. I want you to come home with me, and I will fix you up for the day.
“You can bathe, have something to eat, and rest. I can not stay with you because I have a very important meeting to attend, but I will return tonight, and then we can talk about your future.”
I helped Missy gather her belongings, and took her up the street to my home. We went inside and I showed her where she could bathe, find something to eat, and a bed she could sleep in. I also showed her a large trunk hidden away in a spare room.
“Missy, I want you to make yourself at home now. I must be off, but when I return tonight, we will talk over your situation, and you can tell me your story. In the meantime, wash yourself and go through this trunk.
“It contains several pieces of clothing and some dresses. I am sure that you will find something in here that will suit you. Whatever you find and like, you may have and keep.”
“But Miss Elizabeth, how you know I won’t take your stuff and run off? You don’t know me.”
“I don’t know that you won’t take advantage of the situation, but I am trusting in you and I believe you will do what is right. Now don’t worry any more about this. I must be off and if you are still here when I return, we will talk. I should be back around 9:00 tonight.”
It was now past 7:00 in the morning, and I needed to be at the station by 7:30 to catch my train to Frederick for the meeting with Governor Hicks. I left, and began a fast walk down the street toward the station, wondering to myself what I had just done, leaving a complete stranger, a run away slave, alone in my house.
Caroline was away for a few days attending to her mother at the Bishop’s Residence. Constance had been ill with fever for more than two weeks and was showing no sign of improvement.
My thoughts immediately turned to my old friend, Isaac Stoltzfus. He would say, “Let us pray about this first, then we take action.” I chuckled to myself and then decided that perhaps I should pray now. And so I did.