Harper’s Weekly, May 7, 1864
Fugitive slaves started to escape to DC in
the Spring of 1861 in small numbers.
Eventually their numbers grew to several
hundred new arrivals a day. Contrabands
came by foot, wagon, horse, or boat; any
possible way they could reach freedom.
g3851s cw0674100
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Camps were established all over DC
and the surroundings areas. Two of
the largest were:
Camp Barker
Freedman’s Village
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Aside from camps, most any abandoned
building was confiscated and used to
house contrabands.
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Because there were so many completely destitute fugitives arriving at the camps,
there wasn’t enough space, clothes, blankets, beds, food, or medicine for all.
“They were barefooted and bareheaded with scarcely rags enough to cover them.”
They “found a city of shanties…. Wherever
there was space, there were rude houses
‘huddled together, there, with no convenience
for drainage…’ The greatest destitution was
said to prevail among them.”
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Volunteers were the women (black and white) who
stepped in to help alleviate some of the suffering
experienced by contraband in the camps.
Julia Wilbur
Haverford College
Julia Wilbur
“They are caring for the Contrabands, 2000 or 3000 here.
Have been removed from Duff Green’s Row to McClellan
Barracks, a little out of City. I found the place & I never
saw before such destitution & misery. Many were in old
tents on the ground – sick – rags for Covering, oh, dear!
They have this poor shelter & rations & a Military Guard.
But they will have better shelter before winter. The
Asso[ciation] pays 2 Matrons, & Superintendents.
Oh such suffering!”
North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources
Harriet Jacobs- volunteer
Journey Toward Freedom
Freedmen’s
Village
1863-1900
NARA- 111-B-5240
“-----” The Liberator (May 16, 1862).
“Contraband,” The Christian Recorder (August 9, 1862).
“Dealings with Slavery and the Contraband; Facts, Scenes and Incidents,” Douglass’ Monthly
(Dec. 1861).
Forman, Stephen M. A Guide to Civil War Washington. Washington DC: Elliott and
Clark Publishing, 1995.
Letter from Harriet Jacobs to Mrs. Child (March 26, 1864) in National Anti-Slavery Standard
(April 16, 1864), African-Americans- Schools- Contraband, Vertical File 1, Alexandria
Library Special Collections.
Obituary of Julia A. Wilbur. Newark Daily Advocate. July 14, 1895.
Pippenger, Wesley E. Alexandria, Virginia Death Records, 1863-1868 (The Gladwin Record) and
1969-1896. Westminster, MD: Willow Bend Books.
Second Annual Report of the National Freedmen’s Relief Association of the District of Columbia.
Washington DC: McGill & Witherow Printers, 1864, Freedmen’s Relief Association
(1864-1867), Box 633 Freedmen’s Burial ground to Freetown Comers, RG92: Records
of the Office of the Quartermaster General, Consolidated Correspondence File 17941915, NARA.
Wilbur, Julia. Magill Library Special Collections Division, Haverford College, Haverford, PA.
Photos courtesy of Haverford College, North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources,
National Archives, and Library of Congress.