The Liberty Line : The Legend of the Underground Railroad

" The underground railroad -- with its mysterious signals, secret depots, abolitionist heroes, and slave-hunting villains -- has become part of American mythology. But legend has distorted much of this history. Larry Gara shows how pre-Civil War partisan propanda, postwar remininscences by fame-hungry abolitionists, and oral tradition helped foster the popular belief that a powerful secret organization spirited floods of slaves away from the South. In contrast to much popular belief, however, the slaves themselves had active roles in their own escape. They carried out their runs, receiving aid only after they had reached territory where they still faced return. The Liberty Line puts slaves in their rightful position: the center of their struggle for freedom. The Underground Railroad - With Its Mysterious Signals, Secret Depots, Abolitionist Heroes, And Slave-hunting Villains - Has Become Part Of American Mythology. But Legend Has Distorted Much Of The History Of This Institution, Which Larry Gara Carefully Investigates In This Important Study. Gara Show How Pre-civil War Partisan Propaganda, Postwar Reminiscences By Fame-hungry Abolitionists, And Oral Tradition Helped Foster The Popular Belief That A Powerful Secret. Organization Spirited Floods Of Slaves Away From The South. In Contrast To That Legend, The Slaves Themselves Had Active Roles In Their Own Escapes From Slave States. They Carried Out Their Runs To The North, Receiving Aid Only After They Had Reached Territory Where They Still Faced Return Under The Fugitive Slave Law. Thus, The Liberty Line Places Fugitive Slaves In Their Rightful Position: The Center Of Their Struggle For Freedom. 1. The Legendary Railroad -- 2. Slavery And Freedom -- 3. The Road To The North -- 4. A Deep-laid Scheme -- 5. Friends Of The Fugitive -- 6. The Fugitive Issue -- 7. The Roots Of A Legend -- 8. Reminiscence And Romance. Larry Gara. Originally Published: Lexington : University Of Kentucky Press, 1961. With New Pref. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "The underground railroad - with its mysterious signals, secret depots, abolitionist heroes, and slave-hunting villains - has become part of American mythology. But legend has distorted much of the history of this institution, which Larry Gara carefully investigates in this important study. Gara show how pre-Civil War partisan propaganda, postwar reminiscences by fame-hungry abolitionists, and oral tradition helped foster the popular belief that a powerful secret organization spirited floods of slaves away from the South." "In contrast to that legend, the slaves themselves had active roles in their own escapes from slave states. They carried out their runs to the North, receiving aid only after they had reached territory where they still faced return under the Fugitive Slave Law. Thus, The Liberty Line places fugitive slaves in their rightful position: the center of their struggle for freedom."--BOOK JACKET. THOUSANDS WHO attended the Columbian World's Fair in Chicago in 1893 saw a painting by Charles T. Webber entitled "The Underground Railroad"; this dramatic picture showed a large family of fugitives arriving at the home of Levi Coffin of Cincinnati, who, with his wife and friends, was guiding the shivering and frightened Negroes through the snow to shelter.