1. Harper’s Weekly, May 7, 1864

2. 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. LC-DIG-cwpb-00218 g3851s cw0674100

3. Camps were established all over DC and the surroundings areas. Two of the largest were: Camp Barker Freedman’s Village Aside from camps, most any abandoned building was confiscated and used to house contrabands. LC-DIG-cwpb-00821 LC-DIG-cwpb-01005

4. 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.” LC-DIG-cwpb-01474

5. 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 Harriet Jacobs- volunteer “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!” Haverford College North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources

6. Journey Toward Freedom Freedmen’s Village 1863-1900 NARA- 111-B-5240

7. “-----” 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 1794- 1915, 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.