David, A Servant at Fort Amanda

David's Story

War of 1812

This blog is about a Black man named “David, the personal servant of Lt. Col. Robert Pogue, builder of Fort Amanda.  David has the distinction of being the first black man to reside within the confines of what later became Auglaize County.

A Servant at Fort Amanda

During the War of 1812, senior officers were permitted to bring personal servants with them while on active duty. Lt. Col. Robert Pogue, brought a family servant named “David.” Servants often did routine camp duties i.e., cooking meals for the officer, running errands, delivering messages, doing laundry and other routine camp duties. They also endured the same hardships as the soldiers, i.e. poor living conditions, short food supplies, horrible weather conditions, long marches and of course dangers posed by the enemy.

 

What Do We Know About David?

Pogue knew that whoever he brought with him on his campaign had to be old enough and strong enough to endure the rigors of camp life. This suggests that David was probably a young man, possibly a teenager between the ages of 15 and 20.

Expense Account

While on active duty, officers paid for the servant's services out of their own pocket and were later reimbursed by the state government. When Pogue returned home in March of 1813, his first order of business was prepare an expense account requesting reimbursements for David's expenses. His request read:

The United States to:
Robert Pogue, Lieutenant Col. Commander of the 4th Regiment Kentucky, Volunteer Militia.
For the pay of David, a private servant not of the line or Militia from the 27th day of August to the 18th March, 1813, six months and twenty three days at $6.66 per month. $44.90  

I certify on Honor that the above amount is accurate and just, and that I employed and kept in service, a servant not of the line of the Army or Militia for the term above charged and that I did not during the time herein charge, keep or employ as a waiter or servant, any soldier from the line of the Army or Militia      ]

(signed by Pogue)

 

A Paltry Sum?

Pogue was reimbursed $44.90 or approx. $6.66 a month or 21 cents a day for David's services. While that sounds like a miniscule amount, the average soldier was paid on 25 cents a day or $8.00 a month. Put into perspective, farmers made 50 cents a day during the same period.   

Flemingsburg, Kentucky August 24th, 1813.
Received of Lieutenant George M. Botts, paymaster to the 4th Regiment Kentucky, Volunteer Militia, Forty four dollars, ninety cents in full payment of the above amount for the services of my private servant Davey. Having signed triplicates
(signed by Pogue)

Note, Pogue referred to David as "Davey."

The Great Escape

'Nothing is known about David from 1813 until 1822 when on January 22, 1822, he walked away from the Pogue plantation without permission and without telling anyone.  By this time David would have been in his mid to late 20's and possibly married.  Normally the incident might have been recorded as just another "runaway slave" story but that's too easy. Incidents like runaway slaves involve a lot of human drama and I wanted to learn all I could about this one.

A Chronology of Events?

Waning Crescent Moon Phase

David knew that to avoid capture he needed to leave while it was still dark. There were only 7 hours of darkness that time of year and with a moon in the waning Crescent phase (see above), and very little moonlight, this seemed the perfect time to leave. But why after dark? It wasn't uncommon to see a black man walking by himself in daylight because they normally carried a "pass" similar to a military leave pass. Its purpose was to let others, especially slave hunters, otherwise known as "paddy rollers," know that he/she had permission to be off the farm.

David's Plan of Escape

All indications are that David's plan was to flee south to Flemingsburg, Ky, 10 miles to the south where he hoped to find help from a presbyterian minister named James K. Burch.

Rev. James K. Burch

 Rev. Burch pastored several churches in the Flemingsburg area. Records show his eldest daughter Catherine was married in 1832. Assuming she was 18-20 years old at the time means she was probably born around 1812 and about 10 years old when David came to the Burch home that morning with the oldest child (Catherine) born in 1812, Rev. Burch probably married around 1810 and if he was 20 to 25 years old at the time, he would have been born between 1785 and 1790 making him between about 35 years old at the time of David’s visit.

Weather Conditions

We don't know the weather conditions on that date, however its safe to assume it was a typical January Kentucky Winter; cold, ice and snow.
If there had been snow or ice on the roads along with little moonlight to guide his way, David more than likely would have traveled slowly to avoid stepping in holes or ditches and possibly injuring himself. He knew that if he walked to fast, he could work up a sweat and risk pneumonia or even worse, freezing to death.

Taking all those things into consideration let's assume David walked at a slower pace of say 2 mph, slightly less than the normal speed of 3 miles per hour.

Believed to be the route David took to Flemingsburg

 Somewhere along the way that morning, David decided that he wanted to return home. He may even have been married at the time and that could have been a deciding factor. Whatever the case, he knew that at daybreak, Pogue would discover his absence and would be sending someone out to bring him back. David knew he had to get to Flemingsburg before daylight. Remember, he didn't have a "pass" making him fair game for slave hunters (otherwise known as paddy rollers who would gladly return him to Pogue and charge Pogue a hefty fee for their services.

Allowing for slow travel speed and rest stops, the 10 mile trip to Flemingsburg would have taken about 5 hours meaning he arrived in there between 5 o’clock and 6 o’clock that morning while it was still dark. He immediately went to the home of Rev. Burch, the presbyterian minister. We know Pogue was a devout Presbyterian and judging by the words, "My dear friend," Pogue knew Rev. Burch personally, it's likely David knew him as well.

David explained the situation to Rev. Burch who decided to send a letter to Robert Pogue (below), explaining David's situation including the fact that he (David) was very remorseful about leaving. Burch also included the fact that David was very concerned about being punished for leaving. The following letter to Pogue explaining the situation and encouraging Pogue not to punish David.

 Flemingsburg, January 22, 1822
My dear friend,
Your black man, David just visited at my house, and solicited me to give him a pass to return home. He says he left home this morning without your permission or knowledge. He declares to me that it is his desire and intention to return home this evening. He fears chastisement for his conduct. He appears penitent. He promises future obedience and submission. He begs me to intercede for him.
My dear friend will you forgive him. Make trial I doubt not but he deserves chastisement, but perhaps his promises are sincere. Perhaps he will keep them. Alas! How often has we disobeyed, offended and run away from our Master in Heaven. And how often has he kindly forgiven us.
May the Lord God of …… bless you and your dear companion and children and servants.


Yours most sincerely and affectionately
James K. Burch
My dear brother in Christ If I have done wrong you will forgive

 

The Return Home

By this time it may have been around 8 o’clock in the morning. David knew that by now his absence would be noted and Pogue would be sending someone out looking for him so with his "pass in hand" (Burch's letter), David started back to the Pogue farm.

Was David Punished?

Perhaps, but I doubt it was too severe for 2 reasons. First of all, in 1812 the average cost of a healthy male slave ranged from $1000 to $2000 or $20,000 t0 $40,000 in todays dollars.  

 

My reason for thinking David's punishment was not all that severe, is that by 1822 some black families had lived with the same white family for generations, even adopting the owner's surname.  While servants at the time may not have been considered "family" in the classic sense, my guess is Pogue's were probably viewed more as employees. 

Discovering the Graves

In 1991 we discovered the old Pogue graveyard in an overgrown woods east of Mayslick in Mason County, Kentucky. Along with other family members, we discovered the grave of Amanda (Pogue) McDowell, Fort Amanda's namesake. She was 12 years old when her father built the fort. We later learned that some of the family "servants" were buried in the same graveyard. While some of the stones were simply stones, the assumption is David is buried there as well.

We collected names from the stones we found and gave the list to the Mason County Historical Society in Maysville, Ky.

Conclusion

David is an integral part the history of Fort Amanda. His name doesn't appear on any company rosters or in any history books yet his contributions to the war effort were every bit as important as the men who built and garrisoned the fort. Because historical writers generally write primarily about battles, generals or heroes they often miss the essence of the entire story, the contributions of the ordinary men and women. A history professor once asked us "Why do you think so little has been written about women in history?" We all shrugged our shoulders. His response; "Because men write the history books." That was my epiphany and the reason I spend so much time on details that would bore most readers to tears. That's OK because now you know what the moon phase was on January 22,1822 and hopefully that minute little detail helps readers create a visual image of the hardships David had to endure that cold winter night on the road to Flemingsburg.

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If you would like learn more about Fort Amanda and the patriots who served there, these books can be purchased locally, on the net or by contacting me at djohnson43@att.net