The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #124570   Message #2757529
Posted By: McGrath of Harlow
01-Nov-09 - 05:34 PM
Thread Name: Rebel Flag meaning
Subject: RE: Rebel Flag meaning
If the American Revolution had failed would the banners of those who fought for it be seen that differently from those of the Confederacy?

Here is Boston King, one of the many thousands of escaped slaves who fought on the losing side, writing about the end of that war:

"Peace was restored between America and Great Britain, which diffused universal joy among all parties, except us, who had escaped from slavery, and taken refuge in the English army; for a report prevailed at New-York, that all the slaves, in number 2000, were to be delivered up to their masters, altho' some of them had been three or four years among the English.

This dreadful rumour filled us all with inexpressible anguish and terror, especially when we saw our old masters coming from Virginia, North-Carolina, and other parts, and seizing upon their slaves in the streets of New-York, or even dragging them out of their beds. Many of the slaves had very cruel masters, so that the thoughts of returning home with them embittered life to us."


(From here.)