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Buried Alive // Little Starlight // The Devil's Frying Pan // Tippoo Saib

Harper's Weekly Text
April 2, 1864, pp. 214 (1-3)-215 (1-3)

Synopsis

The straitened master of Tippoo Saib, a kind-hearted slave, finds he cannot contribute, from among his own hands, a laborer to work on Confederate fortifications.  To raise money for a substitute laborer, the master sells Tippoo’s wife and children.  After the sale, the master leaves for battle.  The kitchen slave tells Tippoo that she plans to escape that night, and that he can join her.  Not wanting to leave his sick mistress and her daughter alone, Tippoo refuses to go.  The next day, the mistress dies and Tippoo has another chance to escape.  Instead, he takes the young daughter to her uncle.  Tippoo becomes the property of the uncle, who sends him to build Confederate fortifications on Roanoke Island.  Tippoo later captures the uncle, who is a Confederate captain, and turns him over to federal forces.  Tippoo then lives as a freeman in Massachusetts until the call goes out for black troops.  Joining the 54th Massachusetts, Tippoo is part of the charge on Battery (Fort) Wagner.  There, he meets his old master in battle.  Remembering the young daughter, Tippoo cannot bring himself to shoot his former master.  As he turns his back, Tippoo is shot and killed by the master, who shares none of his former slave’s nostalgic attachments.


Harper's Weekly References

History:

"The Attack on Fort Wagner"
August 8, 1863, p. 510 (1-2)

Illustrations:
"The Attack on Fort Wagner—The Stormers Advancing Under Fire"
August 8, 1863, p. 509

Military Background:

"Late Colonel Shaw"
August 15, 1863, p. 526 (1-2)

Illustrations:
Portrait of Robert G. Shaw
August 15, 1863, p. 525 (3-4)

Illustrations:

"Teaching the Negro Recruits the Use of the Minie Rifle"
March 14, 1863, p. 161(1-4)

"A Negro Regiment in Action"
March 14, 1863, pp. 168 (1-4)-169 (1-4)

"The Attack on Fort Wagner—The Stormers Advancing Under Fire"
August 8, 1863, p. 509 (1-4)

Commentary:

"Our Duty in Reorganization"
June 24, 1865, p. 387 (1-2)

 


 
 
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Buried Alive // Little Starlight // The Devil's Frying Pan // Tippoo Saib

     
 

 
     
 

 
     
 

 

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