Historical Newspaper: My Land and Mule
Subject
Forty Acres and a Mule
Title
Historical Newspaper: My Land and Mule
Date
10/28/1867
Type
Historical Newspaper
Description
Note: See the third column on the second page. Racial epithets used, and some language may be offensive to readers.
Chronicling America features an article from the October 28, 1867 edition of the Alexandria Gazette and Virginia Advertiser, titled, "My Land and Mule," which summarizes a story, obtained from "an unquestionable source," that on election day in Amhert County, Virginia, an African American man asked for his "forty acres and a mule" which he supposedly believed he would acquire after voting. According to the article, the man was full of "disappointment, disgust, and indignation" after being told that "he had been fooled." The phrase, "Forty Acres and a Mule," originated from Union General William Tecumseh Sherman’s Special Field Order No. 15 that was issued on January 16, 1865, which promised the allotment land and leftover Army mules to formerly enslaved African American families. This promise was never fulfilled.
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Chronicling America features an article from the October 28, 1867 edition of the Alexandria Gazette and Virginia Advertiser, titled, "My Land and Mule," which summarizes a story, obtained from "an unquestionable source," that on election day in Amhert County, Virginia, an African American man asked for his "forty acres and a mule" which he supposedly believed he would acquire after voting. According to the article, the man was full of "disappointment, disgust, and indignation" after being told that "he had been fooled." The phrase, "Forty Acres and a Mule," originated from Union General William Tecumseh Sherman’s Special Field Order No. 15 that was issued on January 16, 1865, which promised the allotment land and leftover Army mules to formerly enslaved African American families. This promise was never fulfilled.
View Source Here
Publisher
Library of Congress - Chronicling America (Alexandria Gazette and Virginia Advertiser, DC)
Rights
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Insensitive Language/Images: Some sources may include insensitive language or images that were created just before, during or after the Reconstruction Era. We try our best to include advisory “notes” in the description section of each source to inform site visitors about potentially insensitive material.
Fairness & Accuracy Statement: We strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that seems inaccurate or doesn't look right, please contact us.
Collection
Tags
Citation
“Historical Newspaper: My Land and Mule,” Project Reconstruction, accessed May 6, 2024, https://projectreconstructionus.com/items/show/24.