A story of courage and faith, Beyond Crossriver, chronicles the adventure of a young slave named Thomas, who risks his life trying to save his sister Amanda from overseers in a raid that takes the lives of the remainder of their family. This leads them on a treacherous cross country journey; having to conceal themselves from the public, law enforcement, and the Crossriver plantation overseers, while searching for his dear friend Elizabeth and a chance at freedom.
Beyond Crossriver
By André CarterAuthorHouse
Copyright © 2012 André Carter
All right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4772-7349-4Contents
Prelude Slave Quarters, Crossriver Plantation, Georgia, Fall 1859.....................11. Crossriver Plantation...............................................................112. Wooded Area, Northwest of Crossriver................................................183. Slave Quarters, Crossriver Plantation...............................................204. Wooded Area Northwest of Plantation.................................................235. Miller's Pond.......................................................................256. Lake Allatoona......................................................................327. Crossriver Plantation...............................................................348. Calhoun, Georgia....................................................................409. Miller's Pond.......................................................................4610. Crossriver Plantation..............................................................5111. Chattahoochee Forest...............................................................5912. Calhoun, Georgia...................................................................6313. Chattanooga, Tennessee.............................................................6914. Calhoun, Georgia...................................................................7215. Southern Junction, Chattanooga.....................................................7516. Chattanooga, Tennessee.............................................................8117. 1st District, Chattanooga..........................................................8618. Main Street Rail Station, Chattanooga..............................................9119. outlying Areas of Chattanooga......................................................9420. Sheriff Station, Downtown Chattanooga..............................................9721. 3rd District, Chattanooga..........................................................10122. Tennessee River....................................................................10523. Knoxville, Tennessee...............................................................11824. Port of Knoxville..................................................................12925. Rail Station, Knoxville............................................................13626. Blue Ridge Mountains...............................................................13827. Downtown Knoxville.................................................................14328. Roanoke Rail Yard..................................................................14629. Lynchburg Rail Yard................................................................14830. Crossriver Plantation..............................................................15431. Crossriver Plantation..............................................................15632. Crossriver Plantation..............................................................16033. Wilson Rail Yard, Washington, District of Columbia.................................16534. Wilson Rail Yard, Washington, District of Columbia.................................17735. Appalachian Mountain Region........................................................18536. Harrisburg Rail Station............................................................19037. Highland Gardens, Harrisburg.......................................................19938. Crossriver Plantation..............................................................20339. Highland Gardens, Harrisburg.......................................................20640. Highland Gardens, Harrisburg.......................................................21641. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania...........................................................22642. Village Creek, Pennsylvania........................................................23043. Downtown Harrisburg................................................................23344. Village Creek, Pennsylvania........................................................23645. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania...........................................................24446. Highland Gardens, Harrisburg.......................................................24747. Village Creek, Pennsylvania........................................................25048. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania...........................................................25349. Crossriver Plantation..............................................................25950. Northern Harrisburg, Pennsylvania..................................................26351. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania...........................................................26552. Buffalo, New York..................................................................26853. Downtown Buffalo...................................................................27554. Western Shore Docks, Buffalo.......................................................277
Chapter One
Crossriver Plantation * * *
The sun rose on a dreary, wet morning. Bells ringing, the signal of another days work for slaves in the cotton fields. But, this morning carried an ominous feeling. The field hands exited their homes, Small wooden shanties held up by brick piles positioned under the four corners and two center portions of the structure. They passed the abused and gun shot riddled shanty #4 that sheltered their friends. Many of whom, overheard the raid that took place that night. But, decided against stopping the men from taking their lives. To them, it was a constant reminder of the helplessness of their plight, The terror that continuously threatens every moment of their lives.
One by one, they walked by. Until three men stopped, struck by the pain of what they saw and felt. Gathering courage, they approached the shanty walking up the front steps. Door hanging from the hinges, The first man in moved them to the side and entered the front room, where they noticed three women lying lifeless on the floor. Tears ran from their eyes as they began to gather the bodies.
The men's actions drew the attention of other slaves. Who in turn approach the front steps of the shanty, curious to see what had taken place. As they did, the plantation overseers dressed in dark blue jeans, thin long sleeve shirts, boots, and cowboy hats rode up to the crowd on horseback.
Of the five men, One drew his rifle from the holster and pointed it into the air.
BLAST
A warning shot was fired. "Drop those bodies and get ya'll asses out of there!"
The field hands came running out of the shanty, stumbling down the steps.
"Did we tell you to touch those bodies?" his eyes stared at them from beneath the brim of his hat. "No sir" one of the slaves answered nervously.
He pointed the barrel of his rifle at the man standing in the center of the three.
BLAST
Shot him in the chest.
The man fell backwards hitting the ground. He moved for a brief minute and then died in that spot.
"Don't touch anything without permission!" the overseer pointed his rifle at the rest of the group. "Get to the stables....All of you!" he yelled out.
The other overseers pulled out their whips, Buck their horses to a galloping stride through the slave quarters, Lashing the bodies of everyone standing in the crowd.
Startled by the whippings, Slaves fled from the quarter section to the stables. Once there, They ran into two men lying on the ground badly beaten and surrounded by a dozen men clutching sticks and whips. Next to...