by Annie Davis
Mr president
Language: English
Belair [Maryland] Aug 25th 1864 Mr president It is my Desire to be free. to go to see my people on the eastern shore. my mistress wont let me you will please let me know if we are free. and what i can do. I write to you for advice. please send me word this week. or as soon as possible and oblidge.
About the headline (FAQ)
Text Authorship:
- by Annie Davis , "A Slave Wants "To Be Free"", written 1864, from The Lincoln Mailbag: America Writes to the President, 1861-1865 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Jake Heggie (b. 1961), "Letter to President Lincoln from Annie Davis", 2001, first performed 2002 [baritone and chamber orchestra], from A Great Hope Fell: Songs from Civil War, no. 4. [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2009-09-22
Line count: 6
Word count: 59