Heyward Shepherd

ON THE NIGHT OF OCTOBER 16,1859, HEYWARD SHEPHERD,AN INDUSTRIOUS AND RESPECTED COLORED FREEMAN, WAS MORTALLY WOUNDED BY JOHN BROWN'S RAIDERS. IN PURSUANCE OF HIS DUTIES AS AN EMPLOYEE OF THE BALTIMORE AND OHIO RAILROAD COMPANY, HE BECAME THE FIRST VICTIM OF THIS ATTEMPTED INSURRECTION. THIS BOULDER IS ERECTED BY THE UNITED DAUGHTERS OF THE CONFEDERACY AND THE SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS AS A MEMORIAL TO HEYWARD SHEPHERD, EXEMPLIFYING THE CHARACTER AND FAITHFULNESS OF THOUSANDS OF NEGROES WHO, UNDER MANY TEMPTATIONS THROUGHOUT SUBSEQUENT YEARS OF WAR, SO CONDUCTED THEMSELVES THAT NO STAIN WAS LEFT UPON A RECORD WHICH IS THE PECULIAR HERITAGE OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, AND AN EVERLASTING TRIBUTE TO THE BEST IN BOTH RACES. Additional context provided by Harper's Ferry National Historical Park: Hearing praise for "faithful slaves" during the dedication of the Heyward Shepherd memorial, Pearl Tatten interrupted the ceremony. "I am the daughter of a [Union soldier].... who fought for the freedom of my people, for which John Brown struck the first blow." Tatten challenged the faithful slave stereotype. "We are pushing forward to a larger freedom..." The audience was shocked. "Confederate Daughters gape as she lauds John Brown," reported the Baltimore Afro-American. Submitted by Patrick M. Ryan