Leavenworth, Kansas

Leavenworth, Kansas, enters the account as a destination chosen by five people formerly enslaved by Anderson Shipp Truman: in April 1865, he drove them there with provisions so they could begin their freedom. His later return produced no answer about their fate, leaving the place associated with both a new beginning and an unresolved absence.

A Chosen Destination

When the Civil War ended in April 1865, Anderson Shipp Truman loaded Hannah, Marge, and their three daughters into a large farm wagon. He brought a month’s supply of food and drove them to Leavenworth, Kansas—the place they had chosen for the start of their freedom. The account gives no further description of the town; its significance here rests on that choice and journey.

An Unresolved Aftermath

Some years later, Anderson Shipp Truman returned to Leavenworth to find out what had become of the women and their daughters. Nobody knew. The narrative thus records their departure and the destination they selected, but not what followed: Leavenworth marks the beginning of their chosen freedom while the family’s later history remains unknown.