SLAVE NARRATIVES - Library of Congress

30502 80
Interviewer Miss Irene Robertson
Person interviewed "Cat" Ross
BrassfieId, Ark,
Age Born 1862
"I was born in Releford County on old Major Ross place.
I was born durin' a battle between the* North and South at Mur-
freesboro. The house was on the battle ground. Mama had five
children. Her name was Susanna Wade. Papa's name was Amos
Ross. He belong to Major Bill Ross. Major Ross had ten houses -
one at the edge of the thicket, two on Stone river, and they was
scattered around over his land. Major Ross never went to war.
Papa went with Major Billy to bury his gold. It stayed where
they put it till after the war they went and dug it up, I seen
that. When they brought it to the house, it was a pot - iron pot -
full of gold, I didn't know where they had it buried nor how they
fixed it.
"My folks was all field hands. They muster been blessed
cause they didn't get mixed up with the other nations. Grand-
father's mother - Grandma Venus - come from Africa. She'd been
in bondage about a hundred years. I recollect her well. My
folks all lived to be old people, over a hundred years old. They
was all pretty well, all Africans.
"I have seen the Ku Klux quarter mile long and two breasted
on horses. They scared me so bad I never had no experiences
with them. They run my uncle in. He was a big dancer. One time
they made him dance. He cut the pigeon-wing for them. That was
the name of what he danced.