A Flight to Freedom
On March 24, 1863, at midnight, Peter escaped captivity from the Louisiana plantation of Capt. John Lyons. Lyons owned 3,000 acres and 38 enslaved people in St. Landry Parish. Peter traveled through swamps and rivers, covering miles of dangerous terrain. His goal was to reach Union forces stationed in Baton Rouge.
A Shocking Revelation
When Peter arrived at a Union encampment on April 2, 1863, he entered the Provost Marshal’s office, where he was questioned. Lifting his tattered shirt, he revealed a back covered in thick, raised scars from whippings. He stated that an overseer, Artayon Carrier, had whipped him so severely that he was bedridden for two months. Salt brine was poured into his wounds. He recalled suffering hallucinations and being unable to recognize his actions. His wife had assumed he was dead.
The Photographs That Spoke Volumes
Photographers William D. McPherson and J. Oliver took images of Peter’s back in Baton Rouge. The shocking “scourged back” photo was widely circulated, including in Harper’s Weekly, the most popular Civil War-era publication.
Fact and Fiction in the Narrative
Harper’s Weekly published a story about “Gordon,” a man they claimed had escaped slavery and later joined the Union Army. However, later research showed that Gordon and Peter were two different people. The magazine had combined multiple accounts into one. Despite the inconsistencies, the photograph remained an undeniable testament to the brutal reality of slavery.
In 1863, Peter escaped from a Louisiana plantation and reached Union soldiers after a brutal journey. When he lifted his shirt, deep scars covered his back from savage whippings. A single photograph of his wounds would shock the nation and expose the cruelty of slavery.🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/tg6HSYQ92g
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) March 16, 2025