“Rather Die Freeman, Than Live to Be Slaves”



An uncommon Civil War photograph of the regimental banner of the 3rd U.S. Colored Infantry shows an illustration of a man with Lady Liberty. Floating above them is a ribbon with a phrase that caught my attention. Curious to know its origins, here’s what I found.

“Life on the Civil War Research Trail” is hosted by Ronald S. Coddington, Editor and Publisher of Military Images magazine. Learn more about our mission to showcase, interpret and preserve Civil War portrait photography at militaryimagesmagazine.com and shopmilitaryimages.com.

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Image: Ross J. Kelbaugh Collection, National Portrait Gallery; Wikimedia Commons

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15 thoughts on ““Rather Die Freeman, Than Live to Be Slaves””

  1. Ron, I believe the object to the right of Liberty is a fasces, without an axe. This symbol of bound rods was used in the period to reflect the motto "E Pluribus Unum". It appears extensively in the Lincoln Memorial.

    Edit: The Statue of Freedom atop the US Capitol has similar fasces, with the rods bound around a spear, arranged around its pedestal.

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  2. HARRIET BEECHER STOWE SEWED A LADY LIBERTY ONTO THE REGIMENTAL COLORS OF THE FIRST NORTH CAROLINA COLORED INFANTRY WHILE WEARING ROSARY BEADS AND PRAYING A PRAY CALLED THE ROSECRANS(ROSARY IN DUTCH/GERMAN).THE EX-SLAVES CALLED LADY LIBERTY ABRAHAM'S DAUGHTER.HARRIET BEECHER STOWE SAID HER LADY LIBERTY IS NOT THE ROMAN GODDESS OF LIBERTY BUT THE VIRGIN MARY.ENJOY.MAY MIRACLE OF JESUS OF CZESTOCHOWA AND OUR LADY OF CLEARWATER BLESS EVERYBODY HERE AMEN 24 RAYS OF GOD AROUND THE SUN 🔅🔅🔅🌀🌀🌀

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  3. Amazing that this man wrote these eloquent words in 1843! What was his story? Where was he educated? His photo depicts a man of dignity and personal charisma. I had no idea such people existed at this early date…..

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  4. Another interesting video reminding us of the life and times and cultural influences in America during the mid 19th Century that led to the dramatic events during and after the Civil War. Just a little nit-pick, if you will forgive me. That object to our left (the figure's right) is not a bundle of arrows but is the Fasces that was carried by Roman Lictors (protectors of Magistrates). The Fasces was a battle ax with a slim rod for a handle. The ax's handle was reinforced and made strong by additional rods making it essentially unbreakable. When I was a kid, the symbol was seen on our (real silver) dimes and it has always been, since Roman times, a symbol representing the phrase: "in many there is strength." From its inception, the United States republic was considered to be the moral and philosophical heir of the Roman Republic and much of our symbology, including governmental building architecture (and the back of dimes), was adopted to reflect that.

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