Charles Nalle facts for kids
Charles Nalle was born in Stevensburg, Virginia in 1821. He was born into slavery, which meant he was treated as property and forced to work without pay. When he was 16, he was given to a plantation owner named Blucher Hansbrough.
In October 1858, Charles Nalle and another enslaved man, Jim Banks, bravely escaped from the plantation during an auction.
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Charles Nalle's Journey to Freedom
Nalle received help from the Underground Railroad. This was a secret network of safe houses and routes that helped enslaved people escape to freedom. He traveled north and settled in Troy, New York. In Troy, he found work as a coachman and groom for the wife of a wealthy man named Uri Gilbert.
The Troy Rescue
On April 27, 1860, Nalle was sadly captured in Troy. This happened because of a law called the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. This law said that escaped enslaved people had to be returned to their owners. Nalle was arrested and was going to be sent back to Virginia.
When people in Troy heard about Nalle's arrest, a large crowd quickly gathered. They met around the Mutual Building where he was being held. Among the crowd was the famous Harriet Tubman, who was a brave leader on the Underground Railroad.
A Daring Escape
During a struggle between the authorities and the crowd, Nalle managed to escape. He ran across the Hudson River to West Troy, which is now called Watervliet. However, authorities were waiting for him there and arrested him again.
Another struggle broke out in West Troy. During this time, local people quickly raised enough money to buy Nalle's freedom. They paid 650 U.S. dollars, and Charles Nalle was finally free!
Life After Freedom
Charles Nalle spent most of the Civil War years in Troy. He had several children with his wife, Kitty. He passed away in 1875 in Washington D.C. from heart disease.
Remembering Charles Nalle
The amazing events surrounding Charles Nalle's rescue are remembered today. Both the Watervliet Historical Society and the Rensselaer Historical Society honor his story. In 2010, Watervliet celebrated the 150th anniversary of Nalle's rescue, remembering the community's brave actions to help him gain his freedom.
