Before the Civil War an old man named Peg Leg
Joe had an idea to help slaves escape to the North to be free. During the
winter he traveled from plantation to plantation as a carpenter teaching a
song called “Follow the Drinking Gourd” to the slaves. During
the summer he helped the slaves follow the song to freedom.
“Follow the Drinking Gourd” is a coded song that gave the route
for slaves to escape from Mississippi and Alabama. In the song the “drinking
gourd” stood for the big dipper. One of the stars in the big dipper
is the North Star. For centuries people have used the North Star to guide
them by to telling them which direction was north. So the song “Follow
the Drinking Gourd” meant to follow the North Star to Canada where they
would be free. The song also gave other landmarks for them to follow such
as bridges, rivers, and dead trees.
By teaching this song to the slaves, Peg Leg Joe was able to help many slaves
escape slavery. Unfortunately, we know nothing more about Peg Leg Joe.
For more information click on the following links:
http://www.beavton.k12.or.us/greenway/leahy/ugrr/gourd.htm
http://www2.lhric.org/pocantico/tubman/gourd1.html
http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/ltc/special/mlk/gourd2.html