ARCHER ALEXANDER

In September 1863, a St. Louis newspaper announced that Archer Alexander “is hereby declared to be an emancipated slave and a free man by virtue of the proclamation of the President of the United States” … “for important services to the U.S. military forces”. He had risked his life to inform the Union Army that Confederates were about to destroy the Peruque Creek railroad bridge and then fled via the Underground Railroad at the Howell’s Ferry landing, taking sixteen other freedom seekers with him! He would become the National icon for Emancipation on the Memorial to Lincoln erected by the formerly enslaved in Washington DC. yet be buried in an unmarked grave. Today, his burial location in St. Peter’s UCC Cemetery (2101 Lucas & Hunt Road) is on the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, where a JUBILEE is scheduled in honor of his Day of Freedom on Sunday, September 22, 2024, at 1:00 pm. The public is invited to join in the celebration, and is asked to bring lawn chairs, blankets and friends. September is International Underground Railroad Month. See archeralexander.blog for more information.