Fugitive Slaves and the Underground Railroad in the Kentucky Borderland

This work covers the Underground Railroad in Kentucky, the southernmost sections of the free states bordering Kentucky along the Ohio River, and, to a lesser extent, the slave states to the immediate south. Kentucky was important because its northern edge, the Ohio River, represented a 300 mile boundary between slavery and freedom. The book examines the landscape of Kentucky and the surrounding states; fugitive slaves before and during the Civil War; and their motivations and escape strategies and the risks involved. The reasons why people broke law and convention to befriend fugitives, common escape routes, crossing points through Kentucky from Tennessee and points south, and specific individuals who provided assistance - all are topics covered.