John Boston was one of hundreds of slaves who ran away from their masters to the Union Army camps. The soldiers had orders to send the fugitives back, but John Boston was protected by a man from Brooklyn who chose to defy official policy, and thus Boston became a free man. Within a year, the Emancipation Proclamation would give all slaves their freedom.

Investigate the source using the zoom and navigational tools in the Flash player and then answer the questions below.

1			Read the text of this letter carefully. What language does Boston use?
2			Does Boston sound educated? Explain.
3			What emotions does Boston seem to express?
4			How does Boston view his freedom?