unknown, female [123]

Title: unknown, female [123]
Gender: Female
Biography: Though there is no name given to her, former Kentucky Judge George Robertson mentioned a girl who had been born and raised enslaved by him in a letter to Abraham Lincoln. In this letter, Robertson complained to Lincoln about those enslaved in Kentucky seeking freedom among Union military regiments and those regiments refusing to return them to their enslavers. Robertson claimed the girl had been "seduced" and "forced" into prostitution among the 18th Michigan Infantry Regiment. The regiment refused to send the girl back to Robertson, and Robertson stated in the letter to Lincoln that he had "forborn to sue." As to the claims of prostitution, other sources claim Robertson was rather cruel to those enslaved by him. In this letter, he declared his slaves were "happier with [him] than they could be if free." His assertion that the girl was being forced into prostitution may not necessarily be trustworthy.
Birth information: circa 1847; Kentucky
Relationship: Slaveholder(s): Robertson, George
Bibliographic citation(s): Lincoln, Abraham. Abraham Lincoln papers: Series 1. General Correspondence. 1833 to 1916: George Robertson to Abraham Lincoln, Monday,Seeks return of his slave. December 1, 1862. Manuscript/Mixed Material. https://www.loc.gov/item/mal1985600/.