Margaret (Mag) Palm was born in 1836. She lived with her husband Alfred and their son Joseph, who was not quite a year old. In the black community she was better known as “Maggie Bluecoat” for the sky-blue uniform coat of an officer of the War of 1812 that she wore when she served as a conductor on the Underground Railroad. Mag was so notorious for helping slaves escape that on several occasions slave-owners from Maryland attempted to kidnap her and sell her into slavery to put an end to her practices. David Schick, whose father was Palm’s employer, recounted one of these events. She lived up Long Lane, back of the old fair grounds. On this occasion she was attacked by a group of men who attempted to kidnap her and take her south where they expected to sell her and make a profit. She was a powerful woman, and they would make a large profit from the sales. These men succeeded in tying Mag’s hands. She was fighting them as best as she could with her hands tied. She would attempt to slow them and succeeded in one instance in catching an attackers thumb in her mouth and bit the thumb off. John Karseen, who was crippled and ran a novelty shop on Baltimore Street, happened to pass by just at the right time and by using his crutch was able to assist Mag in her fight and freed her from her assailants. This event clearly demonstrates that nothing was dearer to Gettysburg’s African Americans, especially Mag, than their freedom. The events that occurred in the summer of 1863 brought the greatest challenge yet to that freedom and forever changed Gettysburg’s black community.
Question #1: What was it like being a conductor of the Underground Railroad?
Answer #1: It was terrifying, but I did it for the slaves. They were innocent people just like me and you, but the difference was they had no freedom, they had no rights.
Question # 2: What was it like being a mother and having to constantly work?
Answer #2: It was hard working from dawn to dusk, but the thing that got me through it was knowing that at the end of the day I got to go home to see my son Joseph.
Question #3: What was it like being an African American in Gettysburg? Did the people of Gettysburg look at you differently?
Answer #3: It was scary. Everyone tried to push me around and make me do things for them. They looked at African Americans as if they didn't have feelings or a family to support. The thing that helped me through it was my courage. I was willing to stand up to them but many of my kind would not.
Question # 4: What was it like to witness the Battle of Gettysburg?
Answer #4:It was an unbearable pain both mentally and physically. It was the worst thing I have ever witnessed.
Question #5: In what ways were you affected by the Battle of Gettysburg?
Answer #5: I was affected by the Battle of Gettysburg in every way possible. The main effect of the battle was the multiple deaths of my loved ones. I lost so many innocent friends and family members.