Published: September 17, 2009 07:45 pm      

This is no way to honor a very brave man

If an African-American died in battle in a particular area, and, he was to be honored historically, do you think that area should bear the man’s name or his race? Most would say the man’s name is what should be honored by historians.

However, that was not the case in what is called in Western Maryland history as the “Skirmish at Negro Mountain.” A very brave African-American slave named Nemesis died in that battle, June 30, 1756, and he is the person history and Western Marylanders should honor — not just the man’s race.

In a volume of the “Glades Star” on page 225, taken from “History of Western Maryland” (Scharf), found at Garrett County Historical Society, the incident happened as follows:

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One night Col. Thomas Cresap’s settlement of Oldtown, Maryland, was attacked by a marauding band of Indians. A family was murdered; their horses stolen.

Col. Cresap ordered his men to pursue the fleeing Indians. His body servant, Nemesis, “a big negro,” was cleaning his gun. The Colonel asked, “Well Nemesis, are you ready to fight”?

The negro replied, “Yes, massa, but I don’t come back.” The Colonel jestingly said, “If you are afraid of being killed, you can stay here with the women, and I will go without you.” Nemesis replied, “Massa, you know I’s not afraid; where you go, I will go; where you fight; I will fight; but Nemesis will not come back.”

With the morning light, Cresap and his band were upon the Indians’ trail, pursuing them across Savage and Meadow Mountains to the next mountain. There was a severe fight, killing several Indians. Fighting bravely at his master’s side, Nemesis was slain and buried on the mountain, which has borne the name of his race.

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Truly, Nemesis laid down his life so that “white” settlers of Western Maryland could live in more peace, safety and security. Yet, as I grew up a few miles west of Frostburg, (I am now 65 years old), I heard quite a few racial slurs referring to “Negro Mountain,” or, the particular prejudicial term used in place of “Negro.” Do you believe this is any way to honor such a “hero”? I think not!

I never even learned of this “skirmish” in any of my history classes. Yet it is a very significant part of Western Maryland history, and, even more so, “Black history.”

Let’s see what can be done to correct this injustice. Instead of “Negro Mountain,” why not, Nemesis’ Mountain? Why not even an historical plaque about Nemesis and the battle? We have them everywhere else.

Let’s contact our local politicians: Sen. Edwards and Delegate Beitzel (or whoever yours may be), and ask them to propose a bill in the General Assembly to change the name of Negro mountain.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., once said, “if a man hasn’t found a cause he would die for; he isn’t fit to live.”

Nemesis would have been a man after his own heart.

Jerry Ruby

Oakland