James Ross Ramsey Autobiography
OU Western History Collection

Just here let me mention that Robin [Robert Johnson], after the war broke out, and the Missionaries were scattered, it was found impossible to hire him, so as to let him work out what was paid for him. So some of those who still remained in the Territory, went and turned him over to [John] Jumper in lieu of the $700.00 that he had advanced. So Robin was sold back into slavery. Jumper took him wherever he went, as waiting boy. But while going in that capacity, his wife was living at Mr. [John] Lilley's at the [Oak Ridge] Mission, cooking for them. Robin got a furlough from Jumper to come down and visit his wife at the Mission. Jumper gave him a furlough thinking that he would return again, but when Robin got to the Mission, he determined that he would never go back. That was his time to strike for freedom. So in the morning, he called Mrs. Lilley out into the yard to the well and told her that he intended now to strike for the federal troops and she pled with him not to do it, because it was certain death for him. But he persisted, and told her he was bound to make the effort, live or die. So they parted. Shook hands and bade each other good bye. Robert got on this horse and started towards the Arkansas River. He stopped at Timmy Barnett's [Maj. Timothy Barnett, 1st Seminole Mtd Rifles, southeast of present Wetumka] awhile in the evening, where there were a lot of rebels making their boasts what they would do. He said nothing but pretended he was going to stay there himself. He waited until they all got quiet and asleep and then went out and saddled his horse and started for the Creek Agency [northwest of present Muskogee]. Went on and on, and got there after night. Tied his horse in a corn field near the Creek Agency. Went to his mother in law's, Big Sarah, they called her, ad tried to sleep. She promised to wake him as soon as it was the peep of day. So he laid down and slept awhile, and then the old woman says "Bob, now is your time, or never" so he jumped up, put on his clothes, went and got his horse, saddled it, and started for the Arkansas River, which was only about a mile distant. Arriving at the bank, he plunged in, pushing his horse with all his might, and looking to see if any body was coming after him. When he saw plenty of Union soldiers across the river, the bottom was full of them when he got to the other shore. When he got there, he took off his hat. Whirled it round and round and said "Hurrah! hurrah! HURRAH!!!" He was in the land of freedom. When he made this noise, the soldiers came and said "You are alright now old man". He went and enlisted in the army as a Union soldier that very day. And as he was a first rate interpreter, he was employed by the Officers to interpret for the Union Creek and Seminole soldiers, during the remainder of the war. He was one of the detachment that had been sent out from Ft Gibson to deliver Mr. Lilley from the rebels. He remained with the Seminoles at the close of the war and when they were brought out to the Wewoka by Mr E.J. Brown, who was Commissary, Robin accompanied them. He built a house and has remained there ever since. When Jumper and his men found that Robin had gone, they pursued him in hot haste but it was all in vain, as they never caught him.