U.S. History

Freeing Charles: The Struggle to Free a Slave on the Eve of the Civil War

Scott Christianson

About the Program

Scott Christianson recalls the life of Charles Nalle who was enslaved by the Hansbourough family of Virginia.  Mr. Nalle escaped via the Underground Railroad and was later captured in Troy, New York.  Mr. Christianson recounts that Charles Nalle was forcibly freed by Harriet Tubman and a group of abolitionists on April 27, 1860; an armed battle between abolitionists and anti-abolitionists followed. Scott Christianson discusses his book and is joined by artist Mark Priest, who has depicted the historical event through a series of paintings at the Sanctuary for Independent Media in Troy, New York.

About the Authors

Scott Christianson

Scott Christianson is the author of several books, including With Liberty for Some: 500 Years of Imprisonment in America.


Buy the author's book from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound

Program Information

Freeing Charles: The Struggle to Free a Slave on the Eve of the Civil War

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Past Airings

  • Tuesday, June 1st at 2:30am (ET)
  • Monday, May 31st at 8:30pm (ET)
  • Monday, May 31st at 2:30pm (ET)
  • Monday, May 31st at 8:30am (ET)
  • Sunday, May 23rd at 1am (ET)
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