---
title: Scourged African American Slave
author: McPherson & Oliver
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/20339/scourged-african-american-slave/
format: machine-readable-alternate
updated: 2025-09-25
---
# Scourged African American Slave
_Authored by McPherson & Oliver_
## Image File
[](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/20339.jpeg)
## Image Caption
Escaped slave Gordon, also known as "Whipped Peter," formerly enslaved on a cotton plantation along the Atchafalaya River, showing his scarred back at a medical examination, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. After the whipping, his wounds were salted, a common practice; the overseer who whipped him was fired by slave-owner Capt. John Lyons, but the firing of an overseer was not a common policy. Photograph by McPherson & Oliver, photographer, Baton Rouge, 1863.
Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
## Cite This Work
### APA
Oliver, M. &. (2025, April 15). Scourged African American Slave. *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
Oliver, McPherson &. "Scourged African American Slave." *World History Encyclopedia*, April 15, 2025. .
### MLA
Oliver, McPherson &. "Scourged African American Slave." *World History Encyclopedia*, 15 Apr 2025, .
## License & Copyright
The public domain content above is from the [Library of Congress](http://www.loc.gov/). You can copy it freely. [Original image](https://www.loc.gov/item/2018648117/) by [**McPherson & Oliver**](https://www.loc.gov/item/2018648117/). Submitted by [Joshua J. Mark](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/JPryst/ "User Page: Joshua J. Mark"), published on 15 April 2025. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Public Domain](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_domain). This item is in the public domain, and can be used, copied, and modified without any restrictions. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.