Ellen Barnes McGinnis

Ellen Barnes McGinnis (1842 – December 12, 1890) was an enslaved woman known for being the housemaid to Varina Davis, the First Lady of the Confederacy.

[1] At the time of Ellen's service to the Davis family, the Confederacy was in full decline, and life in the presidential household was difficult.

[4] In 1864, several of the Davis family slaves escaped, including Varina's most trusted maid, "Betsy".

In late March 1865, Barnes fled with the family from the Confederate capital as they looked for passage to Europe.

[5] After travelling for weeks through the South to escape, two Union cavalry units came upon the Davis party, after trailing them for several days.

Barnes complied, with the former President of the Confederacy trailing her wearing a shawl over his head as a disguise.

Barnes then parted ways with the Davis family to join her husband, telling a journalist at the time,“Oh, no, Sir, I never want to go South again as a slave -- I would rather be free, much rather.