you eber saw." I asked him how old she was and he insisted that she was not less than one hundred and seventy-five years old when she died. I came to the conclusion that many colored people make great mistakes about their ages. According to their say so, I must have met at least a dozen of George Washington's body servants at different times, and one who claimed to have been present when he hacked the cherry tree with his little hatchet.

My guide proved to be a very interesting man and thoroughly reliable. He selected the road, and knew just where the Union men lived. Before starting I arranged all my papers that might in any way involve me in difficulty if I should run against Confederate soldiers. I rolled them together and had matches with which I could burn them quickly. I had a field glass and could see persons distinctly at a distance of from two to three miles. There were but very few men to be seen between the Bend and Vicksburg.

I stopped at the house of Hon. Mr. Henderson, who was a cautious Union man; from him I obtained a little information about where the

Confederate pickets were located.

My guide in

formed me that we would pass near the residence of Hon. Mr. Lamar. I resolved to make an excuse to stop after ascertaining from a colored servant that there were no men about. His beautiful residence is located in a park of about ten acres; this park is filled with tropical plants and shrubs. I soon inferred that Mrs. Lamar took me to be a Confederate cotton buyer, and when, from a remark I made, she learned that I once lived in Virginia she talked freely, and then I inquired of her where I would find the Confederate picket line. She told me that the line of pickets was on the other side of Black River, and by going to the river and calling they would send a boat over for me. I thanked her, but avoided the Black River.

My fears of falling into the hands of the Confederates were all gone and I hastened to reach the Union picket line near Vicksburg. It was getting dark when, with my guide, I reached the picket line. Here I was detained until those in charge were satisfied that I was all right. The hotels were full, but after finding Gen. McPher

room.

son I fared well as he gave me a place in his Next day Gen. Sherman arrived at Vicksburg, having been on a raid out into the interior of Mississippi as far as Salma. He had an immense number of contrabands that had followed him in.

The writer, with Gen. McPherson, stood on the hill above Vicksburg as Gen. Sherman rode up; he stopped and looked back over the long fantastic train of colored people of all sizes and conditions, some on foot, many of the juveniles on mules, some astride of oxen and cows; many evidently had gotten into the wrong wardrobes before starting; here was one with a plug hat, broadcloth coat and cotton pants on and bare footed; here comes a greasy black woman having on a silk dress and bare footed. They were loaded down with all kinds of plunder from an old hen and chickens to a poodle dog. General McPherson asked Gen. Sherman how many contrabands he had, and he replied, "As near as I can tell I have about eleven miles of them." In my judgment the estimate was not exaggerated, for I waited several hours at the tollgate before all had passed. Suffice it to say it was an amusing sight.

FROM HARPER'S FERRY TO WINCHESTER.

CHAPTER V.

I received the following order from Governor Tod, which I endeavored promptly to carry out :

Sir: You will, at your earliest convenience, proceed to Harper's Ferry, Va., and report my earnest request to the officer in command there that he afford you such facilities as are necessary to enable you to bring within the Union lines our distressed, starving, wounded and sick soldiers in the hospital at Winchester, Va.

DAVID TOD.

I immediately proceeded to Harper's Ferry and endeavored to comply with the instructions of the Governor. I found that the proper official to arrange a flag of truce was absent, having been summoned to Washington, D. C., I believe, to participate in the court-martial of General Milroy. I felt that relief should, if possible, be afforded immediately to our suffering and starving wounded and sick soldiers in the hands of the Confederates at Winchester. So I arranged a flag of truce of my own. Gen. McReynolds gave me

a detail of cavalry, and from the Quartermaster secured a few ambulances, and from the Sanitary Commission I secured a few pieces of white muslin, that answered as my flags of truce. Thus equipped I started for Winchester before sun-rise. The distance was thirty-two miles. We proceeded cautiously. It was reported to me that we would meet the Confederate picket line about four miles from Winchester.

Arriving at the place we expected to meet the Confederate pickets we inquired of some of the citizens, and were told that the pickets became alarmed at a report that Gen. McReynolds was making a raid upon Winchester with a cavalry force, and the pickets had gone from their line to the town. This made things look a little dubious, for our flags of truce would not bear close inspection-it was all in our white flags. We proceeded cautiously. Arriving in Winchester we found no military officer with whom to arrange; all had fled for fear of being captured by the supposed approach of Gen. McReynolds' cavalry. There was no time to be lost, so I conferred with several influential citizens, who advised me by all