idable forces of the enemy in the West.
The army of Papson now went into Winter quarters at different points
which were thought necessary to be garrisoned.

"Peter, by this time, was growing very weak, having had a relapse,
resulting in a very serious hemorrhage. At his request I had telegraphed
Gen. Papson, stating his great desire to see Gen. Anderson. Upon the
receipt of which, leave was immediately granted the General and he came
home, bringing Lieut. Whitcomb with him. On the way home people greeted
him everywhere with shouts of joy. They could now see that the end was
near, and they were overflowing with gratitude and good feeling.

"On their arrival you can imagine the joy of our household. The meeting
between him and Peter was most touching. Both wept like children. All
were much affected; even the two little children wept and sobbed aloud
at the bedside of their Uncle Peter. My wife was quite feeble. She
greeted the General as one of her own sons, and said:

"'Our dear Peter is not going to live. I see it all, and I pray God that
he may take me also.'

"The General encouraged Peter all he could. Ham and Aunt Martha were as
delighted to see the General as were any of his family. We all tried to
be cheerful and in good spirits, but it was very hard to do this under
the circumstances.

"The next day after the General reached home he inquired of Ham why he
did not return to the army. Ham said:

"'I fuss done thought I would, and den I knowed I be no use, kase you so
far off, and I feared I not jes' safe gwine trough dem Sesh lines down
dar; and den I knowed, too, dat you kin git as many niggers as you wants
dat am jes' as good as Ham is, 'ceptin when you done wants good tings
to eat, sech like as chickens. Ham can allers get dem when dey is 'round
and skeered of the Sesh. I all de time noticed dey is powerful feared ob
de Sesh', Marsa Lyon. De General know dat am so.'

"'Well, Ham, you must be ready to go back with me when I return.'

"'Oh, yes, Marsa; oh, yes! I go all right; I will, sho' as you is bawn.
But I tells you dat Marsa Peter am powerful bad, he am, sho'. I dream it
all out las' night. Missus, she be right in dat. He be agoin' dis time,
and no mistake. Dat dream ob de Missus be all come 'round.'

"'That will do, Ham; you go and talk to Aunt Martha about your dreams.'

"'All right, Marsa, all right, sah; but you mine what I tole you.'

"The next day Joseph Dent came in, and we had a long conver