ooms and so forth, and returned to the charge, and
although we were driven back several times we stayed until we won out,
and the last insect lay a quivering mass on the ground. There was not
one among us, not wounded in some manner, as for myself I had enough of
it. My nose looked like a dutch slipper, and it was several days before
my eyes were able to perform the duties for which they were made.
However, the Union forces were victorious and we were happy. Our masters
told us if the soldiers caught us, they would hang us all, which had the
effect of keeping most of us close around home. Master had gone to join
Lee's forces, taking with him father, who was engaged in building forts,
which work kept him with the Confederate army until General Grant
arrived in the country, when he was allowed to come home. From then on
Union soldiers passed the neighborhood most every day on their way
south, to join the fighting regiments.

We soon found out they would not hurt us and they were the wonderment
and pride of our youthful minds. They would take everything they could
find to eat for themselves and horses, leaving the plantation stripped
clean of provisions and food, which entailed considerable misery and
hardships on those left at home, especially the colored people who were
not used to such a state of affairs, and were not accustomed to
providing for their own wants. Finally Lee surrendered and master
returned home. But in common with other masters of those days he did not
tell us we were free. And instead of letting us go he made us work for
him the same as before, but in all other respects he was kind. He moved
our log cabin on a piece of ground on a hill owned by him, and in most
respects things went on the same as before the war. It was quite a
while after this that we found out we were free and good news, like bad
news, sometimes travels fast. It was not long before all the slaves in
the surrounding country were celebrating their freedom. And "Massa
Lincoln" was the hero of us all.

[Illustration: Mother Making Ashcake]

While a great many slaves rejoiced at the altered state of affairs;
still many were content to remain as before, and work for their old
masters in return for their keep. My father, however, decided to start
out for himself, to that end he rented twenty acres of land, including
that on which our cabin stood, from our late master.

We were at this time in a most destitute condition, and father had a
v