on my knees and crawled to the fence, not daring to go openly, fearing that they might hear or see me and shoot, supposing me to be a spy.  I went back into the house and told my wife that they were Yankees who had just passed.  “Uncle George,” said I, “this would be a good time for us to go.”  “Oh, no,” said he, “we are not quite ready.”  Uncle George’s cabin was where my wife and I stayed while at old Master Jack’s.  In the morning I was to carry a parcel to Como, a place not far from home, to Mr. James McGee, who was in the rebel army.  It was not quite daylight when I made ready to go on my trip, for I was anxious to find out more about the soldiers.  Going to the stable and saddling my horse, I mounted and rode out to the big gate leading to the main road, just as day was dawning.  As I dismounted to open the gate, some soldiers were passing and an officer sung out to me, “Hello! which way are you going.”  I said “to Como, to carry this parcel of clothing to my young master in the war.”  “You have a fine horse,” said the officer, “I guess I will exchange horses with you.”  He took my package of clothing and some letters which I had to mail and my horse, leaving me his, which was a very poor animal.  I was badly scared at this performance, fearing that I would be severely whipped for the loss of the horse and package.  Yet how could I help it?  We knew nothing but to serve a white man, no matter what he asked or commanded.  As a matter of course, I did not go to Como, as I had nothing to take—­the officer had everything, but went back to the cabin.  I supposed that the soldiers had all passed; but in about half an hour Aunt Kitty, on looking out of her cabin window, exclaimed:  “My God! just look at the soldiers!” The yard was covered with the blue coats.  Another venerable slave said:  “My Lord! de year of jubilee am come.”  During the excitement I ran to the big house, and told the madam that the Yankees were there, and had taken my horse and every thing I had.  Old Master Jack had heard the news, but was not able to come out.  He had arisen, but, when he knew of the presence of the Yankees, he went back to bed, calling for Kitty to get him a mush poultice.  “Tell Kitty-ity-ity to get me a mush poultice-oltice.”  It was customary, after the beginning of the war, for him to take sick, and call for a poultice to be put upon his stomach whenever he heard of the Yankees being near.  He and many like him were especially valorous only when the blue coats were far away.  The soldiers went into the dairy and drank all the milk, helped themselves to butter, cheese, meat, bread and everything in sight which they wanted.  Nothing was said to them by the white folks, but the slaves were glad, and whispered to each other:  “Ah! we’s goin’ to be free.”  Old Master Jack, lying on his couch would ask every little while:  “Where are they?  Are they gone?” After they had all left the premises, he said; “My God!  I can’t stand it.  Them devils-evils are just goin’ through the country destroyin’ everything.”  I was sent down to get Uncle Peter for old master, and when Peter came up the old man asked:  “Well, did any of the servants go away?  And, sir, them devils took Louis’ horse and the clothes he had for his young master.”