group of five hundred slaves were upon him.  Becoming cognizant that someone was upon him, he wheeled around in the darkness, with gun leveled at the approaching slaves and cried “Halt!” Will’s cousin then spoke up, “Doan shoot boss we’s jes friends.”  After recognizing who they were, they were admitted into the camp that was established around the bridge.  There were about seven thousand of General Sherman’s soldiers camped there, having crossed the Savannah River on a pontoon bridge that they had constructed while enroute from Green Springs Georgia, which they had taken.  The guard who had let these people approach so near to him without realizing their approach was court martialed that night for being dilatory in his duties.  The Federal officers told the slaves that they could go along with them or go to Savannah, a place that they had already captured.  Will decided that it was best for him to go to Savannah.  He left, but the majority of the slaves remained with the troops.  They were enroute to Barnswell, South Carolina, to seize Blis Creek Fort that was held by the Confederates.  As the Federal troops marched ahead, they were followed by the volunteer slaves.  Most of these unfortunate slaves were slain by “bush whackers” (Confederate snipers who fired upon them from ambush.) After being killed they were decapitated and their heads placed upon posts that lined the fields so that they could be seen by other slaves to warn them of what would befall them if they attempted to escape.  The battle at Blis Creek Fort was one in which both armies displayed great heroism; most of the Federal troops that made the first attack, were killed as the Confederates seemed to be irresistible.  After rushing up reinforcements, the Federals were successful in capturing it and a large number of “Rebels.”

General Sherman’s custom was to march ahead of his army and cut rights of way for them to pass.  At this point of the war, many of the slaves were escaping from their plantations and joining the “Yankees.”  All of those slaves at Black Swamp who did not voluntarily run away and go to the “Yankees” were now free by right of conquest of the Federals.

Will now found himself in Savannah, Georgia, after refusing to go to Barnswell, South Carolina, with the Federals.  This refusal saved him from the fate of his unfortunate brothers who went.  Savannah was filled with smoke, the aftermath of a great battle.  Lying in the “Broad River” between Beaufort, South Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia were two Union gun boats, the Wabash and Man O War, which had taken part in the battle that resulted in the capture of Savannah.  Everything was now peaceful again; Savannah was now a Union city.  Many of the slaves were joining the Union army.  Those slaves who joined were trained about two days and then sent to the front; due to lack of training they were soon killed.  The weather was cold, it was February, 1862, frost was on the ground.  Will