When Mr. Brown awoke from his drunken state in the night, and learned the sad news of Aunt Betty’s death, of which he had been the cause, he clasped his hands and cried out, “What! is it possible that my mamma Betty, the only mother I ever knew, was killed by my hands?” He ran into the room where the corpse was and clasped the remains of the old negress in his arms and cried, “Mamma Betty, mamma Betty, please speak to me as you used to.”  But that voice was hushed in death.

The doctor, overseer and others tried to quiet him, but they could not.  That night Mr. Brown took the train to Columbia, the capital of South Carolina, and gave himself up to the law next day.  He was told that it was all right; that the old negress was his slave.  But Mr. Brown was dissatisfied; he came back home and invited all the white neighbors and slaves to Aunt Betty’s funeral, in which he and his family took part.  After the excitement was over the message of Aunt Betty was delivered to Mr. Brown; he was told that her last request had been that he would meet her in heaven.  He answered, “I will.”  Mr. Brown then and there took an oath that he would drink no more strong drinks.  He then disposed of his slaves, but how I did not learn.  Soon after this he was converted and became one of the ablest preachers in Richland county, S.C.  Mr. Brown’s conversion freed Dr. Ray from his threat.  The doctor was so glad of this that he paid quite a large sum towards Mr. Brown’s salary for preaching.

CHAPTER III.—­MY EXPERIENCE IN THE CIVIL WAR.

My knowledge of the Civil War, extends from the time when the first gun was fired on Fort Sumter in April, 1861, to the close of the War.

While the slaves were not pressed into the Confederate service as soldiers, yet they were used in all the slave-holding states at war points, not only to build fortifications, but also to work on vessels used in the war.

The slaves were gathered in each state, anywhere from 6000 to 8000 or more, from different plantations, carried to some centre and sent to various war points in the state.

It would be impossible to describe the intense excitement which prevailed among the Confederates in their united efforts to raise troops to meet the Union forces.  They were loud in their expressions of the certainty of victory.

Many of the poor white men were encouraged by the promise of from three to five negroes to each man who would serve in the Confederate service, when the Confederate government should have gained the victory.

On the other hand, the negroes were threatened with an increase of the galling yoke of slavery.  These threats were made with significant expressions, and the strongest assumption that the negro was the direct cause of the war.

HOW SLAVES WERE GATHERED AND CARRIED TO WAR POINTS.