George and I drove up to the first cabin, which was my wife’s and Kitty’s, we ran in.  Kitty met us at the door and said:  “I am all ready.”  She was looking for us.  We commenced loading our wagon with our few things.  Meanwhile the soldiers had ridden around a few rods and came upon old Master Jack and the minister of the parish, who were watching as guards to keep the slaves from running away to the Yankees.  Just think of the outrage upon those poor creatures in forcibly retaining them in slavery long after the proclamation making them free had gone into effect beyond all question!  As the soldiers rode up to the two men they said:  “Hello! what are you doing here?  Why have you not told these two men, Louis and George, that they are free men—­that they can go and come as they like?” By this time all the family were aroused, and great excitement prevailed.  The soldier’s presence drew all the servants near.  George and I hurried to fill up our wagon, telling our wives to get in, as there was no time to lose—­we must go at once.  In twenty minutes we were all loaded.  My wife, Aunt Kitty and nine other servants followed the wagon.  I waited for a few moments for Mary Ellen, sister of my wife; and as she came running out of the white folks’ house, she said to her mistress, Mrs. Farrington:  “Good-bye; I wish you good luck.”  “I wish you all the bad luck,” said she in a rage.  But Mary did not stop to notice her mistress further; and joining me, we were soon on the road following the wagon.

* * * * *

Two brave men.

Those soldiers were brave indeed.  Think of the courage and daring involved in this scheme—­only two soldiers going into a country of which they knew nothing except that every white man living in it was their enemy.  The demand which they made for food for seventy-five horses was a clever ruse, invented by them to alarm the McGees, and make them think that there was a troop of horses near by, and that it would not be safe for them to offer any resistance to our going away with our wives.  Had they thought that there were but two soldiers, it is certain that they would have endeavored to prevent us getting away again, and one or more of us would undoubtedly have been killed.

As already stated, nine other slaves followed our wagon, as it moved off.  They had no hats on; some were bare-footed,—­they had not stopped to get anything; but, as soon as they saw a chance to get away, they went just as they were at the moment.  Aunt Kitty was brave and forethoughtful, for during the week we were gone she had baked and cooked a large amount of substantial food that would keep us from starving while on our journey.