Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-01-16

backward at the suggestion Of John de Baptis' hymn
was sung to raise his spirits after which, Henry said -
When a slave ives afraid TO speak ~ Linkn name
Get whipped Two Of my children sent south. hut
had faith in God and the Union army. sorrow down 70
the bottom Of my heart when Union eoicrs defeated
but had faith In the Lord. Knew II he had sent the u
Mon army he would cause 'em TO triumph When the
army come Fredericksburg had my family, with
seven children and OK team, TO come over Couldn get
lost my steers but trusted in de Lord Nailed
some planks togedder made raft, put uh on the
raft put three Of my little children in called out 10 u
Mon sentry not TO shoot aud fetch them children cross
to their mudder Went back five times aud fetch my
family all over, thank the Lord When the secesh ask
me which army like the best J say " the army that
treats me the best" Made up mind live or die t. cum
over. Had to leave everything had behind. but knew
that the great | Am who gave me all, would give me
Left four feahcrbeds and hog that weighed 500
My wife ho SHIELD have To go down souf but bre.s God
she's here. feel like working now. cause II get a
cent or two It's my own "
A, the sueeesu N of John de Bapiis they dropped
hime, and Robert Peyton aman nearly blind, spoke
The Lord he said had been good aud kind la Virginia
prayed that God would show his miraculous works,
like he showed to Moses and the children NJ Israel in
Egypt and he thanked God that " them had seen
his works. lie had prayed for the chains 20 knocked
of and he thanked God that the prayer had been heard
John de Baptis-"Wc hab got de victory obef death"
George Payne, tall, good looking conuabaud, from
London county Va said that his wife aud children were
living away from his masters place, and he Described the
cruelty prcticed towards her Many time had she been
compelled 10 drop her child IN his while he set in
and tears and 10 attend the child Of her
mistress lie would say that his master was kind Civ
miles 20 his wife but when he reached them 10 WAS
enough TO melt the heart them the children max
ed aud almost without food Many and many nights he
had set up tll twelve o'clock making the basket and
broom, in order to get money to keep his family from
suffering lie had heard that his wife aud children had
been sold by the master aud II he met hun again
he would kill him or get them he grieyed To think of
his children.
His heart had thumped when the proclamation be-
ing read, wondering IT London was included Thanks
be to God London Is free Bless that they call Mr..
Lincoln Tor such glorious proclamation. They could
remember many days when they weht TO the field with
little or nothing 10 eat "John de Bap'is Eat herring
from the brine tub y Fori two-third Of the year they
had not had enough to eat.
When they commenced to thrash wheat and il was
found that the hog which had been Killed spot, It
said the negroes would be glad to eat it, and would
be dealt out US As TOT wheat bread, sugar would
come before It, But when the mold got 20 be inch
thick the bread they would deal IL out They
let us eat what sow,d in the hed. Amt glad Nc
more vhippingi no more hand cullng more dog
hauling no selling TO Georgia; no more selling
wives, no more gettn shut Of our chill for are nee
mean preshiate this freedom while 1 live. Let "a.
join hand IN hand, aud heart in heart in giving thanks
for tins blessed thing
Richmond will be taken for God had said IT, f'M-n.
m, ali m-m m-m, ali ~ Let as fight the field oil
battle while there is breath in bodies Blessed b,
God we now standing under the protection Of the
United states. God put IN the heart II the President
TO make MS freemeu aud now ready to fight fol
that freedom. shall high, for myself and my
money.
The Osscublagc then sanga "breaking song" an,
dispersed.