The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-07-04
A VERY sTR.NGE STORY.
How Negro Confederate Spy was Ar
rested After the War, and sold into
slavery i'm Cuba,
WASHINGTON Gazette.


In 1863, Gen. Pemberton commanded at
this point, Col. Hemingway owHeda faith
full slave-Peyton by name, noted negro
fiddler known for miles around, and highly
respected by both black ami white. When
his young master, w. Lynn Hemingway, at
present state treasurer of Mississippi, joined
the old Carroll Rifles" he took Peyton
along as trusted servant. He went with
him into Virginia and returned in 1868. In
February or March of that year faithful
spy was needed to visit the federal gunboats,
then coming down the river on Fort Pember-
ton. Peyton at once undertook the mission,
and representing himself rs fugitive slave
from the commanders Of the boats, was well
received. Being bright far beyond ordinary,
he managed to secreto their official papers,
maps, etc, and escape with these docu-
ments to Fort Pemberton. After the
fall Of Vicksburg, in July following,
Peyton went with his young master again 10
Virginia, where he remained until the sur
render of General Lee. The former being
compelled to remain u number of days
thereafter, in order to comply with the for
malities of the surrender sent Peyton
ahead of him to his home, near Carrullton,
Miss. On his way, however, he was BETRAYED to
the enemy by some Coniederates rs the spy
who had deceived them above Fl. Pember-
ton, was captured and carried in irons to New
York, thence to Cuba and sold AS a slave,
together with many others, TIL vessel on
which he was taken was Federal gunboat.
ln Cuba he worked as slave in factories
for nearly fifteen years, being entirely cut off
from all communication with home and
friends He made seven attempts to escape
from bondage, all but the last, of course, be-
ing unsuccessful. Finally he found an
American vessel, commanded by south.
erner, to whom he related the history of his
capture, enslavement AMI forced exile, and
begged to be returned 10 his home and fam
lily. The captain secreted him in the hold
of his vessel, carried him to Costa Rica,
thence to New York. Peyton then worked
his way TO Virginia, where number of la
dies raised the means TO return him to his
home after an absence of seventeen years.
He reached Winona, Miss, on the 18th of
April, 1880. Peylon says that numbers of
mulatto women are being constantly sold in
Cuba as slaves Northern men marry them,
toke tutlil 10 SuDh ION u uTluul TOUR, ana
there sell them as cooks and fancy house
servants He saw one sold last fall by the
man who married her, for $500; and further,
that as he came through Cincinnati on his
way home he saw the man, and rec gnized
him, who sold her in Cuba. The facts above
given are from one of the most reliable and
responsible gentlemen in Mississippi, writing
to II distinguished member of congress from
that state Closing his letter, he says of
Pevton:
Ale was delighted to again meet his wife,
who had married in his long absence, though
her second husband was drowned several
months ago. Hence he found her a widow
With both husband and wife it was like
return to life from deah. Peyton is IN ex-
ceedingly intelligent negro, and says he can
hardly realize the changes that have tax
place. He left his children babes and finds
them married and with children of their
own"
If any one doubts the truth of this story
he or she can write to Captain B. +. Jones,
Ninona, Mississippi, or to Q. y f. Merri-
wether, Oakland, Yalobusha county, same
state.