The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1880-06-23
A Very Strange Story.
HOW A NEGRO CONFEDERATE SPY WAS Az
RESTED AFTER THE WAR. AND .OTp
INTO SLAVERY IN CUBA
Washington u. e Gazette. ]

Washington ID. c. Gazette
In 1868, Gen. Pembarton commanded a,
this point Col. Hemingway owned faith
iul slave-Peyton by name a noted negro
hddler known for miles around and highly
respected by both black and white When
ms young master, w Lynn Hemingway. I'd
present State Treasurer OF VI issis-ippi. Joined
the old Carroll Rifles" he took pevtor
along As trusted servant. He went with
hlm INTO Virginia and returned home in
| 1868. In February or March of that wear
a faithful spy was needed To visit the Fed
eral gunooats then coming down the river
on ort Pemberton. Peyton at once under
! LOOK the mission, and representing himself
| As fugitive slave 10 the commanders III thg
/ boats was well received Being bright far
| beyond ordinary, he managed ID secete their
oincial papers, maps. etc and escaped with
| these documents 10 Fort Pembertau After
the tall of Nicksburg. in July following
Heyton went with his Young master again
10 Virginia, where he remained until th,
surrender OF Gen. Lee. The former being
compelled to remain 4 number of DAYS
thereafter, IN order to comply with the for
mailtles of the surrender sent Peytan ahead
OF HIM 10 his home, near Carrollton. Miss
On his way however, he was betrayed 10 the
enemy by some Confederate rs the spy who
had deceived them above Fort Pemherton
was captured and carried in irons to New
FORK, thence 10 Cuba, and sold rs slave
together with many others The vessel on
which he was taken was a Federal sunhoat
In Cuba he worked as a slave in factoric,
for nearly fifteen years, being entirely cut
OF from all communication with home and
friends. lie made seven attempts 70 escape
from bondage, ali but the last, OF course. be-
ing unsuccessful. Finally he found am
American vessel commanded by a South,
ener, TO whom he related the history Of al,
capture, enslayement and forced exile. and
begged TO be returned To his home and fam
lily. The captain secreted him in the hold
OF his vessel, carried him 10 Costa Rica.
thence to New York. Peyton then worked
his way to Virginia, where a number of la
dies raised the means to return him to his
home after an absence of Il years. He
reached Winona, Miss. on the 9th of April.
1880 Peyton says that numbers of muat-
TO women are being constantly sold in Gu b
pa as slaves. Northern men marry them y
take them to Cuba ION a bridal tour" and b
there sell them as cooks and fancy house &
servants. lie saw one sold last fall, by the
man who married her, for 5000 and further. |.
hat As he came through Cincinnati on his =
way home he saw the man, and recognized i
nm, who sold her in Cuba. The facts above hi
given are from one of the most reliable and D.
esponSlble gentlemen in Mississippi writ q
en- TO distinguished member of Congress, -
rom that State. Closing his letter, he says n.
# Peyton: n
9 He was delighted to again meet his wife, s
Who had married in his long absence; though ri
lei second husband was drowned several e,
months ago. Hence, he found her a widow VI
With both husband and wife it was like T.,
eturn to life from death. Peyton is an ex- e.
eedIngly intelligent negro, and says he can o.
drdIy realize the changes that have taken hJ
lace He left his children babes, and finds be
lem married and with children of their pa
wn." GO
If any one doubts the truth of this story W,
e or she can write to Captain b. f. Jones, re-
mona, Miss, or to G. Y. F. Merriwether, be
akland, Halobusha county, same State