The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1880-06-17
A VERY STRANGE STORY.
Washington (Miss. } Gazette.

In 1868 General Pemberton cons
manded at this point. Col. Hem
ingway owned faithful slave
Peyton by name, noted negro fd
dler, known for miles around, and
highly respected by both black and
white. When his young master, W.
Lynn Hemingway, at present state
treasurer Of Mississippi, joined the
ola Carol! Rifles he took Peyton
along as a trusted servant He
went with him into Virginia, and re-
turned home in 1868. In February
or March of that year a faithful spy
was needed to visit the Federal gum
boats then coming down the river on
Fort Pemberton. Peyton at once
undertook the mission, and repre-
senting himself as fugitive slave to
the commanders of the boats was
we'll received. Being bright, far
beyond ordinary, he managed to SCI
crete their official papers, maps, etc,
and escaped with these documents
to Fort Pemberton. After the fall
of Vicksburg, in July following,
Peyton went with his young master
again to Virginia, where be remain
ed until the surrender of Gen. Lee
The former being compelled to re~
main number of days thereafter,
in order to comply with tie formali>
ties of the surrender, cent Peyton
ahead of him to his home, near Car.
rollton, Miss. On his way, however,
he was betrayed to the enemy by
some Confederate as the spy who
had deceived them above Fort PEN
ton, was captured and carried in
irons to New York, thence to Cuba,
and sold as slave, together with
many others. The vessel on which
be was taken was a federal gunboat.
In Cuba be worked as a slave 10 fac
tories for nearly fifteen years, being
entirely cut off from all communica
ton with home and friends. He
made seven attempts to escape from
bondage, all but the last, of course,
being unsuccessful. Finally he found
an American vessel, commanded by
southerner, to whom he related the
history of his capture, enslavement
and forced exile, and begged to be
returned to bis home and family. -
The captain secreted him 10 the hold
of his vessel, carried him to Costa
RIGA, thence to New York, Peyton
then worked his way to Virginia,
where a number of ladies raised the
means to return him to his home at,
ter an absence of seventeen years,
He reached Winona, Miss , on the
9th of April, 1880 Peyton says
that numbers of mulatto women arc
being constantly sold 10 Cuba as
slaves. Northern men marry them,
take them to Cuba con bridal
tour" and 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 recognized him who sold her in
Cuba. The facts above given are
from one of the most reliable and re-
sponsibIe gentlemen in Mississippi,
written to distinguished member of
congress from that state. Closing
his letter, he says of Peyton
ale was delighted to again meet
his wife, who had married in his
long absence, though her second
husband was drowned some months
ago. Hence, he found her q widow
With both husband and wife it was
like a return to life from death. -
Peyton is an exceedingly intelligent
negro, and says that be can hardly
realize the changes that have taken
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 be or she can write to Capt.
B. F. Jones, Winona, Miss, or to
G. Y. f. Meriwether, Oakland,
YalobuSha county, same State.