Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1880-07-24
AQUEER HISTORY.

HOW NEGRO OuNFEDEkATE St'f
WAS ARRESTED AFTER THE WAR AND
SOLD INTO SLAVERY IN CUBA.-In 1886
Gen. Pemberton commanded at this
point. Col. Hemingway owned afalth-
iul slave-Peyton by name, noted ne
gro fiddler, 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 old
"Carrol Rifles, he took Peyton along
as trusted servant. He went with
him into Virginia and returned home
in 1863. Ia February or March OF
that year ia thful spy was needed to
visit the Federal gunboats then coming
down the river on Fort PemGerton.
Peyton at once undertook the mission,
and representing himselfa as tugative
slave To the commanders of the boats
was well received Being bright fur
beyond ordinary, he manag gej to secrete
their officials papers, maps, ETC., and es-
capped with these documents to Fort
Pelnberton. After the fall of Nicks-
burg, in July following, Peyton went
with his young master again 10 Virgin
ia, where be remained until the surren
der of Gen. Lee. The former being
compelled to remain a number OF days
thereafter, in order to comply with the
formali,es OF the surrender sent. Pcyton
ahead Of him to his home, near Carroll
ton, Miss. GA his way, however, be
was betrayed to the enemy by some
Confederate as the spy who had deceiy
ed them above Fort Pemberton, was
captured and carried in mons to New
York, thence to Cuba, and sold as a
slave, together with many OILERS. The
vessel on which he was taken was
Federal gunboat. In Cuba he worked
as a slave in flctorics for nearly fifteen
years, being entirely cut off from all
communication with home pnd friends
He made seven attempts to escape bond
age, all but the last, of course, being
unsuccessful Finally he found an
American vessel commanded by south
erner, to whom he related the history
of his capture, enslavement and forced
exile, and begged TO be returned to his
nome and family The captain secre-
ted hlm in the hold OF his vessel, carried
him to Costa Itioa, thence to New
York. Peyton then worked his way 10
Virginia, where a number OF ladies
raised the means to return him to his
Eome after an absence. of seventeen
years He reached Winona, Miss, on
the ] 5th of April, 1880. Pcyton says
that numbers of nulatto women are be-
ing constantly sold in Cuba as slaves
Northern men marry them, take them
to Cuba "on bridal tour and there
sell them as cooks and fancy house ser
wants. lie saw one sold last fall by the
man who married her for $500; and
further, that as lie came through Gin
cinnati on his way home he saw the
man, and recognized him who sold her
in Cuba. Tho facts above given are
from one of the most reliable and re-
sponsiGle gentlemen in Mississippi,
written to distinguished member OF
Congress from that State. Closing his
letter, he says of Peyton:
ale was delighted 10 again mce: bis
wife, who had married in his long alb
sence, though her second husband was
drowned several months ago. Hence,
he found her widow. With both
husband and wife it was like return
to life from death. Peyton is an OK
ceedngly intelligent negro, and says
he can hardly realize the changes that
have taken place. lie left bis children
babes, and finds them married and with
children of their own--MississiPpi Pc