Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1880-06-29
MIs scELLAHE0 us.
A Very Strange Story.
tvashinrton (a,is,, c,zo,,,

l""en'aEton NAliSn. } GRzettc.1
this point. Col Hemingway owned a faith
tul slave-Peyton by name. a noted negro
fiddler, known for miles around. and b;gb,v
respected by both black and whito. When
MS young master, w. Lynn Hemingway. AZ
present State Treasurer Of Mississippi .ioined
tue ola Carol Rifles, " he took Peyton along
as trusted servant Ee went with Sim
INTO virginia and returned home in 1863
In February or March of that year n faithful
spy was needed to visit the Federal cunboats
then coming down the river on Fort Penn
nerton. Peyton at once undertook the mis-.
sion, and representing himself rs a fugitive
save TO the commanders of the boats. was
wei received. Being bright far beyond
oroinary, he managed to secrete their official
papers, maps, &c., and escaped with these
documents to Fort Pemberton. After the
'aii OF Yicksburg, in July following, Peyton
went with his young master aeain to Vir-
ginia, where be remained until tho snrran
der of Gen. Leo. Tho former beine cam.
PEELED to remain number of DAYS The reafter
In order to comply with tho formali,ies Of
the surrender, sent Peyton ahead of him Ia
MS home, near Cnrrollton, Miss. On his
way however, he was betrayed to the enemy
6y some Confederate as tho spy who had
deceived them above Fort Pemberton VAC
captured and carried in irons to New York
thence to Cuba and sold as slave. toootber
with many others. The vessel on which he
was taken was Federal gunboat. In Cuba
he worked as slave in factories for nearly
htteen years, being entirely cnt off from ali
communication with home and friends. He
MADE seven attempts to escape from bondage.
an Dut the last, OF course, being unsuccess-
'u'' finaiiy, he found an American vessel
hU -
lated the story of bis capture, ensIayement
and recent exile. and begged to be returned
to his home and family. The captain score,
ted him in the hold of his vessel carried hin,
to Costa Rica, thence to New York. Pevtop
then worked his way TO Virginia, where a
number OF ladies raised the means to return
MIN TO his home after an absence of seven
teen years. lie reached Winona, Miss. on
the 18th of April, 1880. Peyton saw. that
numbers of Eulatto women arc being CON.
stantiy sold in Cuba as slaves. Northern
men marry them, take them to Cuba ION a
bridal tour" and sell them as cooks and
fancy house servants. He saw one sold last
Fail, by the man who married her. for $500
and further. that as he came through Gin.
cinnatl ON his way home he saw the man and
recognized him, who sold her in Cuba. The
facts given are from one of the most reliable
49,. seot'euen In hIssippI, writ
ten to distinguished member of Congress
froT that State. Closing his letter, he said
of Peyton:
HE 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 widow,
with both husband and wife IL was like ,
return to life from death. Peyton is an ex>
ceedingly intelligent negro, aud says he can
hardly realize the changes that have taken
place He left his children babies aud finds
them married and with children OF their
own"
If any one doubts the truth of .hi. story.
he or she can write to Captain B. F. Jones.
WInona, Miss. or to o. F. Merrivether'
Oakland, Yalobusha county, same STATE