The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1880-06-11
A VERY STRANGE STORY.
HOW a NEGRO CONFEDERATE SPY WAS AR
RESTED AFTER TIE WAR AND SOLD
INTO SLAVERY N CUBA.

In 1863 says the Washington CNIiss.) Ga
zette, General PembertOn commanded at this
point. Colonel Hemingway owned a faith
full slave-Pey ton by uame-a noted negro
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, join
ed the old Carroll Rifles" he took Peyton
along as a trusted servant. He went with
him into Virginia and returned home in 1863.
In February or March Of that year a faithful
spy. was needed to visit the Federal gunboats
then coming down the river on Fort PembeT-
ton. PeytOn at once undertook the mission.
and representing himself as a fugitive slave
to the commanders Of the boats was well re-
ceiyed. Being bright far beyond ordinary,
he managed to secrete their official papers,
maps, etc, and escaped with these docu-
ments to Fort PembertOn. After the fall of
Vicksburg, in July following, Peyton went
with his young master again to Virginia,
where he remained until the surrender of
General Lee. The former being compelled
to remain a number Of days thereafter, in
order to comply with the formalities Of the
surrender, sent Peyton ahead of him to his
o
however, he was betrayed to the enemy by
some Confederate as the spy who had de-
ceIved them above Fort Pemberton, was cap
tured and carried in irons to New York, and
thence to Cuba, where he was sold as a slave,
together with many others. The vessel on
which he was taken was Federal gunboat.
In Cuba he worked as a slave in factories for
nearly fifteen years, being entirely cut of
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 Amer
lean vessel, commanded by a Soutnerner, to
whom he related the history Of his capture,
enslavement and forced exile, and begged to
be returned to his home and family. The
captain secreted him in the hold of his yes
sci, carried him to Costa Rica, thence to New
York. PeytOn then worked his way TO Viz
ginia, where q number Of ladies raised the
means to return him TO his home after an ab-
sence of seventeen years. He reached Wi
mona, Miss, on the 18th of April 1850. Pey-
ton says that numbers of mulatto women are
being sold in Cuba as slaves. Northern men
marry them, take them to Cuba con a bridal
tour, and there sell them as cooks and fan
tE ,HtI~H StINulllc llt saw one SOFA -i ltlll,
t by the man who married her for $500 and,
further, that as he came through Cincinnati
on bis way home he saw the man, and recog-
nized him, who sold her in Cuba. The facts
above given are from one Of the most relia-
bic and responsible gentlemen in Mississippi,
written to a distinguished member of Con
gress from that State. Closing his letter. he
says OF Peyton:
HE was delighted to again meet his wife.
who had married in his long absehce, though
her second husband was drowned several
months ago. Hence, he found her a widow.
With both husband and wife il was like q re-
turn from death to life. Pevton Is am eE-
cecdmrly intelligent negro, and saws he 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 he
or she can write to Captain b. T. Jones, Wi
mona, Miss, OF 10 C.Y. F. Ierriwoather, Oak
land, Talobusha county. same State.