Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1888-10-04
SOLDIERS DEPARTMENT.
AFFECTING MEETING.
An Ex-Confederate Colonel Discovers His
Former Slaves In Toledo, o.

sat quietly enjoying a dish of straw
berries in Colonel Casebeer's cafe. The
reporter stepped up to the gentleman
and, being recognized as a former ac-
quaintance, was greeted with that warm
cordially which is characteristic of the
Southerner. Upon being questioned as
to the purpose of his visit to this city
the gentleman said that he was looking
for his old family slave, who, until the
beginning of the war, had presided over
the culinary department of his planta-
ton. She left his household few days
after the emancipation proclamation,
with several other colored people on
the place, in the mad intoxication of
the knowledge that they were free, and
had been seen but once afterward-at
the battle Of Lookout Mountain, where
the Colonel-for that was his rank
had been wounded The woman found
him lying on the field in pool of blood,
too weak to move himself. She carried
her old master in her arms to the hos
pital and placed him in care of the
| CulOu EOlultIb dlltIitd w MIN
daily. One day, however, she was
missed, and the Colonel has not seen
her since.
He had made every effort to find the
woman or some of her family, but no
clew TO their whereabouts could be
learned until recently, when the Colonel
heard through an acquaintance of hers
that she was in Toledo year or more
ago. He came to this city at once and
was about to begin search for her
when the reporter met him. The news
gatherer offered his services in assist
ing the gentleman in his search, and, |
after consulting a directory, the two /
proceeded to the location given. Upon |
inquiring at the place it was found that |
the woman had moved, and they were
directed to a small house in the Fourth |
ward, near the Glover Leaf track.
The gray-haired Colonel trembled
as he raped at the door, and was so
filled with emotion that he could
scarcely speak when the door was open
ed by n large colored woman consider
ably advanced in years.
lis this Mrs. -?" inquired the
gentleman, but he scarcely had the words
uttered when the old woman uttered
cry, "Massa," and threw her big arms
about his neck, while the tears poured
in torrents down her ebony cheeks.
The scene was extremely affecting.
The old colored woman laughed and
cried and shouted.
''Oh, Nasal Oh, Nasal Use power
full glad to see yeah" and she Rugged
him again and again, and though the
gentleman endeavored to free himself
from her, he could not do so for several
minutes. Finally she loosened her
grasp and cried: ''Alissus-tell me
bout missus. Am she wellP An de
chillen? Marse Walter is he live?
Oh! do let me see missus, an den dis
old niggah wants ter die. Oh, de deb ,
BILE! Use too pow'ful happy | kin
shout! Glory! Gloryr' And then there
came another fit of laughing and shout
ing, bordering on Mysteries.
BY this time the house was filed with
darkies of all sizes and shades, male
and female, gazing with wonder at the
aged gentleman, as he received his silk
hat from the reporter, who picked it up !;
when it fell at the first rush to arms.
A short, thick set old colored man wob-
oled forward with the assistance of a i,
zane, and held out his hand to the guest
md could only mutter: "Marse -
'epeating his name. He sat upon a
hair near by ard wept like child.
1t was several minutes before the ex-
element could be subsidized enough for
The woman would not
wait for answers to her questions. but
poured them out as fast as her tongue
'ould utter them. She looked inquir-
ngly at the reporter and started to I
embrace him, thinking him one of the :
grown-up children of her old master. '
,ut the reporter saved himself Just in
ime by saying: mo, auntie, | live in Fl
Toledo and simply helped Colonel - ]
ind you" o
1t was nearly fifteen minutes before Il
he gentleman was able to state that he
lad been trying TO find his old slaves c
ver since the war. He wanted them a
o go back with him. and told them to s.
ret themselves ready to leave with him fl
he next evening for the old plantation. a
he old servant told her story. She
Tas assisting Union soldiers in the hos 4
itals when she found her master lying Il
n the field at Lookout Mountain. She II
to him as long as she could. I
ut was finally compelled to leave him. c,
When she left they told her that he was
and would soon die. She a,
card afterward that he was dead, and. ~
hough she tried to find her mistress r
fter the war, she never learned where te
he lady moved to. She and her hus- W
and, unlike many slaves, found each
Their, and have lived with their chill
rem in a town in Georgia until a year ss
go, when they got as far as Toledo :.