The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-05-11

"Well. Mrs Slater, If you will kindly give
me the directions for finding the place. we VIII
60 there and see if we can't find him.
"Oh, that would never do in the world for
if you did not find him right there at first,
the Moodeys would tell him, and you never
would catch him in the world. Moodey is a
Yankee, same as Myers, only he is from Penn
sylvania and Myers from Jersey. No, that
would not do at ALL" Suddenly she said 4:
Look here. Captain; how is it they sent you
down here to find him, and he in Richmond
himself nearly all day, and you from North
Carolina too. and don't know anything about
/ the country? Why, you would not be able to
! find MoOdey's house if you were to try; and
! they could have sent so many men who know
! the country. Say, Captain, how did you get
! to my house?"
II came right down the road"
How did you pass the pickets?"
"What pickets do you meau?"
"Why. the reserves, about 100 yards above
my gate"
! We were both glad to find that out. Putting
on all the dignity / could muster, with as
much hauteur as / could possibly assume,
sternly said: Mrs. Slater, has not the war
been going on nearly fonr years, and have
you not learned by this time that q soldier
when he receives an order from his superior
officer, has buu one thing to do obey it? Now
can't say why Myers is wanted in Richmond
what he has done, or why he is wauted.s /
know nothing. ! simply know that Gen.
Winder the Provost Marshal General of the
Confederacy, ordered me about shutdown to
come down here and bring Myers to Richmond
with me- Why ] was sent on the crrand
know not Why he did not send some one who
knew the country better than we do it is i'm
possible for me to say Your Institutions as 10
how we passed the pickets lead me to suspect
you don't believe what / have told you. / sup
posed VIC were talking with woman with in
tall u-h to off of
Gen. Winder's rank and ability would not send
man off on an GRAND of that Kind without
papers that would pass him anywhere. and that
is what have got. Perhaps had better show
them to you. and possibly, after seeing them.
you viii believe have not been telling you
pack of lies. Sergeant, have you match?"
No, Captain"
Have you any way of striking a light, Mrs.
Slater?"
She had wlted. and assured us that she had
80 doubt at all but we were just what repre-
sealed ourselves 10 be- We both wanted to get
away, and an idea struck me BIZ which we
could make disnifed retreat and ] said %
want both of you ladies to hold up your right
hands and take oath not to reveal 10 soul.
neither father, mother. brother, sister, hus-
band, or lover, or any other person. that have
been here tonight inquiring for Myers,
20 Myers himself if you should see him before
| do" They both took the oath, and Carney
ana ieit Tor f1eXaiI & Landing.
About 20 minutes after we left. Myers drove
up to the gate, and Mrs. Slater and Betty had
race from the house TO the gate to see which
should tell him first TO " Look out for Capt.
Phillips. OF the 9th n. C. Cav" who was look
ing for him.
We got to the landing and went aboard of
our steamer. which had been tied TO the wharf
all OF the time we were gone. and ran down TO
City Point, which we reached before daylight.
Alter sleep reported to Col Sharpe and got
papers from him TO take any negro / might
find at Bermuda Hundreds working for a
Quartermaster, provided ! found Que willing
To go with me.
BY calling upon the Harbor master we could
always get steamboat or tug to take us any
where wished TO 20. After call on him
went over to Bermuda Hundreds, and went TO
the house of family who had lived there all
through the war As / expected, | found an
old colorcd man who had remained at home all
the time The first question ] asked him was
if he knew any col0red men who had rpfugeed
from Charles City County. aud pointing toward
Malvern Hill, saving, " from this part Of the
County" After studying a few moments. me
said he knew several from tie County and one
from just across the river ahout fonr or i've
mites back. he SAID he was a free man and al
ways had been, and was at work for Quarter
master down at the wharf unloading oats from
the schooner lying there. Bringing him along
we went down to the wharf vas and stood where
we conld see all the hands pass uutii nearly 200
had gone by. each one carrying bag of grain.
Then he pointed to one of them, saying:
That is the man you want TO see"
" What is this mans name" | asked?
Lghtfoot Charles" he repicd.-JUDsON
KNIGHT, Postofiee Department. Washington,
d. c.
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