On the following trip to Savannah I met G. W. Kelley and Dr. G. L.
Mason, on the same errand, viz. hauling cotton to market. After having
disposed of the same we reloaded our teams in merchandise, which was
easily disposed of, as the country was in need of everything that could
add to the comfort or even necessities of the people. The country being
in the condition it was, we were glad to travel together for company's
sake. So in the evening we left and camped about twelve miles out of the
city. As a rule one of the party ought to have been on guard, but such
was not the case that night. About midnight I awoke and found two of my
mules gone. I noted also that the line with which they were attached had
been cut with a sharp knife. Following the tracks they led back into the
city. So I left my partner at Savannah on the lookout while I went my
way back to Sandersville, minus two mules. I managed to buy two more
mules to fill out my team. I had to take what was offered to me, at any
price, my partner, after remaining several days at Savannah, recognized
one of the mules in charge of a negro. He called for the police and had
the negro arrested. There being no legal judge, the case was carried
before a captain of one of the military companies stationed there. The
negro proved by a confederate that this mule was in his possession long
before my partner claimed it was stolen, thus setting up an alibi,
without proving as to where he got her from. My partner failed to get
the mule and had to pay about $8.00 costs for his trouble, which was all
the cash he had with him. Later the firm received a bill for $5.00 more
cost but I paid no attention to it and never heard of it any more.
Under the advice of their instructors, the blacks were going and coming.
The road to Savannah was traveled by them at night as well as by day.
Most of them were making for the cities. Savannah was the goal for those
in this section. One evening on my way I stopped my team within eighteen
miles this side of the City. Mr. Guerry, who was a fairly well to do
farmer for those days and conditions, near to whose domicile I camped,
buying some corn and fodder from him to feed my team, also such
provisions for myself as he had for sale. At break of day we had left on
our weary journey; on my return a day or so afterwards I passed his
premises and to keep from walking I had bought me an extra mule. As I
rode up I noticed Mr. Guerry and three of his sons in a pen, ready to
kill hogs. It was on a Friday, in the month of December, 1865. It was a
clear, beautiful, cold day. I greeted them, Good morning, gentlemen,
this is a beautiful day to kill hogs. Without noticing my greeting, one
of them said, "This is the fellow," when the old fellow picked up his
gun from the fence corner and raising the same exclaimed, "You are the
d----d fellow that took off our cook." I was completely taken by
surprise, and the first word I spoke I said, "You lie", and I jumped off
my mule and drew my pistol. My neighbors say they saw her follow your
wagon the day after you camped here the night before. I said, In fact we
caught up with a negro woman about two miles from here carrying a large
bundle on her head, and she asked my driver if she could put her
incumbrance on the wagon. I said, No, my mules have all they can pull,
and are jaded already. In fact that was all the words that passed
between her and me and up to about 10 o'clock a. m. she was either
walking in front or behind the team, carrying her luggage. I did not
know where she came from nor where she was going. I supposed she was on
her way to Savannah, like the rest of them. I guess you see them pass
here daily. He said, some of my neighbors told me they saw her behind
your wagon. Just at that moment Messrs. L. D. Newsome and Seaborn
Newsome and Alex Brown drove up, hauling cotton to Savannah. I was glad
to see them. Hello boys, you of Washington County come in good time.
Here are some fellows accusing me of stealing their negro cook. They
said at once, Oh, no! You got hold of the wrong fellow. We know him, he
comes from our county and would not do such a thing. He is a Confederate
soldier and fought all through the war. Then I said, Mr. Guerry, let us
reason together. You have always treated me clever when I passed here. I
have never entered your yard. I always paid you for what you sold to me.
The negroes are free and they are thought to migrate. I had no rights to
stop the woman on her journey, but had I known that she was your servant
I would have talked to her and advised her to go back where she belongs.
Mr. Guerry seemed to regret his hasty words and begged my pardon, and
insisted on all of us, to go into the house for refreshments. We finally
shook hands and parted good friends.