_March 13._ I had the sick people to visit, and C. was going over to
the _Kingfisher_, our blockader, for coal-tar to plant corn with, so
he went to the field and I was to make my professional calls for the
Doctor, and meet him at the Creek at the nigger-house to take the row
with him. Just as I came out of school, however, two officers of an
Illinois regiment rode up to look about and see what they could see,
and asked if they could have food for man and beast. So I left orders
for some lunch, dressed, and started on my tour. I went through the
quarters--not a man was to be seen. There lay the boat, and the women
were coming in from their work, but said the men would not come till
the officers had gone--they were afraid of being taken. C. had to beg
the officers to go off the plantation, for he could not get his crew.
Not a man sleeps at night in the houses, except those too old to be
taken. They have made a camp somewhere and mean never to be caught.
There is no question that they can hide; a slave here hid himself for
two years on one of the little islands, though the whole district was
after him; he finally came out himself.