killed in their attempt to come. The officers took charge of the mules
and carts, and sent the people to Island No. 10. Here I took a steamer
for Columbus.

After landing I saw a funeral procession of colored people, and a
number of officers and soldiers. I joined the procession, and learned
it was the only son of a slave mother who, two days previously, had
left their plantation. He had heard that colored men were accepted as
soldiers, and was exceedingly anxious to enlist. When they were nearly
half across the river their young master reached the bank and bade
them return or he'd shoot them; but the son pulled for the opposite
shore, when a ball passed through his right arm, breaking the bone
above the elbow. The mother took the oars and pulled with all her
might, when a second ball entered the lungs of the son. They were met
by a few of our soldiers, who took him from the skiff to the hospital,
where he received the best surgical attendance, but without avail.
Much sympathy was manifested in behalf of the bereaved mother, who was
left with two little girls. Bereavement was no new trial for her. Her
husband had been sold from her a few years before. I asked her if
these three children were all her family. "O, no, honey; I had two
big boys sold jus' afore the war. Don't know whar they went. An' now
my poor boy is shot dead by that young massa I nussed with my own boy.
They was both babies together. Missus made me nuss her baby, an' set
her little girl to watch me, fur fear I'd give my baby too much, no
matter how hard he cried. Many times I wasn't allowed to take him
up, an' now that same boy has killed mine," and she buried her face
in her faded calico apron until it was wet with tears. A soldier told
me a large company of them were only waiting permission from their
commander to go to that plantation and strip it. He said she seemed
to be such a nice woman; that they all felt so indignant they hardly