Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1864 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XVIII. The Slave's Ruse--The Richmond Enquirer--President's Proclamation--A Negro Prayer--A "Big Bug"--A Casibianca--Death of Mr. Eckles--Thoughts and Plans of Escape--Lieutenant Pittenger. The next day after this occurrence, as I fas walking in the yard, a negro, who worked in the prison, slyly pulled me as I was passing him, and exclaimed in an under-tone: "All us darkies gwine to be free, yah! yah!" "What ?" asked I, taking care to avoid being seen by the guards. "Why, all us nigs gwine to be free, yah !. yah! gin us yer coat, massa!" I fully understood this coat business, as the reader must be aware from an explanation previously given, but, as I had no coat myself, I went to Captain McCormick, my messmate, and got his. It very fortunately had a long rip in the right sleeve. "Here, nigger," cried I, in loud tones, "can't you get this coat mended?" "Mended !" exclaimed the intelligent fellow, in assumed tones of wrath, intended for the guards. "I wish dar wus no Yankees! dere more bodder den dar wuff! good deal!" "Go get it mended for him, you black skunk!" exclaimed one of the guard, "and make him pay well for't." "Dat's jes what dis yere nigger'll do, I golly!" The coat was taken roughly away by the negro, and returned the next morning, with the rip mended, and a copy of the Richmond Enquirer, containing the President's Emancipation Proclamation, artfully concealed in the lining/ The paragraph was carefully marked all around, and its perusal gave me the utmost delight. I dared not tell even my most intimate friends how I got this paper, for there were spies among us to report us. I felt restive under the curb that kept my tongue still, but the thought rose to comfort me, that, though they bound me in the chains of a slave, ...
