Griffin's Landing,
October 3, 1863.
To-day one of the pilots and engineers induced the colonel
and me go with them over to the Arkansas side. We went over in the yawl, and
after a walk of three miles came to a most delightful place owned by
Worthington. His son and daughter, bright quadroons, did the honors of the
house in his absence. They are the best educated persons of color I ever met.
The young man was educated in France and the young woman in Oberlin, Ohio. She
played the piano quite well and sings beautifully. A negro lady is something of
a novelty, and if I did not conduct myself exactly right in her presence, I
think I am somewhat excusable, for I could see the others were equally puzzled.
She is well informed, sensible and talks with animation, using very pretty
language. She furnished us with peach brandy and honey, a gentle mixture of
which produced a very nice toddy. We then moved on some three miles further to
the Bass plantation, where we found two of the regular snuff-dipping, swearing,
Southern women, of the low, white-trash family. Had lots of fun with them. Got
a couple of dozen chickens and a bushel of sweet potatoes of them and started
back. Our road lay along a lake and at any minute we could get a shot at
cranes, geese, ducks or turtles. A drove of wild turkeys also furnished us with
a half dozen shots, but with all the expenditure of powder and lead, our
consciences are clear of hurting anything. Got back to Worthington's for dinner
at 3 p. m., and to the boat at dark. Altogether one of the most pleasant days I
have passed in the army.
SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an
Illinois Soldier, p. 195
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