This morning got up cold and stiff; not enough covering.
Pushed off in the direction pointed out by the darkey of yesterday. Have come
in the vicinity of negro shanties and laying in wait for some good benevolent
colored brother. Most too many dogs yelping around to suit a runaway Yankee.
Little nigs and the canines run together. If I can only attract their attention
without scaring them to death, shall be all right. However, there is plenty of
time, and won't rush things. Time is not valuable with me. Will go sure and
careful. Don't appear to be any men folks around; more or less women of all
shades of color. This is evidently a large plantation; has thirty or forty
negro huts in three or four rows. They are all neat and clean to outward
appearances. In the far distance and toward what I take to be the main road is
the master's residence. Can just see a part of it. Has a cupola on top and is
an ancient structure. Evidently a nice plantation. Lots of cactus grows wild
all over, and is bad to tramp through. There is also worlds of palm leaves,
such as five cent fans are made of. Hold on there, two or three negro men are
coming from the direction of the big house to the huts. Don't look very inviting
to trust your welfare with. Will still wait, McCawber like, for something to
turn up. If they only knew the designs I have on them, they would turn pale.
Shall be ravenous by night and go for them. I am near a spring of water, and
lay down flat and drink. The “Astor House Mess” is moving around for a change;
hope I won't make a mess of it. Lot of goats looking at me now, wondering, I
suppose, what it is. Wonder if they butt? Shoo! going to rain, and if so I must
sleep in one of those shanties. Negroes all washing up and getting ready to
eat, with doors open No, thank you; dined yesterday. Am reminded of the song: “What
shall we do, when the war breaks the country up, and scatters us poor darkys
all around.” This getting away business is about the best investment I ever
made. Just the friendliest fellow ever was. More than like a colored man, and
will stick closer than a brother if they will only let me. Laugh when I think
of the old darky of yesterday's experience, who liked me first rate only wanted
me to go away. Have an eye on an isolated hut that looks friendly. shall
approach it at dark. People at the hut are a woman and two or three children,
and a jolly looking and acting negro man. Being obliged to lay low in the shade
feel the cold, as it is rather damp and moist. Later.—Am in the hut and have eaten a good supper. shall
sleep here to-night. The negro man goes early in the morning, together with all
the male darky population, to work on fortifications at Fort McAllister. Says
the whole country is wild at the news of approaching Yankee army. Negro man
named “Sam” and woman “Sandy.” Two or three negroes living here in these huts
are not trustworthy, and I must keep very quiet and not be seen. Children
perfectly awe struck at the sight of a Yankee. Negroes very kind but afraid.
Criminal to assist me. Am five miles from Doctortown. Plenty of
"gubers" and yams. Tell them all about my imprisonment. Regard the
Yankees as their friends. Half a dozen neighbors come in by invitation, shake
hands with me, scrape the floor with their feet, and rejoice most to death at
the good times coming. “Bress de Lord,” has been repeated hundreds of times in
the two or three hours I have been here. Surely I have fallen among friends.
All the visitors donate of their eatables, and although enough is before me to
feed a dozen men, I give it a tussle. Thus ends the second day of my freedom,
and it is glorious
SOURCE: John L. Ransom, Andersonville Diary, p.
123-4
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