Life in the Confederate Army: Being Personal Experiences of a Private Soldier in the Confederate Army, and Some Experiences and Sketches of Southern Life — John Shaqi
Life in the Confederate Army: Being Personal Experiences of a Private Soldier in the Confederate Army, and Some Experiences and Sketches of Southern LifeFord, Arthur Peronneau
History
Life in the Confederate Army: Being Personal Experiences of a Private Soldier in the Confederate Army, and Some Experiences and Sketches of Southern Life
Ford, Arthur Peronneau
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives, Confederate
"Being asked his master's name, the man replied, when General Foster
condescendingly said: 'Oh, yes; I knew him when I was at Sumter. You
know that you are now free and have no master.' We need not report
the further conversation, or the conduct of the servant. Suffice it to
say he did not--like some of our gossiping friends in uniform--talk to
everybody about his intention, but at the first promising opportunity he
took French leave of Yankee friends and freedom in Knoxville, and not
knowing then where to find or reach his 'Young Master,' he struck,
according to his best information, for the 'Old Master' and the 'home
place.'
"He was compelled to walk over one hundred and fifty miles, and in great
part over the route travelled lately by General Morgan, and succeeded in
reaching a railroad, which gave him a lift toward this city.
"We would have more such cases if opportunities could be found."
--_Charleston, S. C, Courier, January 19, 1863._
* * * * *
This Kent was not of blood royal, as his name might indicate; he came of
a dusky African brood, but his loyalty and faithfulness would have done
credit to any race. How he got his name I do not know, but it was a
relief to the ear after those his mother had chosen for his
brothers--"Cully" and "Hackless." Whether the latter was intended for
Hercules, neither Martha, their mother, nor any one else knew.
Kent was the flower of his flock as regarded his appearance, being tall
and slender, with shiny black skin and unusually high features for a
negro. He seemed to justify his mother's boast that she was "no
low-blooded negro, but was of a good family in Africa." And she really
had some foundation for this unusual pride among her race, for our
grandmother, who died at a great age many years ago, was fond of telling
among the incidents of her childhood, that once when a shipload of
Africans was brought to her native city for sale, her husband went to
purchase some for his plantation, and among several he brought back
"Katura," Martha's ancestress. After the usual process of shutting them
up until they could be induced to wear clothes, she, with the others,
was sent up to the plantation. When they arrived there and began to
mingle with the other negroes, one of those that had been bought some
time before, at the sight of "Katura," rushed forward and prostrated
herself at her feet with every mark of affection and respect. She could
speak English and explained to the astonished onlookers that this was a
princess in her country, who had been sold by her uncle to the
slave-traders. It seemed a barbaric romance. Katura, however, took
kindly to civilization, and soon settled herself in her new position
with no undue repining. In time she was comforted by a partner, and
brought into the world numerous progeny, who were noted for their
integrity and fidelity unto the fifth generation, which brings us to
that of Kent.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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