"And look sharp for the Union army, too; I hope you will meet some Union soldiers; then you will be safe."
"I sho' look sharp," said Nick.
"I want you to carry a note for me to the Union soldiers."
"Yassa."
I wrote one word on a scrap of paper that I had picked up in the rebel camp. I gave the paper to Nick.
"Throw this paper away if you meet any rebels; understand?"
"Yassa."
"When you meet Union soldiers, you must give this paper to the captain."
"Yassa."
"The captain will ask you what this paper means, and you must tell him that the Southern soldiers are leaving Warwick Court-House, and that the paper is to let him know it."