“The next day after the General reached home he inquired of Ham why he did not return to the army. Ham said:
“'I fuss done thought I would, and den I knowed I be no use, kase you so far off, and I feared I not jes' safe gwine trough dem Sesh lines down dar; and den I knowed, too, dat you kin git as many niggers as you wants dat am jes' as good as Ham is, 'ceptin when you done wants good tings to eat, sech like as chickens. Ham can allers get dem when dey is 'round and skeered of the Sesh. I all de time noticed dey is powerful feared ob de Sesh', Marsa Lyon. De General know dat am so.'
“'Well, Ham, you must be ready to go back with me when I return.'
“'Oh, yes, Marsa; oh, yes! I go all right; I will, sho' as you is bawn. But I tells you dat Marsa Peter am powerful bad, he am, sho'. I dream it all out las' night. Missus, she be right in dat. He be agoin' dis time, and no mistake. Dat dream ob de Missus be all come 'round.'
“'That will do, Ham; you go and talk to Aunt Martha about your dreams.'
“'All right, Marsa, all right, sah; but you mine what I tole you.'
“The next day Joseph Dent came in, and we had a long conversation on the subject of the war, the Golden Circle and the Sons of Liberty. He said that they were alarmed, and quite a number had refused to meet recently, but that the Grand Commander had issued a call for a meeting to be held in Canada some time soon, where many of the leading men were again to assemble and take into consideration some new plan for aiding the rebellion. After he left for home the General, Henry and I consulted as to the best plan to get at what those men in Canada were working up. They had tried mobs and riots in New York and other places, had tried releasing prisoners, burning and destroying cities, scattering disease in our hospitals, and army raids, guerrilla warfare, etc., and had failed in all. Now what next? We thought that it would be best for Henry and Seraine to return to Detroit; that Henry again should visit Canada, and, by him the information could be communicated to me. This being understood, they left the next day. James Whitcomb, having gone immediately home on his arrival at Allentown, would be with his parents and Seraine, while Henry should visit in Canada.
“Peter was now apparently improving and we felt he might possibly recover. The news of Sherwood's safe arrival at the Sea having been received, the people were greatly rejoiced. They felt that the Spring campaign would probably end the rebellion. The country was full of hope and the drooping spirits of anxious people were much revived. Things went on in this way and our family enjoyed themselves as best they could. Mary Anderson and Jennie Lyon, David's widow, and the two little girls, made our home as pleasant as possible But my poor wife grew weaker all the time, which gave us much concern.
“Henry had arrived in Canada, and again found his friend Wintergreen. They were now visiting different places. Henry had written Seraine and she came down to Allentown, spending two days with us, and at the same time posting the General and myself as to the movements of the conspirators. Thomlinson had called the leaders of the Northern Sons of Liberty to again assemble at St. Catharines the last Thursday in January. Henry had concluded to remain and learn fully their intentions and schemes. I told Seraine to say to him that his proposition to remain was approved. I sent to the President the information and Henry's intention, in answer to which I received a very kind and touching letter from one of his Secretaries, exhibiting great sympathy for my family and deploring our misfortunes.
“Time moved on, and the General was preparing to leave for his command, when Peter became very much worse; and, also, my wife was growing weaker and losing her mind. Peter was coughing very often and having slight hemorrhages. The physician pronounced him to be in a very critical condition. One morning Aunt Martha came running into the parlor where the family were sitting, and with much anxiety cried out: