Uncle Daniel's Story Of "Tom" Anderson, and Twenty Great Battles

by John McElroy

“'Well, what about the “Sesh,” as you call them?

“'O, I tole you all 'bout dem. 'Pore de Laud, I mus' rest fust. I is powerful tired, missis—I is.'

“'Well, Ham, put up your horse and get over your fright, and then perhaps you can explain more satisfactorily what has happened to you.'

“'Yeas, missus, I 'spect dat am de bes' way.'

“So, when Ham had cooled off, we had him give us his experience. He said:

“'Well, Massa Daniel, I jes' go to de farm and dar seed Massa Joseph Dent. He fix up de littis, de 'sparagrass, and de eggs; and when dey all fix up I get ready to come home. He says, “Ham, you see dem fellows down de road dar?” I looked and seed 'em, and say “Yes, sah.” Den he say, “Dey bad man's dey is; kase dey's done bin heah all de mornin' lookin' round like dey wants sumfin, and I watch 'em close; if dey boddersme dey ketch it, sho;” dat's what he say! I done told Massa Dent dat I not feared. But dat was a story, kase me was some skea'd. I gits on de hoss and corned right on jes' like I wa'n't skea'd at all. I rides slow doe, kase as how I wa'n't sho' 'bout dem mans. So I gits 'bout half way down the road home, and dem mans—dar war free of dem; dar war free, sho', dey jes' steps right in de road afore me and de hoss. I say “Good mornin,” and takes off my hat like a gemman. Dey say “Whar you goin', nigga?” Den I know'd who dey is. When dey say “nigga,” dat's nuff for dis child. I know'd dey be “Sesh.” Dat's what “Sesh” all call us—“niggas.” I tells you, den I's ska'd. One ob dem say, “What you got dar, nigga?” I say “wegetables for de house.” Ben dey say “Who house?' I told dem Massa Daniel. Den dey say, “Dat ole Lyon? Dat ole Ablishner? Dat ole scoun'el what want to whip de Souf? To free de niggas 'mongst us?” I say, “Don' know 'bout dat. Massa Lyon not say nuffin to me 'bout dat.” Den dey sajr, “Whar you come from, anyhow?” I tole 'em I comed from up in de State whar Massa Daniel comed from. Den dey swar dat I a liar; dat dey know'd Massa Daniel; dat he fetched no niggas hyar from 'Hio. Den when dey say “'Hio,” golly, I be glad; kase I could't smell out de name afore; forgot him clar, sho'. Den I say I comed from 'Hio awhile ago, an' stay wid you, kase I know'd you back dar in 'Hio. Den dey ax me w'at town I comed from. Den dey get me. I skea'd den. One of dem say, “O, he a d——d fool; he not know nuffin.” I say, “Yes, sah, sho'; dat's fac. I doesn't know nuffin'bout dem matters what you say.” Den dey laff. Yes, sah, dey laff. I start on. Den dey say, “Nigga, stop dat hoss.” De hoss stop. Yes, sah, den I be orful skea'd. O, dey was de mos' wostest lookin' disciplinous “Sesh” you eber did see wid yo' eyes. Dey had ole brown jeans coat an' britches. Dey look like de “Sesh” what I seed when dey lef Col. Tom at my cabin.'

“'Well, said Peter, 'they were escaped prisoners, I have no doubt, from some place, and are hunting their way South.'

“'Yes, sah,' said Ham; 'dat's it; dey 'scape and is gwine back to de reb's army, sho': dat's who dey is. I know'd dey was “Sesh.”'

“'Well, go on, Ham; tell us the rest,' said Aunt Sarah. I was so much amused at Ham's story that I kept rather quiet.

“'Well,' said Ham, 'den dey took de hoss by de bridle and made me git off. I s'posed dey was gwine to take de hoss, but dey looked de hoss ober, and say he no good, and gib de hoss back. I got on and dey all pull out pistols and tell me to “git;” dat's wa't dey say, and sho' you bo'n, I git—an' de lettice go one way, de 'sparagrass go anoder way, and eggs go de Lord knows whar—to smash, I reckon. Dey all gone, sho,' an' I's hyar. Dey shoot when I go. I 'spect I be kill; but I'm hyar, sho'; dis is ole Ham; he 'scape.'