. A strange white face drives them from the
field into the woods like so many quails; they will not go to church,
they will not go to the Ferry. Two Sundays ago I happened to ask one
of the elders at church, to make talk merely, how soon the next
Society meeting took place at Pine Grove. It was last Saturday
evening. My question to Demus was reported at the meeting, they
immediately became suspicious of some trap to catch them, they grew
anxious, a cry arose that there were soldiers out on the plantation,
the men left the praise-house, and the meeting, instead of continuing
all night, broke up about midnight with some confusion.[124] They were
caught last year, they will not be caught again. They cannot
understand how it is that the Government, for whom they have been
working, and in whom they have learned to place confidence as a
protection, should wish to interrupt their work here. It is a terrible
discouragement to them, just as they are starting their first fair
trial for themselves, to be forced, I do not say into the military
service, for very few will be caught, but forced to abandon their
crops, and skulk and hide and lead the life of hunted beasts during
all this precious planting season. The women would be physically able
to carry on for some time the men's share with their own, but they
would be very much disheartened, and would need constant
encouragement. Under this terrible uncertainty and fear, the work has
begun to slacken. Even the head men on the plantations are losing
courage. I make as light of the evil as I can, but I am always met by
the remark: "We are a year older than we was last year, sir." Their
trust in me is a little surprising. They converse in my presence about
their dodging life, and I could easily take any ten of them I chose
alone; or, with the aid of one other, I could take the whole
plantation. "If we didn't trust to you, sir, we should have to leave
the plantation entirely; you are the only person to protect we now,
sir." It is hardly necessary to remark that their confidence is not
misplaced. Help catch them? "I wouldn't do it first."

In accordance with Hunter's order, referred to above, Saxton
issued a general order to superintendents, which bade them
send to Captain Hooper a list of all able-bodied freedmen
between eighteen and fifty on the plantations, and
instructed them to urge the negroes to enlist by appealing
to "their reason, sense of right, their