corn with, so
he went to the field and I was to make my professional calls for the
Doctor, and meet him at the Creek at the nigger-house to take the row
with him. Just as I came out of school, however, two officers of an
Illinois regiment rode up to look about and see what they could see,
and asked if they could have food for man and beast. So I left orders
for some lunch, dressed, and started on my tour. I went through the
quarters--not a man was to be seen. There lay the boat, and the women
were coming in from their work, but said the men would not come till
the officers had gone--they were afraid of being taken. C. had to beg
the officers to go off the plantation, for he could not get his crew.
Not a man sleeps at night in the houses, except those too old to be
taken. They have made a camp somewhere and mean never to be caught.
There is no question that they can hide; a slave here hid himself for
two years on one of the little islands, though the whole district was
after him; he finally came out himself.

FROM W. C. G.

_March 14._ On March 9th the estates were at last offered for sale. On
our island two thirds were bidden in by the Government and I presume
they will remain under the system of superintendence. The other third
was bought by Mr. Philbrick and two or three sutlers. No agents of
Southern owners and no dangerous speculators made their appearance, to
my knowledge. Where any person evinced a desire to buy, the
commissioners, by their bids, forced an offer of one dollar per acre
and let the place go for that price. Several plantations, perhaps one
in five or six, were bidden in for the special purpose of negro
reservations; but in what way they will be offered to the people is
undecided. Indeed, nothing is certain except that the sales have been
made and titles given. I should have bought only two of my places in
any case,--and that for the benefit of the people,--but it happened
that both were among the number reserved. So I own none of the sacred
soil.

In regard to your questions concerning the condition and capabilities
of the blacks, I hardly feel like writing anything at length, my
opinion, as far as it is made up, is so short and decided. Every one
says that these island negroes are more ignorant and degraded than the
great majority of the slaves, and I feel no doubt that, under
conditions of peace, three years would find these people, with but
very few exceptions, a self-respecting, self-suppo