They said
we treated them mean, that we had taken nearly everything they had to eat and made them work hard, and then
left them to starve, and be killed by their masters for showing us the cotton, and
helping us work. I thought a pity of the poor things, but I think it was out of Ransom's
power to bring them along. I do not know what he could [have] done with them. We have
heard that four of them was shot dead by their masters in ten minutes after we left,
and I have no doubt of it. I wrote to James yesterday and gave him a general history
of our trip. So I will say no more about it. I sent in his letter a sketch of our camp
while out guarding cotton on Douglas Farm, also a gun sent to Zetty and Vernon. I received a letter
from you yesterday dated the 20th. I scarcely know what to say in regard to a house.
If I was at home, I would know just what to do. I do not know whether they have five
dollars or five thousand dollars. I think a thousand dollars laid out for a house like
Lee's is too much, and I think it is more than they can spare from the mill, especially
so soon after building a house, which certainly cost that much counting house, lots,
fence, well, stable, and furniture.
