Zetty, what do you say to it? Aint you afraid your pa will get black.
Sometimes I think I did wrong in offering myself, but I am into it
now, and if I succeed in raising about seventy darkeys, I will be a Captain rank and
pay the same as McKee or any other Captain. I may not get there. If I fail, I
return [to] my present place. I suppose you will not care, Sarah, provided I do not enlist
any of the female sex, a thing I hope you know I am above. Do not think I am Captain
yet, I am not. It is rather slow work getting there. I may not get enough, but I think
I will in ten or twelve days. I am doing nothing today as it is raining. We are having
big negro meetings all over the county. Take them provisions, make speeches to them,
and take all that want to come in. I was down the river 17 miles yesterday, had a
big negro meeting, brought some with us, left them plenty of rations that stayed.
The negroes cheered and the women cheered and cried for joy. I am so engaged with the
negro now that I can't write about anything else. In fact, there is nothing else to
write. Sarah, do not be too hard on me for any of this. I hope I did right. My 1st Lieut.
is a very fine man, religious. I like him well. He is from Wisconsin, married and has
four children, his name is Fred Smith, a very peculiar name. Zetty, do not think I will
forget you when I get to be Captain over the negroes. I will have you come down and
see me drill them if I get there. I may fail. Remember your William
