"Yesterday I saw a negro recruiting colored men for the First Louisiana Regiment - This Regiment was the one so awfully cut up at Port Hudson. This Negro's Name is Lewis - He was wounded in the leg and relieved from duty in regiment and sent out recruiting - I thought I had seen men that could make a patriotic appeal to their countrymen before, in behalf of our country and the interest and necessities that should impel men to do Military service for their Government but when I saw this colored man who had been wounded at Port Hudson had two brothers killed in the same battle another and his last and only brother now in hospital with his wounds received in the same battle A man who was born a slave and had been a slave till within a year past who had left a wife and family of children to fight for a government that had never guaranteed to him a single right above that of a hog or a horse till within one year past - when I heard him appeal to every strong bodied colored man he met; with an earnestness that secured seventy three in three days entirely alone and took them into quarters - hurrying from place to place, inviting, urging everyman he met to come right along and join the army pointing to his own sacrificies that he had already made and the inestimable privilege of owning himself and family as the reward - I admit I felt ashamed of all the feeble efforts I had made to recruit the army - I felt satisfied that an element of strength has been developed and brought to the aid of our government of which we had no adequate idea - In my opinion this element now so thoroughly aroused in the colored man is never again to be brutalized; It begins to realize its own strength and the fullness of its power - Could you see the joy expressed and the willingness to do anything to get a living manifested by the blacks it would be gratify you beyond measure."
"After the little battle in Jackson quite a number of niggers had become separated from their command. They knew the law: All slaves taken armed against whites were hung or shot. So they wandered about the woods for some days. Some of them, no doubt, found their way back to Port Hudson. Others were caught by the soldiers and summarily executed. I knew this was done but of course I never saw an execution. I knew they took place in the woods. The vagueness of the spot made all of the woods a place of dread after dark. "
"It happened that one of the children was quite sick, and Ma sent me with one of the little ones for Dr. Jones. It was not exactly night, but deep dusk, a November day, Leon was away from home. To cut short we went through the college campus to the pine thicket behind the main building. I saw something moving and nearly lost my strength! Just before me, a little to one side, two niggers were hung to a tree limb, their feet just clear of the ground. I hid the sight from Paul with my skirt, tried to run, then tried to speak, but my tongue was frozen and my legs like cotton. Only the fear of Paul seeing gave me strength to move on. The horror -- to me -- was having them at my back. Cold chills ran up and down my spine. I thought I heard them moan, then laugh, then shriek. When fairly in sight of the doctor's house I had to stop and collect myself. I had almost forgotten what I came to ask. When I became composed I went on, got the doctor's instructions and started off by way of the big road. Doctor called out to take the short cut but I toild him no, I preferred the long way, as it was lighter. The next day he remarked to Ma that he was glad I had taken the long way, for he had come the short cut and, seeing the hung men, knew I would have been frightened. Ma told him I had seen them going, and he could not get over it, that I had not asked some one to see us home. Thus I got a reputation for bravery, very little deserved, but which kept me ever striving to retain it. I was frightened many times after that, but no one ever knew it. I thought I owed it to Father and Grandfather to be as brave as a solider."
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