4 ~‚ ~ t~t~ -.2-. From the etage of grass pulling by hand, ~ie grew strong enough,in a few years, to use the hoe rake and sic±le. While attempting to carry out hiß masters ordersto cut corn tassels with a large sharp knife, his elbow waB seriously cut. He was taken to the house and treated, the application being chirrimey soot, to stop the bleedtng. After this treatment the arm waa placed in a sling, and eventually became deTorned from instifficient care. He was sent back to the fields to pick cotton, with one free hand and. his teeth, while painfully carrying the other hand in the 3ling. Fail-. ing to obey this command, he would haie been given a whipping, or sent to the southiands. Sending slaves to the plantations of Mississippi and other southern states w&s a type of punishment all slaves feared. Slaves r~ere not~ allowed much freedom of worship. The Yankee soldiers and officers p layed a great part in the s ‘ s moral training, and re ligious worship. They secretly instructed small gatherings of slaves, at night. The points stressed most were, obedience and the evLls of stealing. There were some sections where masters were liberal in their views toward their slaves, and permitted them to worship openly. ‚ Slave s were a I lowe d to have sine. 1 1 quantiti e s of whi skey, even dun ng the days of their ~örship, to use for medicinal purposes. It ~as a common occurrence to see whiskey beirg sold at the foot of the hill near the churchyard. The news of war, and the possibility of Negroes enlistthg as soldiers was truly a step closer to the answering of their prayers for freedom. Upon hearing of this good news Œrandy joined a few of the others in this break for freedom. Onè night, he anda close friend packed a small quantity of food in a cloth and set out about midnight to join the northern army. Traveling at ‚ night most of the ~ime, ~ they were constantly confronted with the danger of beiri.g recaptured. Successfully eluding their followers, they reached.Portsmouth after many narrow escapea. From Portsmouth they moved to Norfolic.