“Sit, let me get you some food.” Mary said, moving about the cabin and putting a pot onto the fire. It was from dinner earlier and there was plenty left, she assured him. Mary helped Henry strip out of his damp clothing, as tremors moved through his body. His teeth chattered loudly as he put on dry clothing. She grabbed a quilt from the bed and flung it over his hunched shoulders. Henry sat down at the table, the children crawling back into his lap. He watched his wife move about the cabin, looking at him, a large smile on her face.
Henry devoured the large bowl of potato stew, it had a joint of pig knuckle in it, with onions and turnips making for a tasty dinner. Henry ate two large bowls before the gnawing hunger was eased a bit. Mary sent the children to bed, and he kissed each child before they scampered to their pallet. Henry saw that the children had grown while he’d been gone and it tore at him, he’d missed that. He smiled when he heard their giggles as they settled down. He looked at Mary across from him and reached out a hand. Hers was warm and solid and he squeezed it. Tears shimmered in her honey brown eyes. Eyes that he’d missed so much and eyes that filled his dreams at night.
Henry told Mary how he had escaped the army, sitting back in his chair, his stomach full for the first time in months. For the first time since leaving his home.
“We arrived at the bivouac late in the evenin’ that first day. The camp was filled with a ragtag army, them men half-starved and filthy. It didn’t seem like anyone was in charge. Heaps of trash was piled everywhere. There weren’t no order, just a jumbled mess. The slaves stood to the side, waitin’ for their masters’ biddin’. Our people was made to join the other slaves and we was told to wait. We was made ta stand all night. If any of us sat down, he was beat.” Henry grunted and Mary sucked in her breath, shaking her head.
“For two days we stood waiting, no food, nor water, no sleep. Most just fell to the ground and let them soldier boys beat them. They was that tuckered out. I just about did myself. But I was afraid they might find the gun. Then we was told we could sit, but we couldn’t move from that spot. Them soldiers watched us and I could feel the hate. The lieutenant came back on the third day with over one hundred slaves in tow. He ordered us to make our camp on the edge of the white’s camp. We was told if any of us attempted escaping, we’d be shot on the spot. We slept on the open ground, no bedrolls and no blankets at night. Small groups huddled around campfires for warmth, layin’ head to toe for warmth on the cold nights.” Henry said, his hand idly petting Mary’s fingers. He smiled when he noticed Mary watching his hand. She got up and got the kettle to pour hot water into waiting cups. The cabin was filled with the aroma of fragrant tea. Henry took a sip, enjoying the heat as it spread through his chilled body and then continued.
“Food was rationed out, terrible old moldy biscuits and rancid bacon. I ate anything that crawled by, I just popped it inta my mouth and swallowed.” He smiled grimly.
“Oh, Henry. My lord, I’m so sorry.” Mary said in a low whisper.
“Hunger was like a clawin’ thing in me and it was all I could think about. Many of the slaves died that first month, while the white soldiers ate their fill, though truth be told, they ain’t had a lot, but more than us. There was some attempts ta run away and those men were shot dead for their efforts.” Henry shook his head, he felt old. His large hands cradled the earthenware cup of tea and he stared into the depths, lost in thought for a moment.
“We was divided up and sent with different groups. When we was asked our names, we lied. When we was asked where we come from, we lied. My group went along the coast and it seemed all them soldier boys was doin’ was raidin’’ and rapin. It was like them white soldiers was crazed and burned homes down, just for the joy of burnin’. We was told to stand there and guard, but we didn’t get no weapons. So, we just stood. Them poor black folks at those houses, they just scattered to the wind. Some were shot while they ran, and others got clean away. It just made no sense. They even killed white folk.” Henry choked and Mary got up and wrapped her arms around him, making shushing noises. Henry took a deep breath and let it out, then nodded and patted her arm. Henry watched her move about the cabin, covering the children and adding wood to the fire, then she came back and pulled her chair close and held onto his hands and squeezed. Henry took a deep breath and continued his story.
Henry bid his time, and planned with the other men, to escape one or two at a time. The regiments were stretched thin as it was and couldn’t find every slave that melted into the forest. White soldiers were disappearing as well. Fights between the white soldiers were rampant as was the lack of discipline. Fights over food and theft led to many of the slaves being blamed and shot.
Henry