In the fear of "Yankee" invasions, the
silverware and other valuables were taken from the "big house,"
buried in the woods, and guarded by trusted slaves. Woe be to any
one who would have attempted to disturb the buried treasure. The
slaves would give the Yankee soldiers food, drink,
clothing--anything but that which had been specifically intrusted
to their care and honour. As the great day drew nearer, there was
more singing in the slave quarters than usual. It was bolder, had
more ring, and lasted later into the night. Most of the verses of
the plantation songs had some reference to freedom. True, they
had sung those same verses before, but they had been careful to
explain that the "freedom" in these songs referred to the next
world, and had no connection with life in this world. Now they
gradually threw off the mask, and were not afraid to let it be
known that the "freedom" in their songs meant freedom of the body
in this world. The night before the eventful day, word was sent
to the slave quarters to the effect that something unusual was
going to take place at the "big house" the next morning. There
was little, if any, sleep that night. All as excitement and
expectancy. Early the next morning word was sent to all the
slaves, old and young, to gather at the house.
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