Uncle Seth leaned on his hoe and wiped the drops of perspiration from his brow. The early spring had brought new weeds to his garden, and he was determined to keep them out of his patch in the family garden. Looking down the lane road running beside the house he noticed a large dark form of a man. "Who's that a-coming down the road boys?" Uncle Seth asked his great grandchildren who were pretending to help in the garden.

"That's Jessie," called out Carroll Ray, who took the opportunity to drop his hoe and wander toward the road and wait for Jessie's arrival. Jessie frequently came over to borrow the mule when he needed an extra mule to hitch with his mule to pull his wagon. Jessie turned in toward the barn and gave Uncle Seth a wave.

"That young man sure looks like his father, he carries himself just like his father did," declared Uncle Seth. "I should know. We walked many a mile together during the War," Uncle Seth said as he lifted his hand and waved at Jessie.

"But Uncle Seth," exclaimed Billie Jean, "Jessie is a Black man! You said that his father was a slave on the Page farm before the War. Why would his father want to fight with the Confederate Army?" asked Billie Jean.

"Billie Jean," began Uncle Seth, "That's a story that few people-black or white, North or South, can understand. The more time that passes the harder it is even to tell the story--tell it and have those who weren't there understand it, that is.

"I recall talking to a young man during the War, his name was C.C. Cumming. We called him CC. He lives in Fort Worth, Texas, the last I heard from him, but he was originally from here in Mississippi. His father owned a large plantation north of here. CC had a body servant by the name of George. They were about the same age and actually grew up together hunting and fishing on and around the plantation. When war came, CC volunteered. George refused to stay on the plantation if his master left for war. By law and custom they were master and servant, but in reality they were best of friends. So, CC and George went off to war together. This was not that unusual. As a matter of fact, quite a few former slaves are still today drawing State pensions earned by their service to the Confederacy during the war.

"Well, George stayed with CC from First Manassas, Leesburg where he helped capture several large guns, Chancellorsville, Sharpsburg, and at last Gettysburg. At Gettysburg CC was wounded during the second day's fighting in the Peach Orchard. George located an ambulance in which he loaded CC, a Sergeant Major, Col. Holder of the Seventeenth Mississippi, and an officer of the Twenty-first Mississippi. The retreat was so slow they were able to cover only a few miles that first day. The Yankees were bearing down on them and CC feared George's capture by the Yankees more than his own. George had already heard that the Yankees were separating all Black Southerners from captured white Southerners. You see, he knew the Yankees would treat a loyal black Southerner much harsher they would treat white Southerners. Many times, captured Black Southerners would not be given rations in the POW camps. So, CC insisted that George leave them and move on with the withdrawing Confederate Army. But George refused to leave his friend. Soon they were cut off from the main body of Confederates and knew it would be only a short time before they were captured.

"On their march into Pennsylvania, they passed through a settlement of free Blacks located a short distance from where they were then hiding. CC advised George to declare his freedom and make his way to the settlement of free Blacks. 'No sir! I'd stay iffen I could, but least I can do is catch-up with our army and cross the river (the Potomac). When you get exchanged I'll be there to meet you on the other side of the river.' These were the last words George spoke to CC as he turned to make his escape. He paused and returned to give CC his only canteen of water and the last bit of hard tack he had. Thus, this faithful friend gave all he had and departed for the Potomac, and hopefully, Mississippi." Uncle Seth's voice seemed to waiver - something his great grandchildren had never before heard.

Uncle cleared his throat, regained his composure, and continued, "On his way back to catch up with the rest of our army, George was stopped by a lady who inquired about one of the wounded that George had assisted as he left Pennsylvania. In spite of the danger of roving Yankee cavalry, George stopped and gave what little information he had to the distressed lady. While he was talking to her, a group of Yankee cavalry spotted him in his gray uniform. George turned and attempted to escape, only to be killed by Yankee bullets. The lady buried him and then found her son just as George had told her she would."

Uncle Seth turned away from the children to wipe the moisture from his eyes, turned his back, and slowly walked away. The children did not understand but knew not to follow him. Uncle Seth knew that this nor any other generation, Black or white, could not understand the relationship between so many of both races who wore the gray in the War for Southern Independence. Uncle Seth wasn't sure about his own feelings either. He was glad that Jessie was born and reared never knowing human bondage, but he remembered many a good day before and during the War when he and Jessie's father worked and enjoyed life together. Uncle Seth thought it odd that regardless of how many stories he told about the sacrifices of his fellow white Confederate soldiers, he had never been forced by tears to interrupt the story. Yet, this story about a Black Southerner who preferred his natural friends over freedom was almost more than he could tell. Jessie was a good neighbor and his father was a good friend. More than that, Uncle Seth could not explain.

© James Ronald Kennedy, www.KennedyTwins.com. Uncle Seth is a fictional character. His adventures are based on actual events as told by Confederate Veterans and other Southerners who were actual witnesses to the events described.