Adventures of a negro in the Yankee lines.
Daniel Boon. a negro boy, the property of Capt. J. J. Thomas, of the Richmond Hussars, was captured by the enemy, about two weeks since, while the company was on vidette duty at Shirley. The morning after his capture he was taken before the Colonel of a Yankee regiment, who sent him to the General's headquarters. Here he was invited in made to take a seat, and, as he says, ‘"had a sociable conversation with the General."’ Upon being questioned by the General, he told that official that the woods were full of infantry, artillery, and cavalry, that Beauregard's and Jackson's troops reached from there to Richmond, and that, instead of ‘"falling back,"’ we were bringing more troops down. After giving him cheese, crackers, coffee, and sugar, he was asked if he wanted to go, back, and on replying yes, he was immediately sent to the guard tent. Here they took down a minute description of him, name of owner, &c., and the next morning get him to burning brush. After firing a pile of brush he threw on a lot of straw, which created a dense smoke, and placing this between himself and the guard, he put out. He had not gone far, however, until he came upon the encampment of a Pennsylvania regiment, and, meeting with another negro, learned the number of the regiment and the same of its commandant, and thus prepared be approached the pickets and, told them that he was a servant of the Colonel, and that he was sent out to pick him some black berries. He was passed, but enjoined to hurry back. After several other adventures and narrow escapes, he succeeded in reaching our reserves, much to the astonishment and gratification of all, who had given him up for lost.
