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
[sic] 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 slaver 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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