A place like this must have had a thousand slaves, and I don't see any of them rushing forward to welcome their liberators." "Probably contraband, gone long ago to Ben Butler at New Orleans.

I don't believe there's a soul here." "Remember that lone house in Tennessee where a slip of a girl brought Forrest down on us and had us cut pretty nearly to pieces." "I couldn't forget it." Nor could Colonel Winchester.

The house, large and low, stood in grounds covering an area of several acres, enclosed by a paling fence, now sagging in many places.

Great stone posts stood on either side of the gateway, but the gate was opened, and it, too, sagged.
The grounds had evidently been magnificent, both with flowers and forest trees.

Already many of the flowers were blooming in great luxuriance and brilliancy, but the walks and borders were untrimmed.