He tells me he has made up his mind to slip across the lines and make his way as a runaway to Alexandria, where you will, of course, be taken in the first place.

He says he's got some money of yours; but I have insisted on his taking another fifty dollars, which you can repay me when we next meet.

As he will not have to ask for work, he may escape the usual lot of runaways, who are generally pounced upon and set to work on the fortifications of Alexandria and Washington.
"He intends to find out what prison you are taken to, and to follow you, with some vague idea of being able to aid you to escape.

As he cannot write, he has asked me to write this letter to you, telling you what his idea is.

He will give it to you when he finds an opportunity, and he wishes you to give him an answer, making any suggestion that may occur to you as to the best way of his setting about it.