Father and the other boys they have gone fighting Yanks; but they wouldn't take me with them 'cause I aint sharp in my wits, though I tells them I could shoot a Yank as well as they could if they showed me." "And who do you suppose all those men are ?" General Sheridan asked, pointing toward the trenches.
"I dunno," Vincent replied.

"I guess they be niggers.

There be too many of them for whites; besides, whites aint such fools to work like that.
Doesn't ye want any fowl ?" and he drew back the cloth and showed the contents of the basket.
"Take them as a matter of curiosity, general," the other officer laughed.

"It will be a downright novelty to you to buy chickens." "What do you want for them, boy ?" "Mother said as I wasn't to take less nor a dollar apiece." "Greenbacks, I suppose ?" the officer asked.
"I suppose so.

She didn't say nothing about it; but I have not seen aught but greenbacks for a long time since." "Come along, then," the officer said; "we will take them." They rode up to the large tent, and the officers alighted, and gave their horses to two of the soldiers.
"Give your basket to this soldier." "I want the basket back again.