As soon as it was daybreak he resumed his journey.
He had purchased at Burksville some colored calico and articles of female clothing, and fastened the parcel to the back of his saddle.

As he rode forward now he heard constant tales of the passing of parties of the enemy's cavalry, but he was fortunate enough to get well round to the rear of the Federal lines before he encountered any of them.

Then he came suddenly upon a troop.
"Where are you going to, and where have you come from ?" "Our farm is a mile away from Union Grove," he said, "and I have been over to Sussex Courthouse to buy some things for my mother." "Let me see what you have got there," the officer said.

"You are rebels to a man here, and there's no trusting any of you." Vincent unfastened the parcel and opened it.

The officer laughed.
"Well, we won't confiscate them as contraband of war." So saying, he set spurs to his horse and galloped on with his troop.
Vincent rode on to Union Grove, and then, taking a road at random, kept on till he reached a small farmhouse.