Harry Stillwell Edwards

“ Eneas brought with him to this place a grey mare that was, he said, a famous race horse, and that the father of her colt was the greatest horse in the world. I had forgotten their names until I read your letter. Eneas insisted that you lived at Thomasville next to Washington and Jefferson Counties, and near a town named Louisville. There are towns and counties of the same names in this State and he left to visit them. He seemed to have plenty of money. I hope you will hear from him yet, but I am afraid the trunk is gone. ”

“ He gave me a very vivid description of yourself—whom I had long wished to meet—and of your home, the twelve-room house, lawn with its three fountains, beautiful lake and your hundred negroes in their painted cottages, etc.
Excuse this rambling letter. Your name has stirred an old woman's memories. ”

“ He had heard of a Washington parish and a Thomasville in Louisiana, and was trying to reach them. He rented a piece of land near here and raised a crop, leaving in 1869 for Jefferson County, Alabama. I gave him a letter to a minister in that county.
Very truly,
(Rev.) John Simms.
P. S.—I regret to say that after leaving here, Eneas, though an active minister of the Gospel, suffered the young horse to be entered in a county race. I understand that he won about $75. Allowance, however, must be made for the old man's necessities and distress. ”

“ He told me that the mare was famous on the race track and very valuable and he was afraid to leave her. This struck me as singular, at the time, because she seemed old and broken down. I did not see any trunk, but his wagon was full of hay and fodder and he may have had one hidden under it. Eneas asked me to put him on the road to Thomasville—or so I understood him—and I gave him explicit directions as far as Newnan, advising him to get more at that point. He was [Pg 9] gone when I arose next morning. I do hope you will find the old man, as well as the cup. ”

“ Some folks tell me dey is free, but I know dey b'long ter Marse George Tommey des like Lady Chain and her colt! Marse George, you oughter see dat horse—"
"Where is the trunk?" repeated the Major, laughing and wiping his eyes. "Where did you leave it, Eneas?"
"I ain't left hit," said Eneas, indignantly. "Git out o' dat wagon, niggers, fo' I bus [Pg 38] somer you wide open!" The little colony fell over the wheels like cooters from a log, and drawing aside the hay that had held them, Eneas brought forth a time and weather defying hair trunk. ”

“ Eneas won several purses up here in local races. It seems he has a new name for his horse everywhere he goes. He says it keeps him from getting [Pg 29] "too common." When Eneas was not plowing or racing, his favorite occupation was preaching, his subject usually being the wandering of the Hebrews in the desert. He left here for Jefferson, S. C. I am sorry to say, I heard no mention of your lost cup, and if he had any trunk I was not informed of it.
With regards for yourself and all good wishes for the young bride, I am,
Very sincerely yours,
Thomas Bailey ”

“ I winned on de track wid Chainlightnin' an' ain't spent—"
"Keep it, Eneas," said the Major, almost exploding with laughter, and patting the old man on the shoulder, "that bunch of Burningham Yellerhama niggers more than squares us!" ”

“ His story, probably growing with age like the stories of some of our veterans, has beguiled many a lonely hour for me, but not until I read your letter in the Richmond Dispatch did I give him credit for many facts in it. The young race horse is certainly a fine animal and should you decide to sell him I trust you will give me the refusal. ”

“ Louisville, Ga.— (Correspondence Macon Telegraph and Messenger, Oct. 31, '72.) —Your correspondent on Thursday last was the favored guest of Major George E. Tommey, the famous commander of the Tommey Legion, which rendered conspicuous service to the Confederacy as part of Johnston's [Pg 32] —afterwards Hood's—army, in the Tennessee and North Georgia campaigns. The Major lives about twelve miles from this place at Tommeysville, as his plantation is called. ”

“ I offered him $500 for the colt, but he said your price was $20,000. Considering you had never seen him, I thought that a little high and him and [Pg 27] me didn't trade. Next day he was gone. Oh, you Eneas! Say, Major, if he ever gets back, and he will, for you can't lose that kind of man for good, better nail down everything movable—including them twelve fountains.
Yours,
Tom Johnson.
P. S.—I say; twelve fountains!
P. S. S.—Forty-four rooms! Gosh! is the Legion still with you?
Washington County, N. C., Oct. 20, 1872.
Maj. George E. Tommey, Louisville, Ga. ”