"He has protected our property and our lives." But the men had no murderous intentions.
"Give him all he wants to eat," said the eldest, "and we will see that he gets back to the Yankee lines in safety.

We saw him from the treetops turn away the Yanks as he stood on the porch." While I finished my meal they put all manner of questions to me, being specially impressed that a boy so young could have kept a great army from foraging so richly stocked a plantation.

I told them that I was a Union scout, and that I had saved their property on my own responsibility.
"I knew you would be back here," I said.

"But I was sure you wouldn't shoot me when you learned what I had done." "You bet your life we won't!" they said heartily.
After dinner I was stocked Tip with all the provisions I wanted, and given a fine bottle of peach brandy, the product of the plantation.
Then the men of the place escorted me to the rear-guard of the command, which I lost no time in joining.

When I overtook the general and presented him with the peach brandy, he said gruffly: "I hear you kept all the men from foraging on that plantation back yonder." "Yes, sir," I said.