General Johnston to bear a verbal dispatch to General Pemberton, in Vicksburg, and to carry a supply of percussion caps to our troops in that besieged city. I parted with him, hardly hoping ever to see him again; for I knew that Vicksburg was closely invested on all sides. The enemy's lines of circumvallation extend from Snyder's Bluff, on the Yazoo, to Warrenton, on the Mississippi, and the rivers, and their opposite shores, are filled and lined with their forces.

He was well mounted, and was burdened with forty pounds of percussion caps, beside his blanket and crutches. He has no use of his broken leg, and cannot walk a step without a crutch; and in mounting his horse, he has to lift it over the saddle with his right hand. But he accomplishes this object with much dexterity, and without assistance. I loaned him a very fine saber, with a wooden scabbard, to prevent rattling, and a very reliable revolver, which has never missed fire, when loaded by me.

The family were called together for prayers, and we prayed fervently, that the God of our fathers would shield him from all danger, and enable him to fulfil his mission to Vicksburg successfully, and give him a safe return. I then exhorted him to remember, that if it was the will of God for him to live, and serve his country, all the Yankees owned by Lincoln could not kill him; but if it was the Divine will that he should die, he would be in as much danger at home as in Vicksburg, and death would certainly find him, no matter where he might be.

I charged him to use his best endeavors to kill every one of the jackalls who should attempt to stop his course, or to come within reach of his sword or pistol.

He crossed Big Black River that night, and the next day got between their lines and the division of their army, which was at Mechanicsburg. He hid his horse. in a ravine, and ensconced himself in a fallen tree, overlooking the road, during the day. From his hiding place, he witnessed the retreat of the Yankees, who passed him in considerable haste and confusion.

After their columns had gone by, and the night had made it safe for him to move, he continued his route in the direction of Snyder's Bluff. As he entered the telegraphic road from Yazoo City to Vicksburg, he was hailed by a picket, but dashed by him. A volley was fired at him by the Yankees. He escaped unhurt, but a Minnie ball wounded his horse mortally.

The spirited animal, however, carried him safely to the bank of the Yazoo River, where he died, and left his rider afoot. He lost one of his crutches in making his escape, it being jerked from him by the limb of a tree, and he had no time to pick it up.

With the assistance of one crutch, he carried his baggage, and groped along the Yazoo, until he providentially discovered a small log canoe, tied by a rope, within his reach. He pressed this into his service, and paddled down the river until he met three Yankee gunboats coming up to Yazoo City.

He avoided them by running under some willows overhanging the water, and lying concealed until they passed. Soon afterward he floated past Snyder's Bluff, which was illuminated, and alive with Yankees and negroes, participating in the amusement of a grand ball of mixed races.

He lay flat in his canoe, and could hardly be distinguished from a piece of drift-wood-and he glided

safely through the gunboats and barges of the amalgamationists. He reached the backwater of the Mississippi before day, and in the darkness missed the outlet of the Yazoo, and got into what is called "Old River."

After searching in vain for a pass into the Mississippi, day dawned, and he discovered his mistake. He was forced to conceal his boat and himself, and lie by for another day. He had been two days and nights without food, and began to suffer the pangs of hunger.

At night he paddled back into the Yazoo, and descended it to the Mississippi, passing forty or fifty of the Yankee transports. Only one man hailed him, from the stern of a steamboat, and asked him where he was going. He replied that he was going to his fishing lines.

In the bend, above Vicksburg, he floated by the mortar fleet, lying flat in his canoe. The mortars were in full blast, bombarding the city. The next morning he tied a white handkerchief to his paddle, raised himself up, in the midst of our picket-boats at Vicksburg, and gave a loud huzza for Jeff. Davis, and the Southern Confederacy, amid the vivas of our sailors, who gave him a joyful reception, and assisted him to General Pemberton's headquarters.

After resting a day and a night in the city, he started out with a dispatch from General Pemberton to General Johnston. He embarked in his same canoe, and soon reached the enemy's fleet below the city. He avoided their picket-boats on both shores, and floated near their gunboats. He passed so near one of these, that through an open port-hole he could see men playing cards and hear them converse.

At Diamond Place he landed, and bade adieu to his

faithful "dugout." After hobbling through the bottom to the hills, he reached the residence of a man who had been robbed by the savages of all his mules and horses, except an old, worthless gelding, and a half-broken colt. He gave him the choice of them, and he mounted the colt, but found that he traveled badly.

Providentially he came upon a very fine horse in the bottom, tied by a blind-bridle, without a saddle. As a basket and old bag were lying near him, he inferred that a negro had left him there, and that a Yankee camp was not far distant. He exchanged bridles, and saddled the horse, and mounted him, after turning loose the colt.

After riding so as to avoid the supposed position of the Yankees, he encountered one of them, who was returning from a successful plundering expedition. He was loaded with chickens, and a bucket of honey. He commenced catechising Lamar, in true Yankee style, who concluded it best to satisfy his curiosity, by sending him where he could know all that the devil could teach him.

With a pistol bullet through his forehead, Lamar left him, with his honey and poultry lying in the path, to excite the conjectures of his fellow-thieves.

He approached with caution the next settlement, where he hired a guide, for fifty dollars, to pilot him to Hankerson's Ferry, on Big Black River, which he wished to reach near that point, without following any road. The fellow he hired proved to be a traitor.

When he got near the ferry, Lamar sent him ahead to ascertain whether any Yankees were in the vicinity. The conversation and manners of the man had excited his suspicions, and as soon as he left him he concealed

himself, but remained where he could watch his return. The man was gone much longer than Lamar expected; but returned, and reported that the way was open, and that no Yankees were near the ferry.

After paying him, Lamar took the precaution to avoid the ferry, and to approach the river above it, instead of following the guide's directions. By this he flanked a force of the Yankees posted to intercept him; but as he entered the road near the river bank, one of them, who seemed to be on the right flank of a long line of sentinels, suddenly rose up within ten feet of him, and ordered him to halt.

He replied with a pistol shot, which killed the sentinel dead, and, wheeling his horse, galloped through the bottom up the river; but the Yankees sent a shower of balls after him, two of which wounded his right hand, injuring four of his fingers. One grazed his right leg, cutting two holes through his pantaloons, and another cut through one side of my sword scabbard, spoiling its beauty, but leaving a mark, which makes me prize it more highly.

Seven bullets struck the horse, which reeled under him, but had strength and speed enough to bear him a mile from his pursuers, before he fell and died. Lamar then divided his clothes and arms into two packages, and swam Big Black River safely.

He did not walk far before a patriotic lady supplied him with the only horse she had—a stray one, which came to her house after the Yankees had carried off all the animals belonging to the place. On this he reached Raymond, at two o'clock in the morning, changed his horse for a fresh one, carried his dispatch to Jackson that morning, and rejoiced us all by an unexpected visit the same day.