... And In Thinking Of My Life,

Though Conscious Of The Difficulty Of Learning Without A Teacher, I Set Out With High Hope, And A Fixed Purpose, At Whatever Cost Of Trouble, To Learn How To Read.

There Are At The Present Moment Many Colored Men In The Confederate Army Doing Duty Not Only As Cooks, Servants And Laborers , But As Real Soldiers, Having Muskets On Their Shoulders, And Bullets In Their Pockets, Ready To Shoot Down Loyal Troops, And Do All That Soldiers May To Destroy The Federal Government And Build Up That Of The Traitors And Rebels.

A Gentleman Will Not Insult Me, And No Man Not A Gentleman Can Insult Me.

The Constitution Of The United States Knows No Distinction Between Citizens On Account Of Color. Neither Does It Know Any Difference Between A Citizen Of A State And A Citizen Of The United States.

Who Would Be Free Themselves Must Strike The Blow. Better Even To Die Free Than To Live Slaves.