23 



take a drink, have a lioi-se race, oi- go to dinner," as tlie 

 ease niav be. And ranks wonld be broken fortliwith. 



The officers were the only ones dressed in gorgeous uni- 

 forms and cocked liats witli feathers; they strutted around 

 with conscious authority. 



These uniforms, tliey say, were always lianded down to 

 successors and were worn, no matter what fit tliey niadf; 

 on recipient. Another duty of this militia was to patrol 

 the country to keep the negroes in bounds. 



No negro was allowed off their owners' plantation after 

 dark, without pass, and the patrol system was inaugurated 

 to enforce these orders. Some of you remember the old re- 

 frain of the darkey — 



"Run, nigger, run, de patrol coniin','' 



In order to show style of summons I will reproduce one 

 in my possession : 



MusTERFiELD, 23 Feb., 182vQ, 



Patrol Beat No 2. 

 Mr. .S. D. Doar, 

 0ir : 

 You are hereby required to take under your command, all 

 persons, Mable to patrol Duty, from Uellevue to D. Hor- 

 ry's VVam] aw plantation, and from Wm. Lucas's Wsmbaw 

 place, to Islington, the last included, and perform patrol 

 duty accor'.ling to law, and return this Warrant with a list 

 of DefauKers, on oath, to Commanding Officer of Company, 

 at next Muster day. 



(Signed) John Butler^ Capt. 



The plant(n's on river, and around, also had a clubhouse 

 on River Road, where they met, once a month, during Winter 

 for social intercourse. Each man took his turn to furnish 

 dinner and all necessaries. It was found at first that there 

 was great rivalry amongst members, as to who should have 

 the best spread. So. to put the richer and poorer contribu- 

 tors on same footing and prevent comlpetition, only a cer- 

 tain nundjer of dishes of a certain class were to be provided, 



