There were many episodes in the history of the American people that would be a shame to be buried in learned books, and they began to be told from generation to generation. The father passed them on to his son, and the friends passed them on to their friends. Thus, historical events entered folk art and became legends.
Such legends tell about two brave women, Mother Kate and Agnes Hobson, about two hot horses - Silver Horseshoe and Swallow, and about Captain Hood from Georgia.
The Silver Horseshoe was a handsome gray-haired horse, a tall, sleek, hardy stallion. He and a black horse named Swallow came from the stables of General George Washington himself. The famous general presented them to Captain Hood, who took part in many battles under the command of General Washington. These horses traced their ancestry to Arabian horses, and they claim that these are the best horses in the world. They could fly like the wind, or they could walk quieter than a cat, and they all understood what the owner was saying.
Captain Hood valued these horses very much and brought them with him when he settled in Georgia. He never parted with the Silver Horseshoe either in peacetime or during war.
And in those days there was a harsh war going on. The war of liberation against the English king, whose troops ruled the thirteen colonies, which later became free states. Battles took place everywhere, but the battles in the last years of the war were especially hot in the South.
Captain Hood by that time had already been promoted to general, he was the first in any battle, riding the Silver Horseshoe. His faithful horse saved his life more than once.
But one day the general was seriously wounded and captured by the British. He was sent to Fort Cornwallis in Augusta and thrown into prison. The commandant of the fort was General Brown, a rude and merciless man.
Those were dark days for America. British soldiers burned and looted American homes and trampled fields and crops. There was no mercy for the rebellious Americans, and General Hood was sentenced to death without hesitation.
This terrible news instantly reached his possessions, which were located nearby. Everyone was overcome with bitter sadness. Mrs. Hood, his relatives and friends, even the black slaves grieved and were killed for him.
Among his slaves was an already middle-aged black woman, whose name was Mother Kat. She was a strong and fearless woman. She could not be called beautiful, but she was distinguished by her quick mind, and everyone respected and loved her.
Having heard about the misfortune, she immediately came to her mistress.
“I will free Mass Hood,” she said. “Only for this I need Swallow.” I can handle the rest
herself.
- But how will you do it, Kat? Why do you think it will succeed?
“I saw a white horse in a dream and made a wish. I know my wish will come true. Trust me with everything!
And she told the lady what she had planned. Convinced that there was no other choice, Ms. Hood agreed.
Mother Kate mounted the Swallow, which was as good as the Silver Horseshoe, and rode off to Augusta, about fifty miles from
Hood Plantation. There was Fort Cornwallis, where General Hood was in custody.
Before reaching the city, she went to her friends and left Swallow with them. She asked to hide her from prying eyes and said that she would return soon. Then she got hold of a large laundry basket, placed it on her head, and went to Fort Cornwallis.
Mother Kat thought well, and she had a good tongue. She went straight to the officer in command of the fort and said that she wanted to earn extra money doing laundry and would be willing to wash the gentlemen's officers' sheets and shirts.
- Do you really know how to iron our frilly blouses properly? - asked the officer.
- I can do everything! - said Mother Kat. “Even climbing trees is as good as a cat.” And no one in all of Georgia irons frilly shirts better than me. You'll see, in my hands they will become like new.
The officer liked her open face, wide smile and lively ingenuity.
- If you are such a craftswoman, how did it happen that you are looking for a job?
- A bad bee is one that produces less honey than it can.
- So, you're good at ironing frilly shirts?
“I don’t want to brag, but that’s how it is.” Although the crow cannot sing sweetly, no one will say that it makes little noise.
The officer smiled back. It was not so easy to find a woman who knew how to iron officer shirts with ruffles and frills well.
Mother Kate was given the job she asked for, and she did it very well. Every day she came to the fort with her large laundry basket, took away the dirty shirts and returned them clean and ironed every evening.
Everyone liked Kat because she loved to joke and laugh. She tried to make friends with all the soldiers
dates of the fort, even with those who guarded the entrance to the prison. And soon she entered and left prison as easily as from her home.
General Hood recognized her immediately, but she gave him a warning glance in time to prevent him from showing it.
One day, as if as a joke, she told General Hood
presence of a guard:
“I can wash your shirts too, Massa Hood, while you sit here in prison, if you want, of course.”
“I really want to, my dear,” said the general. “And I’ll gladly pay you for it.”
“Until you get permission from General Brown, this is prohibited,” the guard intervened.
“Well, permission is not difficult to obtain, no more difficult than for a squirrel to crack a nut,” said Kat, smiling.
A few days later she brought General Brown his frilly and ruffled shirts, which she ironed with special care. He was very pleased and praised her for her excellent work.
Mother Kat's face shone with pride. She thanked and said:
“General, that prisoner whom you are holding in prison and are going to execute soon, asked me to wash his shirts.” Do you mind? He says he will pay. And my hands are raking, and if you put more pennies in them, you'll get golden guineas.
General Brown laughed at the joke and remarked:
“Well, he’s in good hands and I don’t think he’ll have to wear the shirts for long.” You can do his laundry for him if you want. Let him go on his last journey in a clean shirt.
From that day on, Mother Kate began to see General Hood often, and when they were alone, she told him about her plan. He just shook his head, believing that all this was impossible. However, Mother Kat did not doubt luck, and since for the general this was the only opportunity to save his life, he agreed.
As they say, a drowning man clutches at straws.
Soon after this, the brave conspirator learned that the general was going to be shot in a few days.
She immediately rushed to prison.
-Did you hear the bell ringing, general? - she asked him. - It's in the church nearby. “And then she added in a whisper: “Tomorrow, when I bring you the shirts, be ready.”
The next day, Mother Kat came to the fort in the evening. She distributed ironed linen to the British officers, took away what needed to be washed, and on the way looked into the prison to give General Hood his things.
It was already dark, and they found themselves alone in the cell. Kat shook out all the dirty laundry from the basket and, placing it on the floor, said:
“Hurry, Massa Hood, lie down in the basket and curl up like a puppy!”
- Well, what are you talking about! You can't get it across. I'm heavy.
- How heavy are you? For a man, you are not big, but you have a big mind. Well, I’m a big woman and I have a strong head. Get into your cart quickly.
She was right. General Hood fits nicely in the basket. Mother Kat threw the laundry on top, picked up the basket from the floor with both hands and placed it on her head. Holding the basket by the edge, she slowly walked out of the cell, as she had done more than once.
A guard stood at the door.
“Oh, my basket is heavy today,” she complained to the young soldier.
“Since you started coming here, our officers are ready to change their shirts every day,” the soldier sympathized with her.
- The more, the better, as long as they pay! - said Mother Kat. “I’m already thinking about raising the price.”
- Not for us, poor soldiers.
- What should I take from you? No, from the officers I
The harvest comes in gold, but from you - in pitiful coppers. You can't get by with them!
The soldier liked her answer and freely released her from the prison and escorted her out the gate, as he did every day.
At first she walked very calmly, without hurrying, but as soon as the fort behind her disappeared behind the trees and the sentries were no longer afraid of her, Mother Kate lowered the basket to the ground and General Hood climbed out of it. It was already completely dark.
“Hide behind the trees, my lord, and wait here for me.” I ordered the Silver Horseshoe to be sent from your stables. I rode here on the Swallow myself. With such beautiful horses, no one will overtake us. I'll go get them now.
She disappeared into the darkness, and before the general could blink an eye, she returned with the horses. General Hood mounted the Silver Horseshoe, and Mother Kate mounted the Swallow. The horses rose like lightning and instantly flew to the plantation.
Everyone was very happy that the escape was a success, and they praised Mother Kat and thanked her. A real feast was held in honor of General Hood and Mother Kat. And in honor of the Silver Horseshoe and Swallow, of course, too.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru