added the Colonel, with emphasis, if it doesn't come back to me safe, be careful that you do not come back. His old soldier comrade lived in a distant parish, and so impressed was he with the earnestness of his former commander's words, that he was afraid to trust it to the express company or any messenger, and it was only when one of the Colonel's sons by accident happened to be in his portion of the State, that he hunted him up and asked if he was quite sure that he could bring the sword safely back to the Colonel, if he were entrusted with it. [From the Richmond (Va.) Enquirer, May 10, 1871.]