[Louisiana] Monday. Engaged a newly escaped Contraband to do our cooking. He is a mulatto, twenty-six years old, a native of New Orleans, by the name of Victor. He has lately lived with a rebel master about five miles below here, on the other side of the river. He appears intelligent & speaks French as well as English, though he cannot read. Was a house servant at New Orleans, but of late has worked at coopering. His wife came here before him, & on his arrival last Sunday found she had linked her fortune with another!
Diary of Isaac Winslow Case [Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection]