What was the reason why Jourdon most likely responded to the Colonel’s letter? Describe Jourdon’s character based on his response to the Colonel?

Cite information from the letter to support your explanation.

To my old Master, Colonel P. H. Anderson

Big Spring, Tennessee

1Sir: I got your letter, and was glad to find that you had not forgotten Jourdon, and that you wanted me to come back and live with you again, promising to do better for me than anybody else can. I have often felt uneasy about you. I thought the Yankees would have hung you long before this, for harboring Rebs1 they found at your house Although you shot at me twice before I left you, I did not want to hear of your being hurt, and am glad you are still living. It would do me good to go back to the dear old home again, and see Miss Mary and Miss Martha and Allen, Esther, Green, and Lee

2 I want to know particularly what the good chance is you propose to give me. I am doing tolerably2 well here. I get $25 a month, with [food] and clothing; have a comfortable home for Mandy, — the folks call her Mrs. Anderson, — and the children — Milly, Jane, and Grundy — go to school and are learning well. The teacher says Grundy has a head for a preacher. They go to Sunday school, and Mandy and me attend church regularly. We are kindly treated Now if you will write and say what wages you will give me, I will be better able to decide whether it would be to my advantage to move back again.

3As to my freedom, which you say I can have, there is nothing to be gained on that score, as I got my free papers in 1864 from the Provost-Marshal-General of the Department of Nashville. Mandy says she would be afraid to go back without some proof that you were disposed to treat us justly and kindly; and we have concluded to test your sincerity by asking you to send us our wages for the time we served you I served you faithfully for 32 years, and Mandy 20 years. At $25 a month for me, and $2 dollars a week for Mandy, our earnings would amount to $11,680. Add to this the interest for the time our wages have been kept back, and deduct what you paid for our clothing, and three doctor’s visits to me, and pulling a tooth for Mandy, and the balance will show what we are in justice entitled to.

4Please send the money by Adam’s Express, in care of V. Winters, Esquire, Dayton, Ohio. If you fail to pay us for faithful labors in the past, we can have little faith in your promises in the future. We trust the good Maker3 has opened your eyes to the wrongs which you and your fathers have done to me and my fathers, in making us toil4 for you for generations without [pay]

5In answering this letter, please state... if there has been any schools opened for the colored children in your neighborhood. The great desire of my life now is to give my children an education, and have them form virtuous habits.

From your old servant,

Jourdon Anderson