The river, the sword, and the silent Soldier

"I dreamed that I was inside a very old Southern house, crossing a river that ran through it. Theo was with me, and we were each given swords. To get across, we had to balance carefully on a floating bridge above the water. Theo made it across successfully. I was afraid of the water and hesitated for a long time, unsure whether I could make it to the other side. As I hesitated, the wooden walls separating the inside of the house from the outside began to close. I used my sword to try to force them open again. When I did, old Black Confederate soldiers appeared. They wore grey uniforms, but they looked ancient and were seated in electric wheelchairs. I held my sword and felt ready to fight them. They had a strange, heavy presence, but one of them tried to speak to me. I could not understand what he was trying to say. I woke up feeling unsettled and afraid. The image of the closing walls, the uncertain river crossing, and the old soldiers stayed with me. I was left wondering what the soldier had wanted to say and why I had felt both threatened by him and compelled to listen."