Memoirs of a Veteran Part 8

S. money. Second, in the promulgation of the Civil Rights Bill, in April, 1866. Third, in forcing the Southern people to accept the 14th and 15th amendment to the Federal Const.i.tution, not as a war measure, as Abraham Lincoln claimed, when issuing his proclamation to free the negroes, but as political measures to perpetuate themselves in power.

Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, South Carolina and North Carolina refused to accept those conditions and in consequence were not admitted into the Union until 1868, although paying enormous taxes without representation, and finally had to submit in self defence. Virginia, Texas and Mississippi held out until 1870 before they succ.u.mbed to the thumb screw.

CHAPTER x.x.xX.

In writing the foregoing reminiscences I came near omitting an incident that unless inserted would make them incomplete. In 1868 I went to New York, via. Charlotte, North Carolina. It was a long journey by rail, on account of many disconnections and lay overs. On arriving at Greenville the South Carolina Legislators had adjourned in Columbia and boarded the train enroute for Was.h.i.+ngton, D. C. to see General Grant inaugurated as President of the U. S. The body at that time was composed of a mongrel set of coal black negroes, mulattoes and carpet baggers. Cartoosa, a mulatto, was then Treasurer of the State. A negro named Miller was General in chief of the S. C. militia of State troops. They came prepared to have a regular holiday. They carried large willow baskets full of the best provisions and champagne by the quant.i.ty, all at the expense of the State of South Carolina. On arriving at Aqua Creek, which was about 5 o'clock p. m., we took the boat up the Potomac and were furnished with dinner. When the bell rang, one of the South Carolina Legislators, a coal black negro, took his seat at the table when one of the waiters, also a negro, whispered in his ear. He replied in a very boisterous manner that his money was as good as any white man's. The waiter reported to the Purser, who took the would be gentleman by putting two fingers in his collar, lifted him up and gave him a kick that sent him reeling into the engine room. The white carpet baggers seemed not to have noticed this little side show. However the black brute continued his boisterous remarks and abusing the white race, and that he, a South Carolina representative had his dignity grossly insulted and that he was going to report the incident to General Grant on arrival. When an old gentleman who must have been between 65 and 70 years of age could not stand his abuse any longer, although the balance of the pa.s.sengers were amused at his discomfiture took a pistol from his coat side pocket, shoved it near the negro's face and remarked, I stood that abuse as long as I intend to; one more word and I'll send you to h.e.l.l where you belong, you black brute. The representative, seeing that this man meant what he said, kept mum. The South Carolina delegation undoubtedly made a report at headquarters of the above incident, for in the winding up of President Grant's inaugural address he expressed the following sentiments: That he hoped that white and black races would conform to the situation and that by mutual good conduct would maintain the peace and harmony so necessary for both races, or words to that effect.

Arriving in New York I took in the City. It was my first trip there since I had landed at Castle Garden from the four masted schooner, The Geneese, nearly ten years previous. I visited the large firm and emporium of H. B. Claflin & Company and spoke to Mr. Bancroft. I gave him a statement of my commercial standing, such as it was, and asked for his advice, as it was my first attempt as a dry goods merchant. My means being very limited I wanted to make them reach as far as possible. He treated me very courteously and furnished me with a salesman, whom he introduced as Mr. McClucklan. On our way to the bas.e.m.e.nt he asked me, What State? I said Georgia. D----n Georgia. I stopped at once, looking him squarely in the face I said, You can't sell me any goods, I am going for some one not prejudiced against my State, and started back, when he exclaimed, Hold on, you misconstrue me; I have been a prisoner at Andersonville and I hate the name of Georgia. I do not mean to say that there are no good people in Georgia, like everywhere else. Noting a keystone that I wore on my watch chain he said, I see you are a Mason?

So am I, displaying a square and compa.s.s pinned on the lapel of his coat. We can talk together, said he. If it had not been for a brother Mason I don't think I'd be here today, I think I would have died of starvation. He told me of his transit from Andersonville to the Coast.

When the train stopped at a country station, the name of which he did not know but he knew it was on the Central railroad, he gave the words of distress. It was a dark night, he could hardly have expected anybody to answer it, but someone did and before the train left some one brought him enough fried ham and biscuit to last him several days. So I said, It was wrapped in a home made napkin with blue borders. He looked at me with astonishment, saying, So it was; what do you know about it. I said, I am the fellow, and told him what I did and that Mrs. Hardwick commended me for it and would not take any pay and that the station was Davisboro. The man was beside himself. He hugged me, tears ran down his cheeks; he acted like a crazy fellow. He said, You can't buy any goods today, you are my guest. He ran to Mr. Bancroft to get excused, saying that I was an old friend and that he wanted to get off that day. He hired an open carriage and we drove over the whole city, showing me everything worth seeing. He carried me around to a fine restaurant and ordered an elaborate dinner, spent his money with the most lavish hand, regardless of my protestations, for he would not let me spend a copper.

The following day I made my purchases. It is useless to say that he dealt squarely with me and with his advice and experience I made what small capital I had purchase me a very decent stock of merchandise.

CHAPTER x.x.xXI.

Again when President Lincoln in 1863 issued his edict to the Commanding Generals in their respective territory to proclaim all the negroes free, as a war measure, as he claimed, he attempted on a large scale what John Brown failed to make a success of on a small scale, namely to create a servile insurrection, and thus exposing the helpless and defenceless to the rapacity of semi-savage hordes. But it failed, as all other attempts in that line have failed, thus again proving the good relations.h.i.+p existing between the masters and their servants. Compare the situation now with that of the ante-bellum days. When a white emissary from the North hired a horse and buggy from the proprietor of the hotel in Sandersville, Was.h.i.+ngton County, Georgia, and left with the same for parts unknown, he was finally located in Florida and captured and brought back and put in jail. The lock of the jail was so rusted for the want of use that it took the a.s.sistance of a locksmith to open the door to let him in. How is it now? A commodious building has had to be erected to accommodate the ma.s.ses who trample under foot the laws of their country; the jails and chaingangs are full to overflowing, with the perpetrators of crimes. Those are the results of the so called reconstructionists. Lynching was an unknown quant.i.ty in those days; there was no necessity for it. The laws of the country were administered, justly and loyally. Courts met at regular periods and often adjourned the same day for the want of patronage. Some say we are progressing. That is true, but in the wrong direction. Retrogressing is the proper word to apply, especially in morality.

CHAPTER x.x.xXII.

Another ill.u.s.tration worthy of mention in connection with the others is related here. A friend of mine named John J. Jordan, wounded at Vicksburg, Miss., one of the cleverest and inoffensive beings, owned several slaves by heritage. Among them was one John Foster, a mulatto.

He was an accomplished carpenter and very active. His master gave him his own time and he was comparatively free all his life, he was devoted to the Jordan family and was a very responsible negro, however, his newly made friends the carpet baggers filled his brains with such illusions that he became a leader among the negroes, making speeches and made himself very obnoxious to those who were his friends from infancy.

All at once Foster disappeared. He was gone a couple of years when his former master received a letter from him, dated New York, begging a.s.sistance to enable him to return to Was.h.i.+ngton County. Notwithstanding his master's impoverished condition, the money was sent him and Foster came back entirely reformed. He had no more use for the Yankees, his short stay among them cured him. What a pity the auth.o.r.ess of Uncle Tom's Cabin did not take John Foster under her protecting wings. What a lost opportunity! What a fine additional ill.u.s.tration that picture would have made to her already fertile imagination as the sequel will show.

One day John Foster came to my house to see me. Good day, Ma.r.s.e Ike, said he, I thought I'll come to see you it has been a long time since I sawn you, and the following conversation took place: Where have you been John? I've been to New York. How do you like New York? I don't like it at all, let me tell you Ma.s.s Ike, those Yankees are no friends of the negroes. Well John I could have told you so before you went. Ma.s.s Ike, let me tell you what they've done. They told me I could make a fortune in the North, that I could get four and five dollars a day by my trade as a carpenter. Who told you so? Why John E. Bryant and his like of carpet baggers. Well did you not get it? I got it in the neck, I tell you what they did. I left here with right smart money, Ma.r.s.e John let me pay him for my time and got nearly three hundred dollars that I saved. I went to New York, and after looking around the city for a few days I commenced hunting work, but wherever I went they shook their heads, for no. I spent the whole winter there without striking a lick until I spent all my money. I finally applied at a shop where a dutchman was foreman, I was willing to work at any price for I had to live but do you know what they did? No John, I don't. Well they every one of them, and they worked twenty-five hands, laid down their tools and walked out of the shop declaring that they would not work by the side of any d.a.m.ned negro, and the boss had to discharge me. No, Ma.r.s.e Ike, the Yankees are no friends to we colored people, only for what they can cheat us out of.

I worked all my life among white folks here at home and it made no difference, I tell you Ma.r.s.e Ike, the people of the South are the negroes friends. Well John, you did not say so before you left here. No, I did not appreciate what the people here done for me until I went North. Well, John, you ought to go among your people and disabuse their minds and tell them what you know from personal experience. I am doing that Ma.r.s.e Ike every day. I have not long to stay here below, I have contracted consumption from exposure and am hardly able to do a day's work. I am taking little jobs now and then. Well John, if you stand in need of anything come to see me. You will always find something to eat here and some clothes to wear. John died six months later.

CHAPTER x.x.xXIII.

Before concluding these reminiscences I take pleasure however in stating that Capt. Howell and myself met after the surrender and after a thorough understanding agreed that honors were easy and by mutual consent to bury the hatchet and eventually became warm friends. A little incident, however, is worth relating here. I was a delegate to a Governatorial Convention from Was.h.i.+ngton County. Capt. Howell also was a delegate from Fulton County, the vote was very close. We were each for the opposing candidate, the convention lasted for several days and could not agree. Capt. Howell came to see me, stating that he was a committee of one appointed by the caucus to come to see me and influence me to change my vote and vote for their candidate. I said "Capt. what did you tell them?" He said, "I said I doubt very much that my influence would have any effect, darn him I could not do anything with him when I had the power to control him and I am satisfied that my mission will be in vain." I said, "you spoke well, Captain, go back and report failure."

CONCLUSION.

I would be derelict in my duty and the grat.i.tude I feel towards the n.o.ble women of the South who shared the brunt of misery while their loved ones were at the front suffering the hards.h.i.+p and rigors of camp life, and were fighting the battles for what they deemed their most sacred duty. With aching heart and burning tears she bade her dear ones G.o.d speed and a safe return, shouldering all the responsibilities of providing for those who were left behind and not able to provide for themselves. Did they stop at that? Many delicacies and garments were sent to the front by them to cheer those in the field. They organized wayside homes for those soldiers who were in transit. They visited the hospitals and administered to the sick and wounded. They organized the ladies' relief a.s.sociation and in every way imaginable added to the comfort of those who shared the brunt of battle. The Confederate veterans felt grateful to their wives, daughters and kinswomen who banded themselves together under the name of U. D. C. They have proclaimed in songs and stories the righteousness of the Confederate cause and even at late date forced our adversaries to admit that the cause we fought for was right and the Courts so hold it. Would it be too much to ask the United Confederate Veterans to see that enduring monuments of imperishable material be erected in the capital of every Southern State to perpetuate the memory and the fidelity of those n.o.ble heroines?

[Ill.u.s.tration: "I've stood that abuse as long as I intend to; one more word and I'll send you to h.e.l.l, where you belong--you black brute."]

Sparta heroism was tame indeed in comparison with that of Southern women, especially those who were left in the wake of the invading armies amidst the ruins of a once happy home. It is a half a century that has elapsed since the thunder of Fort Sumter shook this hemisphere. New generations have appeared on the scene, fraternization is progressing slowly, but surely, the past is relegated gradually to the rear and the States again a.s.sert their rights, as they see it. Therefore it behooves the National administration to see to it that equal rights to all and special privileges to none, is its duty to enforce so as to maintain this nation the greatest nation on the globe. The sections must get together and look to the wants and needs of their a.s.sociates and as far as lies in their power a.s.sist in bringing relief. Thus past differences will vanish and brotherly love will again prevail and this United States of America will forever be united to stand in bold relief the model government in the world.

THE END.