St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1879-03-22
" JIM SHANKS.''

~ I'M Ola ~ hSs
The boys used to say that you couldn't
understand man until you had tented
with him st the front, and there was
considerable weight to the saving. A
comrade might b. known as Jolly,
good-hearted fellow st home, but his
whole natnTe would change in week
when you had him where the real man.
hood and worth of man came to the
surface, or where miserably mean
spirit took the place of it and disguise d
you with him. A comrade who shared
his last cracker, performed his full share
of camp and field work, stood by you in
81 sickness and divided clothing with you
g in heal man was more to you
o r. IN all the brothers at home, ard il be
}. lived to come out of the war has not
been forgotten. The army is the place
where nsn can be meaner than dirt
and uglier than wolf, and yet retain
his place in the ranks, or he can Re a
WHINE man all through and receive no
reward except the gratitude of his tent
mate.
NOW, never saw meaner private
soldier or more sulky and morose tent
mate than luck gave me in the year of
1864 D. He came down in the fall q
recruit, having enlisted for the big
bounty. and at thst time the old vets
who had faced shots AMI shells ior
several years had au edgewise feeling
against these fresh fish, who had
Poeketed Eve or six hundred dollars and
came Down TO spend the winter in a
warm but. Some of the recruits realized
this, and by their good nature and pleas
ant ways SOON banished the feeling 80 far
as they were concerned. Others were
nestled an indignant, and were not in
clinta that the cid vets should get
relieved of one single camp duty becaus Sc
OF the arrival of new men.
Fate or luck SAINT ME "Jina Shauksn
for tautmate. He was Jim some ons
e.se, but shs nickname way very appro
pirate. He was doggtd and suleu from
the first, as1I we hadn't known each other
two hours before we had quarrel. Next
day We fought again, and after that we
did not exchange word for four weeks.
When | saw how mean he was, and
found that kind words, kind wishes and
Il friendly Interest would not touch him,
lot him alone as far az / could, and
contented myself with knowing taat
every other member of com pany &c"
hated him az much as did.
One night band of twenty-five men
meved ont of our camp for scout across
the Loud'n valley, then held by Mosby,
and luck placed Jim Shanks alongside
Of ma. he was selected BY accident, it
being the intention to take better man,
but he was there just the same, silent, |
suiien, and ready to elbow or bayonet
anyone who accidentally brushed him,
That hi4ht as We filed along the muddy
highway, speaking only in whis,e.s. T
saw Jim Ia iloat oil me and l whispered
to myself:
" Jim shanks, if you don't get killed
down here youIl be hung for murder
before you are ont Of the army year !''
inst IN the gray of morning, and
wien within mile OF Union Town, Jim
Shauks and myself were sent forward to
reconnoiter. would have sooner gone
alone, aud fen times sooner had the
company IF any one else. but luck
decided il. We said not word. I
Watehf d Jim and saw that he was as cool ,
a. mn old solder. He knew as well as .
did that We were advancing on Mosby's ]
headq aarters, but he stepped out boldly 4
and with no change in his dem amor.
Nh+n We had nearly reached the
shu,cf, standing on the hill above the
,oRn an tdding the road leading away
d Le.shsisg. I halted, knowing that q 5
,ieset post miss be near. had not i,
re an2el word with Jim for days, .,
TT now I whispered to him that we v
aul proceed viii: csusion. =
s. IF yeu are tired, sit down in the D
lid r. s,owled. stridmg sloug, ard ii
tn a ssnuse | followed him. bsth of Z
! walk % The side OF the highway o;
Iaew he would soon strike the picket, !
III it was either follow Jim or turn
sck. Suddenly, aui without . word. b
re or six men rose up in our Path. | hi
II barely di.eerned them when one m
I'D my carhine and another tripped m
{ down, while third growled cut: nr
IL ysn make any III !, you'll get a vi
1T mighty quick" th
didn't propose to make any tuss, but be