The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-03-06
"JIM SHANKS,o
A Story Of the War.

jim SHANASs"
A Story Of the War.
The boys used to say that you could
not understand q man until you had
tented with him at the front, and there
was considerable weight to the saying.
A comrade might be known as q jolly,
good-hearted fellow at home, but his
whole nature 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 disguised you
with him. A comrade who shared his
last cracker, performed his full share of
camp and field work, stood by you in
sickness and divided clothing with you
in health-such man was more to you
than all the brothers at home, and if he
livedto come out of the war has not
been forgotten. The army is the place
where q man can be meaner than dirt
and uglier than a wolf and yet retain
his place in the ranks, or he can be a
white man all through and receive no
reward except the gratitude of his tent
mate.
Now, l never saw a meaner private
soldier or more sulky and morose
tent-mate than luck gave me in the win
ter of 1864-'65. He came down to us in
the fall recruit having enlisted for the
big bounty, and at that time the old vets
who had faced shot and shell for sever
al years had an edgewise feeling against
these "fresh fish," who had pocketed
five or six hundred dollars and came
down to spend the winter in a warm hut.
Some of the recruits realized this and
by their good nature and pleasant ways
soon banished the feeling so far as they
were concerned. Others were nettled
and indignant and were not inclined
that the old vets should get relieved of
one single camp duty because of the ar
rival of new men.
Fate or luck sent me "Jim Shanks -
fer terminate. He was Jim some one
else, but the nickname was very appro-
pirate. He was logged and sulien from
the first, and we hadn't known each
other two hours before we had quar-
rel. Next day We fought again, and
after that we did not exchange word
for three weeks. When l saw how
mean he was and found that kind words,
kind wishes and friendly interest
would not touch him let him alone as
far as l could and contented myself
with knowing that every member of
Company sc" hated him as much as I
did.
One night band of twenty-five men
moved out of our camp for a scout across
the Loudon Valley, then held by Mosby,
and luck placed jim Shanks alongside
of me. He was selected by accident, it
being the intention to take better man,
but he was there just the same silent,
sullen and ready to elbow or bayonet
any one who accidentally brushed him.
That night as we filed along the muddy
highway, speaking only in whispers, I
saw Jim in front Of me and whispered
to myself:
"Jim Shanks, if you don't get killed
down here you'll be hung for murder
before you are out of the army year,"
Just in the gray of the morning, and
when within mile of Union Town, Jim
Shanks and myself were sent forward
to reconnoitre. l would have sooner
gone alone and ten times sooner had the
company of any one else, but luck de-
cided it. We said not word. watch
ed Jim and saw that he was as cool as
an old soldier. He knew as well as |
did that we were advancing on Mosby's
headquarters, but he stepped out boldly
and with no change in his demeanor.
When we had nearly reached the
church standing on the hill above the
town and facing the road leading away
to Leesburg, halted, knowing that
picket post must be near. l had not ex-
changed word with Jim for DAYS, but
now whispered to him that we must
proceed with caution.
eff you are tired sit down in the mud"
he growled, striding along, and after a
minute l followed him, both of us walk
ing on the side of the highway. I knew
we would soon strike the picket but it
was either follow Jim or turn back.
Suddenly and without word five or six
men rose up in our path. I had barely
dscerned them when one seized my
carbine and another tripped me down
while third growled out:
" II you make any fuss you'll get
bullet mighty quick"
| didn't propose to make any fuss
but Jim Shanks did. The two men who
grabbed at him were brushed off like
flies, and whirling his carbine around
his head he cleared path for himself
and was lost in the darkness. More
than dozen shots were fired after him,
and being intercepted on his retreat
down the road he made for the church
on the hill. Before he reached it there
were score of enemies about him, and
the reports of the carbines sounded
more Ike brisk skirmish than a con-
fiict with single soldier, and raw re-
cruit at that. think he meant to get
into the church, though he could not
hcu fnlA -