The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1881-10-11
Jim SEANEs."


couldn't understand man Until yon
had tented with him MT the front, and
there was considerable weight to
the saying. A coInradc might be
known as jolly, good-hearted fcl-
low at home. but his whole nature
would change In week when
you haG him where the real manhood
and worth ola man came 10 tho SUR
face, or where. miscrably mean
spirit took the place oft and dis
gusted you with him. A comradc
who shared his last cracker, per-
formed HE full share of camp and
field work. stood by you in sickness
and diyided clothing wiih.yo in
healthr-such a man WAS moro TO yon
than all the brothers at home, aud If
he lived 10 come out of the war has
not been forgotten. The army is the
place where man can be moaner
than dirt aud uglier than wolf, and
yet retain his place in tho ranks, or
no can be white man all through
and receive 10 reward except the
gratitude of his terminate.
Now, l never saw q iDcaner private
soldier or more sulky and morosc
tent-mate than luck gave me in the
year Of lS64-5. He came down in the
Fall recruit, having enlisted for the
big bounty, and at that time the old
vets who had faced shots and shells
for several years had an edgewise
feeling against these "fresh fish" who
had pockcted five or six hundred dol
lars 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 net
tied and indignant, and were not in.
,clined that the old vets should got re-
lieycd of one single camp duty be.
cause of the arrival OF new men.
Fate or luck sent me "Jim Shanks"
for a terminate. He was Jim some
One else, but the nickname was very
appropriate. lie was logged and
sullen from the first, and we hadn't
known each other two hours before
we had quarrel. Next day we
fought again. and after that we did
not exchange a word for four weeks.
When l saw how mean he was, and
found that kind words, kind wishes
and q friendly interest would not
touch him, / lot him alone as far as l
could, aud confronted myself with
knowing that every other member of
company "En hated him as did.
One night q band of twenty-five
tincn moved out of our camp for a
scout across the London valley, then
held by Mosby, and luck placed jim
Shanks alongside of me. He was So
lected by accident, il being the inten-
ton 10 take q better man, but he was
lust the same, silent, cullen, and
ready TO elbowor bayonet any one
|.who accidentally brushed him. That
night as wo filed along the muddy
highway, speaking only in whispers,
| saw Jim in front ofme aud ! wills.
peredAp myself:
! jim Shanks. II you don't got killed
down here you'll be hung for murder
before you arc out OF the army q
| year.
1 just in tho gray of morning, and
when within a mile OF Union Town
jim Shalks and myself we're sem
forward 10 reconnoiter. would
have sooner gone alone, aud ten times
J sooner had the company Of any ont
else, but luck decided it, We sale
, l,not word. / watched Jim and saw
, that be was as cool as All old soldier
, EMe knew as well us / did that,w,
were advancing on Mosby's head
{ quarters but he stepped out bold.
/, land wiihno chengein his dcmeanol
: When We had nearly reached u
I, fchurch, standing on the hill above tn
/ town and facing the road leadiul
! AWAY to Leesburg. l'halted, know
& ling that a'pickei post must be neal
4 | had not exchanged aword wit
!. Jim for days, but now ] whispered /
him that We must proceed with cav
7 ton. n
q Y you are slFod, ST down ia II