Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-07-02
A War "Reminiscences.
Indlanapolls journal.

A rather interesting story of the
war was told by Joseph r. Perry, at
the national convention of soldiers,
which was held at Indianapolis last
summer; but, as the reports Of the SEES
sion were necessarily abridged, it es-
capped publication at the time.
1T was some time in the summer
of 1861, Mr.. Perry said, that the
2lst Ohio regiment were down in
West Virginia, in the Kanawha river
region. The regiment was composed
of men gathered up promiseuously in
the Black swamp region of Ohio
There were one or two companies of
gray haned men, too old to bear arms
who had gone into service to fight for
princlple-not merely to put down
the rebellion, but to emancpate the
slaves They were very religious,
and they would hold prayer meeting
at night. They would pray for the
freedom of the slaves, ard that the
negroes might have equal rights with
the white people. Their prayers were
very interesting to us young fellows
who would go there To listen to them.
thing more than the issue of the war
promised at that time, but everything
that those old fellows asked in their
prayers came about afterward, and 1t
is out of those results that this Incl
dent I'm telling you about came to a
conclusion. We camped one day near
a little town called Red Bank on the
Kanawba, and after our coffee had
been prepared we found that we
hadn't spoonful Of sugar in camp.
There were lot Of negro cabins over
on hillside opposite our camp, and |
agreed to 60 over and try to get some
sugar from the negroes. There was
/ but Is cents in money in the whole
camp, but took that and started over
with n tin can to get the sugar.
entered one of the cabins and found q
buxom negro woman with two little
picksninnles hanging TO her linsey
dress. They drew off into q corner of
the cabin, half frightened when l
went in, but | told them that they
needn't be afraid that only wanted
some sugar, and that bad the money
to pay for it..
p" Use kindly feared o you 'uns,
said the negro woman mastah told
me not to have anything to do with
you Yankees, cause yol'se gwine to
take us off to Cuby and sell us to get
money To carry on the wah.
=" My good woman, said to her,
giving her little blarney, because |
wanted the sugar, you don't under
stand what this war is about. We
Yankees are hghting for you, and If
this war comes out the way we want
it to, you will be free, and you
won't have any master, and,will have
all the rights that white people have.
Your little boy there will be sent to
school, and nc will have just as good
chance to become governor Of Nir-
ginia as any white boy
Fo' de Lord, you don't say so 7
she exclaimed
II went on to tell her then about
how the black people we're Just as
good as the white, and how they
would be benefited if we were victo-
rious Before / quit talking she
brought out an old can and gave me
what sugar | wanted She didn't
waht to take the money, but l told
her that she'd better, and she accept
ed it. 1t was only an incident Of the
day, and after told the boys in camp
how got the sugar / thought no
more about the matter. had for
gotten it entirely until about three
years ago, when | was returning from
the city hospital one night, when the
81
with a basket of clothes. was sit
ting near the door, and helped her to
lift the basket into the car. She sat
down beside me, and remarked
mighty cold tonight. Don't have
any such cold weather down where
my old home is.
Where was your old homer |
inquired.
"'At the little town of Red Bank,
down on the Kanawha riy er, in Yves
Virginyah
"Did you live in little cabin,
with a well beside it, and opposite a
big white houseT asked her.
+" Right dar was whar | lived.
"'And do you remember when the
Yankee soldiers camped over in the
meadow
"''Deed / do sir. / remember that
well.
=" Do you remember young soldier
with a brass horn strapped to his
shoulder and a small sword at his
side, coming over to your cabin to buy
some sugarT
al should say do. / remembers
dat young man mighty well. He
spoke the first good words | ever heard
said about the colored people. He
told me that | was to be free, and that
my little boy might be president some !