The National tribune., 1888-09-06

"
to find a nature that would infict such cruel
ties on his fellow-men. Let us at least give
him the benefit that his appearance first i'm
pressed upon our minds, and charge the out
rageous atrocities where they rightfuliy be-
long-to the leaders of the Southern rebellion.
One would imagine that amid all this misery
and wo that there would be no such thing as
pleasurable sensations; yet, notwithstanding,
there was occasionally something that would
make the prisoners face light up with joy,
and which was principally furnished by the
prisoners themselves | know not whether 1t
was because of our situation or whether 1t was
the fine musical voices that would sometimes
join in song, but certain ii is that never before
nor since have l listened to such affecting
music.
THE LOYAL GERMANS AND IRISH.
Among the many nationalities that composed
the rank and file of our armies there were none
more determined to prove their loyalty to their
adopted country than the Germans, and the
same can equally be said of our Irish fellow
citizens. There were quite q number OF stall
wart Germans confined in Salisbury, and to
them are due many Of the pleasant feelings
and emotions that their harmonious and must
cal singing brought for the moment. They
generally sang in their own language, and
with such fervoV and feeling that it would
cause the whole stOckade to stand in silence
and listen to them, as they would fill the whole
prison with the music of their German war
songs one of which il appeared every German
in the prison knew, as they would join in and
sing the chorus: "In der Sud, in der Sud,
in der Sud-" while sometimes they would
sing it in Eugli5hi In the South, in the
South, in the South" Not only did it help
the prisoners for the time being to forget their
misery, but the fame Of their musical voices
brought many of the citizens of Salisbury, who
would stand outside the fence on the guard
,g.E,sr ,Ff in
and they would sometimes signify their appre-
citation by family clapping their hands, while,
l have no doubt, they wondered how it was
that such miserable wretches could find heart
even to try to do anything pleasant But the
German prisoners were not alono IN their mu-
steal accomplishments, while it must be admit
ted they attracted more attention. There was
one singer among the Irish prisoners who when
be would sing caused much merriment aud
daughters but, unlike his German comrades,
instead Of singing in the open air, where every
body could hear him, he would modestly con-
ceal his abilities and sing principally in the
night time, when he and the others that occu-
pied their hole under ground were collected to-
gether. Often have I heard that apparently
rollicking Irish prisoner entertaining his COM
radcs with his fayOrito song Of "Fiunegan's
Wake" and he would invariably end a certain
verse with the heartiest and prolonged laugh
ter, which did ones soul good and eased our
hearts to hear. And how queer to hear coming
up out Of the ground the familiar words Of
Fnnegan's Wake;
20 Paddy, dear what made We die
Such purity corpse l never did see," etc.
Now, while have related some of our mu-
steal pleasures, and all furnished by our own
talent, it must not be forgotten that the rebels
who were doing guard duty were also some
what Of q musical turn. Who that were pris-
oneTs in Salisbury can ever forget that cornct
band that every night when the weather per-
mitted would regale and charm Us with the
strains of the Mocking Bird u? Did | say
Mocking Bird y? Well, yes; that's what it
was intended for, but the manner in which the
rebel horn-tooters bowed it through their
/ fractured instruments was enough to make the
beautiful feathered song5ter commit suicide.
| This was another source Of torture that Us
! poor pcnned-up mortals we're forced to endure
and for which VIC can never be sufficiently
] rec0mpensed. The Tasping Of q file over a
/ rd-tempered piece Of steel could not be more
/ keenlY penetrating TO sensitive nerves than
I were the harsh, disc0rdant notes that were jar
/ ringly blown from that rebel musicians old
/ cracked cornet.
TRADING FOR BUTTONS AND NEEDLES.
| Nor was music the only thing that diverted
! the prisoners mind from his miseries One
/ would suppose that In such place and with
/ so much visible poverty surrounding every
/ thing there could not possibly be anything oil
value; yet, notwithstanding. there was a regu-
| lar market, where someone was continually
bartering and trading for anything whereby
/ they could profit or get something TO eat The
| principal articles for barter aud which had the
most value, especially to the rebel guards, were
buttons and needles, which the guards would
eagerly purchase by exchanging red peppers OF
onions, and sometimes a potato, and occasion.
ally some meal and fat pork but it was
very rarely that meat Of any kind could be
/ traded for. No doubt it would puzzle tht
reader, If not explained, how it was that
trade with a rebel guard could safely be done
so | will enlighten by relating how this mar
ket inside the prison was supplied with tht
products Of the South. As have before relat
ed, there was not sufficient water within The
Enclosure to meet the ordinary wants for drink
ing and cooking purposes and therefore there
was each day selected detail of prisoners who
under guard, would be marched out at the biz
gate and down to the creek that / mentioned
in my escape where Virgins and l washed
ourselves. There they would fill an old flou
barrel which had n hole cat on each side
through which a stick sufficiently long ant
strong was placed, aud thus with each end 0
the pole on their shoulder and the barrel il
between, would this water guard march to th
creek for water. 1t was while these trip
were being made that the prisoners woul,
strike up trade, 1t seemed that the citizen
of the Confederacy were extremely short 0
needles and buttons and in order to get then
they would make to the water detail some yer,
liberal and tempting offers, which the Yank
were eager to secure This is the way in Whc
the market or "board of trade" was started
, Those who were fortunate enough to be place.
on the water detail would after he had secures
some advantage in getting red peppers o
onions from the guard in trade immedatel
20 on change and his voice could be heard
crying out, Who wants to trade brass button
for red peppers" or " who wants to trade nee
die for an onion" aud, of course, he woul
. attract custom and do considerable business o
such capital 1t was a common occurrence {
see the prisoners cut the buttons off of thei
clothes and trade them for onions or pepper
r At the time ! left the prison there was not
| brass button to be seen on the prisoners clothe
c they had traded them off and substituted littl
= sticks, which answered tho purpose of button
Z Where the needles came from | do not know
Y but there was always some on the market f
d which the highest price would be asked an
readily given so highly-prized were they
7 the rebels Such a thing Us a penknife v;
: worth fabulous price, and | only rememB
. Of hearing Of one put on the market, whiC
. was held too high for any of the traders
= touch, but believe it was finally traded off,
;, one Of the water-detail TO one of the guar,
- for small bag of BEANS some meal, onion
3 .,d ,,cfaFose which must hnya bapu onifa