Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-10-29
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
CONFEDERATE cAvE-DwELLERs.
How Southern Deserters Hid Themselves
to Escape Army Service.

How Southern Deserters Hid Themselves
to Escape Army Service.
The deserter made q vast improve
ment on the burrow of the runaway
Negro. His cave was larger, better con-
structed and better appointed than its
prototype, but not better concealed
Banding together in squads of two or
three, some unfrequented place would
be chosen, generally on a hillside to
avoid moisture, and as near a stream as
practicable, for the easiest and safest
way of disposing of the earth thrown
up in digging the pit was to dump it in
running water. The site being careful
" selected and reconnoitered from
every possible way of approach, a
watch was set, and work was begun
and pressed with the utmost dispatch.
First the leaves or pine-needles were
raked back and a space lined off, )"
usually six by eight feet, but often con-
siderably larger. Then the ubiquitous
bedquilt was spread to catch every par
ticle of the tell-tale clay, and grubbing
hoes, spades and all available imple-
ments were put in rapid motion. As
any prolongation of the work increased
the danger of discovery, the object was
to get it dug and concealed at the earli-
est possible moment Every hand that
could be trusted-old men, women and
children-was called in to assist To
these auxiliaries fell the hardest part of
the task, that of disposing of the dirt,
which of course could not be left near
the cave. This was generally "toted"
away in buckets and piggins, and dump
ed in the adjacent stream, and as the
direction from which the cave was APP
preached had to be constantly changed
lest the faintest vestige of path should
betray the spot, the labor of transport
ing eight or ten cubic yards of earth in
this primitive fashion was no light I'M
dertaking.
The proper depth, commonly about
six feet, being attained, fireplace was
cut in the earthen sides of the cave and
connected with a fue cut through the
adjacent earth. Across the pit, and
slightly below the surface, were then
placed stout poles, and on these the roof
of pine boards, while over all the earth
and leaves were carefully replaced so
as to conceal all signs of having been
disturbed. Pine-needles made a very
good carpet. A bed was constructed by
driving forked stakes into the ground,
and upon these were laid small poles
topped with pine boughs. Sometimes
a cupboard" was cut in the earthen
walls
What gave the cave-dweller most con-
Germ was the disposal of the smoke
from his chimney. Even under the
best of circumstances, in the fairest,
warmest weather, and in the driest soil,
a cave was dismal abode. There was
a darkness, chilliness, a strange and
grave-like silence down there, which
made fire, the only light obtainable in
those hard times, an indispensable COM
panion. When rainy weather came and
the walls oozed water only heat made
it habitable. Care was taken to use the
driest and most smol1eless fuel, but as
even that, though burnt ever so spar
ingly in the daytime, would cause some
smoke, various plans were hit upon to
minimize the danger of betrayal from
this source. When practicable, the
cave would be dug near a dead
tree, which was first blackened
by fire, unless one could be
found already partially burned by the
chance fire of some coon or opossum
hunter. Failing this, an old tree-stump,
after being charred, was ingeniously
planted over the chimney mouth so
that the smoke might rise through or
around it The object of these devices
was, of course, that, should any I'M
friendly eye discover the smoke, it
would be attributed to one of the acct
dental fires which sometimes shoulder
ed in dead timber for weeks at time.
But, as a rule, the occupants, putting
their depend ance on good eyesight and
legs, would, when no especial danger
was apprehended, betake themselves to
the woods during the day, and use the
caves only as sleeping-places. Indeed,
few of the deserters took refuge under
ground except in cases of pressing
need, which, toward the last, were very
frequent.
Entrance to the cave was usually had
by means of a small trap-door in the
roof, in the concealment of which much
care and ingenuity were also expended
In addition to the leaves always kept
on it, tree would often be felled over
the spot the boughs serving not only to
screen the entrance from view, but like
wise to lessen the danger of any one
walking directly over the cave. As it
was all-important that no trace of path
should be seen thereabout the trunkiof
the tree afforded safe walk-way, care
being taken always to approach it from
different directions. The presence of a
newly felled tree, like burning one,
attracted little suspicion, being charged
to the Negro opossum-hunter.-
nOdpa IN fIo,t;o