The National tribune., 1892-05-05
III,

y military duty. But
this, TO the non-slave- holding citizen, was
"wormwood and gall; they boiled, fumed,
and fretted, saying that if they had TO light
for other peoples niggers," they were going TO
step down aud ont. Did they do so; Not
much, "Mary.Ann" They were held firmly,
rs il in the jaws of a colossal wise. Orders,
rules and regulations as TO the enforcement OF
the conscript act drew tighter and tighter and
worked harder and harder, both on those VINO
had TO go and those who had to stay at home
Eged and ralsiei parents, wives, sisters, and
little children.
One poor fellow who had TO go, leaving all
these, said he would be - that if JEFF Davis
should pass through that country, the con
script authorities would conscTipt him DAVIS
and send him to the front; and if there were
ever q set of Barons or Cars that loTded 1t
over the people-the poor conscripts, with
their hand in the lions mouth-it was these
conscript officers. Il was SO nice to have
bOmb-proof place. and so chiyalrous to make
FOOD FOR POWDER
all day out of defenseleSs humanity, and
when the arduoUs duties OF the day were over
30 don their billed shirts" and shoulder
straps, pass the evening until 10 o'clock with
some pure maid or maidens of the South, listen
sDg TO the song of the Mocking Bird and DlXle,
rs exquisitely performed by deft fingers on
ONE grand piano: and, after bidding the ladies'
yood-eTening would retire TO other quarters,
and there, until the wee-sma' hours OF morn
sing, with jovial companions, hail fellows well
met, pass the feeting hours, reYeling In sInok-
ing, chewing, card-playing, and various
mixed, straight, or other intoXicants lsome-
times called "rot-gut") until tired nature re-
guired and demanded rest; then for lew
hours sleeping the sleep Of the inebriate; up
again in the morning; an "eye-opener" taken
before commencing the toilet, and after Its
completion a milk-punch, hssty glance at
the papers, another milk-punch. The an
aouncement then comes that breakfast is
ready; then for an appetizer another milk
punch. All these liquids consumed in an
hour, they necessarily should or must have
had the digestive organs of an ostrich or cas-
Rwary; but like the bed-bug, they got there
al the same"
Breakfast over. with strong cigar, elevated
% degrees, he repairs to headquarters.
THE POOR coNscRIPT,
who had biyouacked all night, or was pro-
tected from the clements by friendly and
handy barn clubhouse, was awaiting him
lHis Royal Higbness), and yesterday program
was gone through with again. The same Ques-
fions, registering, recording, measuring, weigh
Ing, humping and pounding was gene on
with over and over again, as each unfortunate
presented himself, as though they were dumb
brutes, instead of the creation OF God with
smmortal souls. and loved ones at home in
dire suspense, anxiousiy waiting to know the
fate of him whose duty and sacred promise
was to maintain, support, and protect them.
And row, as one of the poor fellows termed
it, squads of calvary" cavalry Travelled over
The entire country, Hill, valley, and hollow,
securing for conscripts. and many were the
poor fellows, staying at home only for a few
days, as they termed it, ito jist e K his crap"
so that his wife and little ones could attend
it while he was at the front of battle, was
ruthlessly torn from his little home by the
aforesaid cavalry, leaving his horse and plow
standing in the field.
Others had wife aud children to watch every
approach TO their little cabin, and on the APP
lroach OF conscript officers husband or daddy
was promptly notified By the word Of mouth
or a given signal, such as the shaking of
white rag blowing OF horn. Or the firing OF
gun 10y one Of the children, they giving as an
excuse the trying TO kill hawk that was
merauding on their chickens
Such takings away as these from home and
plow had none Of the grandeur about them
did the taking Of Cincinnatus from his
plow, but was the tearing Of hearts asunder
and caused more Undesirable,
DAMEABLE, DIABoLIcAL MISERY
70 the square inch than pen can portray. And
let US pray % God that its like NAV never come
again. But il went on and on, and boiled and
burned hotter and hotter. Orders, rules and
regulations more and more mandatory were
issued almost daily, and AT last when the cav
airy would dash up TO q house. and the head Of
that house, through absence by reason Of his
enforced military duty, could not be found,
the leader Of the squad, with drawn sword
his hat OF, feeling that he possessed more
power than all the Cars OF the Russias or
Turkeys Sultan, would peremptorily order
out the members of the household who
ae in al.
posed Of women and children. and would
say TO the lady in charge, with all the
authority OF who spake to be obeyed
Madame, your son (or husband, as the case
might be,l IS absent from his military duties.
You can communicate with him. / command
gou 10 Go SO. In so many hours he must re-
port TO camp, and unless he does so, we will be
here at such time and your house will be
burned over your head ;"
Then that poor woman, pale and trembling.
looking al her little ones, would do her best 10
carry out the fiat of the "Great MoguI". but
in great many cases it was simply impossible.
But the squad was always there al the ap-
pointed time, no excuse was taken, and the
HOUSE WAS BURNED
In some cases the inmates were allowed TO
remove the contents Of their humble dwellings.
but in what the officials termed aggravated
cases they were not even allowed ia do tbis
barn, and frequently there were instances
when that, too, was burned Then the corncrib
fell q martyr 10 the same cause Then caups
~ the woods were resorted 20, frequently to
share the same fate, but they could be easily.
and were, rebuilt again and again
No matter how much misery you were in the
MIDST OF, iudIcrous scenes and sayings would
occur. Reader. imagine TO yourself that during
this Spring and Summer of 1862 Won are in
north Mississippi way up on the top OF a hin.
or miniature mountain, five miles from any
house. A log cabin, Is feet square. on that
summit, surrounded by a six-rail-high fence
sou ride up aud sing out Hello" for the
purpose oi making inquiry as how 10 reach q
certain locality An old lady, fac-simile OF
the picture OF the Arkansas Traveller. comes ia
the door, corncob pipe and all. After answer
ing the Inquiries by directing the inquirer "a
take certain road, and when he comes TO a
twin chestnut tree 10 take il on his back. and
10 20 th,s @ay and that way, demonstrating II
by gestures, which is all Greek TO the INQUIRER
abe j. thanked kindly for her urbanitv and
bid goodday. But she had an inquiry to make
herself, and il was: Wal, stranger. have Won
any news Nothing in particular" was tho
reply. Oh" says shc-articulating as mainly
as she could with the corncob pipe in hei
mouth, still holding the fryingpan in ono
hand and the casekuife in the other-.tthal
is awiC. news in these here parts. They says
as bow's thar'5 gwine 10 be wah, and a man
by Tie naiHe of Jepp Davidson writ 10 a man
by the name uf Pillows about hit, and Pill
lows he VIII back as how's he was keen icr
bat and Capt. Judkin is raising Z company