The National tribune., 1899-08-24
THE
CONTRABANDS.
The "reminiscences of an Army
Chaplain's Wife in Alabama.
BY MRS. JOSEPH I. FOOT. UNIVERSITY
NIGHTS, SAN DIEGO, CAL.

| oAN .SAbs
| In the Autumn Of 1864 bade farewell to
the old home that had sheltered us SO kindly
in those sad days, and, armed with a mill
tary pass. hastened away, like the birds, to
the Southland to Join my husband, Chap
lain of the 18th Wis, on duty in northern
Alabama.
Indeed, those were sad days. Two
thirds of the women in the North were
dressed in mourning for some loved one who
had gone at his country's call and had
laid down his life on the altar of our be-
loved land. Those days Of suffering and
sorrow will never be forgotten until the last
veteran answers the roll-call of the Great
Commander. Lovingly. and tenderly
should this Nation care for the old soldiers,
who did not count their lives dear unto
themselves" that Old Glory might float over
united people and all its stars remain on
it's field of blue.
Passing through the lines, great activity
was discern nible-cavalry, artillery and
infantry, with the great army wagons every
where on the move. Train men suggested
it was not very safe, and were we not afraid
of the Johnny Rebs?' / confessed l was
not while so many brave men in the line
| were around me.
AS the train was rounding curve one
afternoon the way was closed by large
powders thrown on the track from the high
cliIfs above by the rebels. Fortunately the
train was stopped in time to save Il crash.
Men soon removed the powders, while
others stood guard, and in a short time the
cars, heavily loaded with soldiers and army
supplies, moved on in safety.
| found the 18th Wis. i'll vey J poor health.
Suffering from malarial poison; hardly
enough well men to guard the camp;
one company nearly every man sick On
| In thn.n oh NJ n
spreading branches of a magnificent tree;
some lying on their blankets listened while
the Chaplain spoke from the text art thou
IN health, my brother?' Later the regi-
ment was ordered to Huntsville, Ala. This
place before touched by the hand of war was
"a gem of beauty set at the foot of the mount
Ans. Macadamized pixies were built out
for miles to large and beautiful plantations
owned by wealthy cotton planters The
natural spring and run'.i brook, crowned
purest OF water, and was of matchleSS
beauty. The houses were mostly elegant,
their grounds frequently adorned with
foInt1ins and statuary The streets, in
fact the whole city, was kept in perfect con-
dilion We were told the municipaiity
owned II abe-bodied negroes whose sole
employment was to keep the place neat and
clean. fine of S. was imposed on one
who should break a branch from a shade
tree.
In early Spring the 18th, with others, was
| ordered TO the front, and | remained in
Huntsville AS tony being with my hus-
| band, he Only permitted it when it did not
conflict with his duty rs an officer and SOL
| dier.
found home with the family of an Off
Ger who was detached from Minnesota
| regiment to take charge of a contraband
camp, as it was called consisting of very
large plantation near the city where all the
contrabands OF war (negroes), as Gen But
Ter named them. Iwere gathered by the
Government, and provided with shelter.
| food and clothing, and under charge of this
officer raised cotton o1tlIe "big plantation"
and titled fine garden. which supplied
them with vegetables On the Sabbath
the parents and chiIdnn were gathered in
| a Sabbath school Sor religious instruction,
aud later church service with a sermon
was held under the shade Of the tree
/ How wise and dhenefieent that some pro-
vision was made fGf these slaves to whom
the sacred boon of freedom had just been |
given. Having now the responsibility of
caring or providing for themselves, they
were as helpless as children. The Govern |
ment and the Christian Commission soon
established a school for the freedmen Six |
hundred old and young were housed in one |
large building and taught the rudiments |
OF an education; the corps of teachers con- |
sisted of two ladies and two gentlemen |
One of the lady teachers failing. I was |
urged to take her place, which | did for |
short time. Our work was greatly handi- |
capped for lack of room and other facilities |
We grouped the pupils in large classes |
Charts were hung on the walls, and with |
these the rudiments of reading were taught |
1t was pathetic sight to see aged men |
and women bending over the spelling book, |
their black faces kindling with a new light |
IN trying to learn to read maybe having |
Just snatched moment from the washtub |
or plow to be taught i'll the schoolroom. 1t |
gave me keenest pleasure TO teach them. as |
they made rapid progress in those branches |
that did not require much thought to mas |
ter |
Every day my desk was covered with |
lovely flowers, most artiStically arranged. |
and as could only admire them for S! ort |
time and ENJOY their perfume, would place |
them i'll large basket and send them to tie |
hospital to our sick and dying soldiers; for |
their beauty and fragrance was to them |
like a breath from home.
One evening in April we were watching |
the sunset, and as the sun passed down be- |
hind a very black cloud, "a hope was eX- |
pressed that it might not be a bad omen |
The next morning brought the news of the |
assassination of President Lincoln. All |
felt 1t a personal bereavement and were |
dumb with sorrow. Some of the troops were |
wild with anger, Others wept like children |
1t was a heavy blow to the colored people, |
coming so soon after their emancipation |
before their status as free men had been |
adjusted: Their lamentations and grief |
were pitiful; they sincerely mourned Lin |
coin as their best earthly friend
The Stars and Stripes We're soon floating |
at half-mast and the army HEADQUARTERS |
and Government buildings were draped in |
black. A memorial service and military |
procession were ordered. 1t was estimated |
that nearly 10000 men were in Huntsville
at that time
We saw no emblem of mourning in the
city. except on the buildings used by the
Government. This greatly grieved u.s. yet
we knew that the section was intensely
rebel. Could it be that not one in this city
city loved our martyred President, but the |
men of blue and the negroes?
Wishing to express our sorrow in some
way, procured some white and black cam
brio and made an oblong banner of white.
with deep border around it of black, in the
center and on each side placed the word. in
evergreen letters, 4 I'VE Love Him" |
wound stick with red, white and blue,
tackled the banner TO it and hung it out of
the window over the walk NV home at |
that time was on the corner of prominent
street
The military procession was grand and
solemn, worthy the occasion and him
whom they sought to honor. The cavalry.
artillery and infantry were present, and
each wore some emblem of mourning
flags and banners ewere draped in black
Bands with muffied drums played solemn
funeral dirges, and the infantry, with re-
versed arms, marched with solemn tread;