The National tribune., 1900-08-30

officer called to us to come on, and out
we went. There was some further delay
to get the required number. but at last
we formed in two ranks, with the guards
on either side, the officer commanded
Forward march," and l stepped off on
the first trip with the wood squad.
We went to the depot, where we had
alighted on our arrival at Salisbury,
passed it and on through the edge of the
town to the depot of the Western North
Carolina Railway. where we found
train of four cars waiting. The officer
now divided the squad placing four pris-
oners and four guards in each car, calling
out Ready to the engineer, and we
pulled out.
/ don't know how the other boys felt.
but as we started | was, as the boys used
to express it, las happy as a clam In high
water" When we reached the Woodplie
where our load was to be taken on
change came DER the spirit of my dream.
/ had not realized until now how weak
/ was The wood was cut eight feet long
and split into sticks about the size of
large fencerails. The pile was on bank
eight or 10 feet higher than the track,
and we must first throw it down. then
lift it into the car, thus handling each
stick twice.
A HAhD lASh.
We put a pile, perhaps two cords, in
each end of the car, leaving the space
between the doors empty. The first sticks
| tried | could throw around quite lively,
but soon became dreadfully tired and be
fore the load was finished it required
three of us to place a stick in the ear
The officer cursed us, hurried us, and
swore that he would never allow such
lazy scalawags as we were to so with
him again.
At last the load was finished, and we
, steamed back to Salisbury. Our train
went on down the main line until we
reached a switch opposite, or rather lit
tie beyond, the StOckade, where we were
taken back and turned into the stockade.
Each of us received double ratlen OF
bread and some good beef as wages, also
were allowed to take Il stick of wood
apiece.
was not very hungry for wood just
then. and took as small a stick as | could
find. | could hardly drag one foot after
the other, and when | stopped and cooled
off was so stiff in every joint that | could
not move without great pain. All the
others We're in the same plight, and sew
eral of the squad did not appear at the
gate next morning.
Ny extra ration and the thought of how
I would make those stocks of wood fly
when | got used to it induced me to hob
Die up IncEe ttTlS. buDoiS anu l-dihiop
also came .'up to the scratch, and we
three held our places in the woOd-squad
till the end. A new officer and guard took
us out this day, and it was fortunate for
us that this happened, as this officer was
q more humane man and spoke kindly
to us, in fact used US as if he realized that
we were human beings. We voted this
officer gentleman in spite of his gray
clothing and | fixed it in my own mind
that he was not a Shareholder, while the
fellow who was over us the day before
was a slave-driyer by occupation and
brute by nature. Be this as it may, we
did much better and the officer told us
D be on hand bright and early next morn
ing to 90 out again.
Next morning there was crowd of
several hundred prisoners near the gate
all anxious to go out, and it seemed doubt
full for time if | should be able to keep
my place. | elbowed my way through
the crowd as near the gate as we were
allowed to come, and when 1t opened
darted ont. but was driven back and told
to wait until / was called for. This morn
ing our number was increased to 81, and
as soon as order was restored at the gate
that number was called for. l managed
to be included and on looking the men
over found that Dubois and Lathrop had
also drawn lucky numbers.
STRIVING FOR BETTER THINGS.
We told the officer of the guard Tan
other new one 10 us) that the confusion
at the gate could be avoided by taking
our names and having them called at the
gate each morning. This was selfish, |
know, and knew it then, but if my reader
will notice men in everyday life or ana
lyZe his own impulses for few days he
will perhaps make the discovery that this
species of selfishness peryades all classes
of men and animals, too. We induced
the officer to do this, and he said, ''If any
of you'uns can write you can make out
this list and / will hand it to the officer
that relieves me- This reminds ME of
an incident which happened the day
landed at Salisbury. Soon as we went
into the stockade we were reOrganiZed
into squads of 100, and when the hun
dred | was counted with was formed in
line rebel officer who seemed 10 be su-
perinteDding things said: If there is
man in this squad who can write, let him
step one pace to the front" Instantly
every man in the line took step forward.
The officer then explained that he only
wanted one man TO make a roll Of the
squad and attend to issuing the rations,
and made his own selections.
We OF the wood-squad selected Halsey
Lathrop to make the list He was 4 Cor
poral, but after this went by the title OF
Captain, and called out names at the gate
each morning. After this there was no
dispute as TO who composed our squad.
1t was sore disappointment to many
prisoners who persisted in coming to the
gate for several days i'll hope Of getting
out.
After working a few days / regained
my strength and spirits in a great meas
ure. The exercise, extra ratiOns and pure
air acted rs q tonic. | did hot mind be-
ing watched much, and was in splendid
humor with our guards, except one fel-
low who was occasionally with the detail
that went with us. He was of moody
turn, and hated Yankees as a great bust
ness in life. | was always afraid of him
and expected him to either shoot or stab
me with bis bayonet every time he came
in reach of me. He used to eye lis
viciously and always seemed to be watch
ing for an excuse to kill one Of us.
A BRUTAL GUARD.
One day we were getting our wood by
the side of field of corn. / was always
on the lookout to get something to eat
other than the prison ration, and just
now my mouth fairly watered for some
parched corn; so ] got the boys working
with me to bury, and we succeeded in get
ting our car loaded several minutes ahead
Of the others. | al once went to the elu-
Ger of the guard and asked permission
to get over the fence and pull couple of
ears of corn. He gave me leave to do so.
and sent guard with me to see that
did not run away. | secured two fine ears