Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1900-08-29
A RICH MANS WAR AND POOR MANS FIGHT
General King Tells an Interesting War
Story-His Men Aroused.


81 can tell you wncn the very
downfall of the Confedcracy began" /"
said General Floyd King, OF Louisi-
ana, az we sat down at breakfast q
few Sundays ago, cit was when tho
men of the Southern army got il
into their heads that it was ricl
mans war and a poor mans fight
"rhat was strong cxprcssion,"
remarked, "when did it first become
current 2"
81 never will forget the time when
first heard it," continued General
King. "You know tha. was IN ar
tiIlery officer and entered the SER
vice when a mere boy. AT first some
OF the men did not like me, because
OF something in my manner. In
time, that wore away. and my
men had marched together. ! was
always with my command anl saw
that their wants were attended to.
The men were very kind to me and
when we were cncampcd they always
built me hut Of their own free
will and without orders. They also
acquired habit of sitting around
the door of my Int discussing the
situation in a friendly way and ask
ing me the news.
''In the winter of '65 was a colo
mel of artillery and we were in camp
near Richmond. | gradually began
to notice that the men had fallen ont
of the habit of gathering about my
quarters. asked one OF them what
it meant and received no satisfactory
answer. Late one night, when
was asleep in my hut, was awakened
by the tramp Of men. The ground
was covered with snow with a frozen
crust and could hear the noise Of
feet crunching the crust. listened
and found that the number was con
stantly increasing and that all the
men were evidently gathering in
front OF my hut. got up and
dressed myself wondering what it
all meant. Can it be mutny? |
asked myself. For 4 moment |
thought of putting on my pistols,
but quickly discarded that idea and
stepped out Of the hut obviously
unarmed. There, standing together
III perfect silence was a great crowd
OF soldiers Of my own command.
81 stood and gazch at them in
silence and they, as silently, returned
the gaze. The silence became en-
barrassing. Presently one Of the
men stepped forward and clearing
his throat with n nervous hem. |
can almost hear that hem now, and
distinctly remember the soldier.
He was quite small man
"'Wcuns,' he began, 'has soncthin'
we want to say to you sir. We've been
with you now, morc'n three years.
We want to say in the bcginnin', that
we've nothm' agin you, and we don't
mean to get up no mntiny, nor
nolhin' of that sort ; but we're o
this. we've marched with you bare
footed often without nothin' to eat.
We've fit with you and amt afraid
Of tightin', but we don't see nothn'
in it for US. This is a rich mans
war and a poor mans fight.
81 was startled and greatly i'm
pressed with this declarations con
tinucd the general sand as was
known to be the owner Of a number
OF slaves, and was, therefore, what
was considered rich mau, asked
whether this complaint was lcvccd
directly at me, or whether it was
common in the army.
We've told you continued the
little spokesman, we've got nolhln'
agin you. This idea is all through
the army Of Northern Virginia and
it is all through the other armies
The men has been watchln' what