Dave
Slave talks about War
Mon Jan 1 00:08:07 2001


JOHN SMITH, SLAVE OF SADDLER SMITH, SELMA, AL

My Master was the best in this country. They call him Saddler Smith because he was in the saddle business and made saddles for the army. He raised me up to work around the saddle shop. I was about twenty seven when the war broke out. The old ones was called out first and the young ones stayed home and practiced so they could shoot straight an' kill a Yankee. We practiced on Friday evening.
After a while Master's son Jim joined the Federate Solgers. I went to look after him. That's when I got these mini-balls in my side, leg and shoulder. I slept right by Master Jims side. When we was fighting on Blue Mountian, Master Jim got kilt. I looked and looked for him but I never did find him. The Yankees was takin everything, so they took me with them.
I took care of GENERAL WILSON'S horse. General Wilson was the head man in the Yankee army. But I didn't like their ways much. He wanted his horse kep' spick and span. He would take his white pocket hankerchef an' rub it over the horse and if it was dirty HE HAD ME WHUPPED. I was with General Wilson when he tuck Selma and set fire to every thing.
When the interviewer asked John, " Why didn't they remove those mini-balls at the time you were shot? John's reply, " How could they remove the 'em when I was runnin fast as I could!"

The interviewer thanked John and told him that this will make a good story. John's reply was, "Hit ain't no story, hits the gawd's trufe mistis".







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