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Ꭼ Ꭱ Ꭱ Ꭺ Ꭲ Ꭺ .

Preface, read Servres for "Serres."

Chapter 3d, page 71, read Marital for "Martial."

Chapter 10, read Idiosyncrasies for “Idiosyn join crusen." Page 238, read Miscreant for "Mother."

Appendix, page 322, read Editor for "Tditor."

PREFACE.

THIS literary loaf will be composed of scraps, whether they will be crumbs of comfort to the reader, is beyond the ken of the writer to determine, it is simply a question of preference, for the dainties of freedom from Serres' China in defiance of duty, or the more humble offerings from tin plates in a faithful performance of the same. It is not the intention of the author to write a history of the war, that laborious undertaking will be left to abler hands; yet I deem it due the public, who may honor these "scraps" by a perusal, to present them with a synopsis, which will be found in my first chapter, the creation of that distinguished Tennessean, A. O. P. Nicholson, esquire, of the causes which led the South to appeal to the arbitrament of arms, and in which I found justification in drawing my sword, in opposition to the encroachments of fanaticism, and to aid in staying the flood of ills let loose upon the land on the accession to power of the corrupt leaders of the abolition party of the country-confident that the programme of that party, if successful, foreshadowed the destruction of the Southern aristocracy, one of the most humane, social organizations with power known to History, and the annihilation of the Democratic party South by the political elevation of the Black, and disfranchisement of the White Man-thus obtaining and holding the reins of Government, by which

their diabolical purpose to inaugurate a war of races would be accomplished.

I have no regrets for my action in the matter-what I did was executed with an honest purpose-and, although not a first-class warrior, I endavored to perform all duties devolving upon me, during my four years' service in the armies of the Confederate States.

In publishing the "scraps" I am not prompted by any spirit of revenge or vindictiveness, but am performing an act of justice to the people of the South, in showing how prisoners were treated at camp Chase and Johnson's island at an early period of the war, before that spirit of demonism led to the atrocities at Fort Delaware-and at other prison pens at the North-and if we were badly treated, as I will clearly show we were in these "scraps, Heaven alone could have helped the suffering Confederate prisoner at a later period, to support the brutal treatment to which he was subjected.

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The following letter from the provisional Governor of Alabama, Hon. Lewis E. Parsons, is attached as evidence of my treatment of Union men during the war :

"EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, STATE OF ALABAMA, MONTGOMERY, Sept. 27th, 1865. "To all whom it may concern. I, Lewis E. Parsons, Provisional Governor of the State of Alabama, do hereby certify that Joseph Barbiere, of Memphis, Tenn., late an officer in the so-called Confederate army, is personally known to me, having been stationed at Talladega, the town of my residence, as chief enrolling officer of the district. He was marked for his kind and considerate course towards those of our inhabitants who were so unfortunate as to be within the limits of the conscript law of the so-called Confederate States. His treatment of the poor of his district was so kind and humane that it was objected to by the more ultra portion of our people. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and

caused the great seal of the State to be affixed, this the 27th day of September, A. D. 1865.

"LEWIS E. PARSONS,

"Pro. Gov. of Ala.

"By the Gov. ALBERT ELLMORE, Sec. of State."

The following paragraph in a letter dated June 17th, 1864, from the then Governor of Alabama, Họn. T. H. Watts, is added to show that while considerate in my treatment of Union men, I was not derelict in my duty to the cause I warmly espoused:

"I cannot withhold the expression of my gratification on being informed of the kind and considerate manner in which you have discharged your unpleasant and onerous duties.

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In addition to the above, it is the intention of the writer to give a simple chronicle of a soldier's life from camp to field, thence to camp Chase and Johnson's island, with notes while in confinement. If I give offence to any officer whose name is in the book, I will exceedingly regret it, as I have used their names with a purpose single to their interest and amusement-and it is to be hoped that a little family history of those with whom I have associated may be laid upon the family altar an offering to courage and gallantry. Yes! let their children know that even if the voluminous pages of this Revolution's History neglect to record the name of many a brave man-it will be found in one little volume that may live-say a generation-that is some consolation, for I am sure I would give the price of a small library, to see my grandfather's name, who fought at Yorktown, complimented for gallantry, even in an almanac; and I hope the grand-children of the officers mentioned in this work will appreciate the sentiment.

B.

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