Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 33.djvu/295

 The Twelfth Alabama Infantry. 291

than once took the battle flag of the regiment from the color bearer, waved it aloft, and rushed in front of the command, but he didn't fail to boast about it next day.

Dr. Moore complimented me by selecting me to deliver one num- ber in his course of lectures, and I had busied myself writing a speech on "True Courage," but the Sunday night I was to deliver it found us marching, and it was never heard.

General Battle and Major R. H. Powell, of the Third Alabama, from Union Springs, were prominent members of our Christian Association. The disposition of a large majority of the men was religious, and I fully believe that the vast majority of those whose lives were lost had their noble souls translated to the realms of the hereafter, to live forever with the good and true.

Music IN THE CAMP.

Our Confederate soldiers had their hours of rest and relaxation, and sometimes music of various kinds was interspersed with their recreation hours. There were a few fiddlers in the I2th Alabama, but the most noted and skillful one was Ben Smith of my company, an old bachelor, a quiet but true soldier, always ready for duty. He was a Georgian, like myself, in an Alabama regiment. His skill with the fiddle was unequalled. I have heard many violinists since the war, in the great orchestras of Thomas and Sousa and Creatore, but none of their number could equal great Ben Smith. He had gifts, and his knowledge of distinctive Southern music, peculiar to country life, some of which I have heard our slaves often play with exquisite taste and great gusto on our Georgia plantations, was wonderful. Among the choicest in Smith's repertoire were, "Hell broke loose in Georgia," "Billy in the Low Grounds," "Arkansas Traveller," "Dixie," "Money Musk,', "The Goose Hangs High," "When I saw Sweet Nellie Home," "My Old Kentucky Home," "When This Cruel War is Over," The Girl I Left Behind Me," etc. Crowds would gather around him and laugh and applaud and clap their hands, and joyously express their pleasure and appreciation.

Then sometimes sweet songs would float through the air from manly voices, and "Backward, Turn Backward, Oh Time in Your Flight," "All Quiet Along the Potomac To-night," "Dixie," "Lorena," "Marseillaise," etc., were among the songs sung. Oc- casionally, particularly on Sunday, we would have hymns, and the songs at church were sung with great sweetness and reverence.