SLAVE NARRATIVES - Library of Congress

Interviewer Mrs* Bernice Bowden
Person interviewed James Spikes
2101 Bell Street, Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Age 91
"Good morning* Yes f m I remember the Civil War* I was a
soldier* I was between sixteen and seventeen when I enlisted in the
war*
* 'Why did you enlist? 1
W I didn't know no better* I thought I would be took care of*
They told us the war was sposed to set the darkies free* My old
master didn't want me to go — cose not* But they was very good to
roe* I regard them just the same as myself*
tf I enlisted in the 55th regiment of colored soldiers* Then I
went off with the Yankees. I was with them when they had the battle
at Corinth, Mississippi.
"I was with them when the Yankees taken Corinth and whupped*
The rebels tried to take it back and the Yankees whupped 'em again*
The regiment I was with whupped f em away from several places and
I:ept 'ern runnin' ♦
"When we was in Fort Pickens I 'member they had a poll parrot
some of the officers had trained it to say 'Corporal of the guard,
Jim Spikes, post No. 1.' Sometimes I would draw my gun like I was
going to shoot and the poll parrot would say, 'Jim, don't you shoot
me!' They got plenty a sense.
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