Isham "Smut" Colored C. S. A., Servant.

Isham, commonly called "Smut" because he was so black, was the body-servant of Lieutenant Stephen B. Marshall, of the Putnam Light Infantry, Company G, Twelfth Georgia Regiment. He was the liveliest and rarest darkey in the regiment. Always in trouble but never out of humor, every one picked at him and had some joke to tell on him. Lieutenant Marshall was an officer in a volunteer company before the war. On one occasion it went into camp at the Oconee Spring in Putnam county. While on this trip the officers gave a dinner and invited a number of ladies.

Amongst that number was the lady to whom Lieutenant Marshall was engaged, and after- ward married. Isham was the cook, and had orders to smother a chicken. Finally dinner was announced, but the chicken was not brought to the table. After becoming impatient on account of the delay, Isham was called and asked if he had smothered the chicken. He answered yes, but said he did not know whether he was dead or not, but that he ought to be, as he had tied it up in a bag, put it in a box, and the box under the bed.

When the assembled crowd heard this they roared with laughter, while Marshall was mortified and angered beyond expression. At the battle of Alleghany Mountain a shell exploded near Isham, when he immediately mounted a bare-back mule, his face toward the tail of the beast, and the mule was rapidly driven to the rear by the use of Isham's heels and a pole ; both the mule and negro were miss- ing for two or three days. When he returned Marshall asked him why he left, when he promptly answered : Because ' a good run is bet- ter than a bad stand,' for had I remained and received a wound or been killed, I could not have served you as I promised old master I would." Isham went to his reward several years ago, and it is hoped that he reached a better and happier home beyond the skies.