Posted on 12/08/2007 10:54:00 PM PST by stainlessbanner
The life of Ike Pringle has become a sort of enigma for local historians who are trying to figure out exactly what role the slave played in the American Civil War.
Born in May, 1841, Isaac, or Ike as he was better known, was owned by the Pringle family that lived and owned land around Vimville. Ike took on the name of his owners and was forever called Ike Pringle.
At an early age he was given to the grandson of the family, Frank Pringle. Not that far apart in age, the two basically grew up together until the Civil War began. At that time, Frank Pringle joined the 24th Mississippi. Ike Pringle followed him into service. Some say Ike Pringle followed on his own accord and out of obligation to Frank Pringle.
Both men survived the war and were in Atlanta when the last cannons fell silent. From that moment on, Ike Pringle was a free man. Frank Pringle gave him his freedom there and moved to Pensacola, Fla., according to records. But Ike Pringle decided to return home to Vimville.
In the years following the war, Ike Pringle built up a farm on 80 acres that originally belonged to the Pringle family. He eventually sold the land but even as he married several times raising a family while keeping up the farm, Ike Pringle routinely attended Confederate soldier reunions as a veteran. It has been noted that Ike Pringle was never wounded nor have any documentations been discovered to suggest he was a combatant or was always kept in the rear area.
Some historians would suggest Ike Pringle was indeed kept in the rear areas to care for Frank Pringles belongings and to serve his owner any way possible during the fighting. But the fact he was allowed to attend numerous Confederate soldiers reunions, such as the one in Pine Bluff, Arkansas in 1937, which shows him pictured with a group of other white soldiers, seems to tell the viewer he was at the very least accepted near the battlefield in some form or fashion.
A narrative written by Ike Pringle in 1937 said he had traveled to many such reunions. A photo taken on the front steps of the Lauderdale County Court House in October 1933 with the Walthal Camp of Confederate Veterans only reinforces the fact he was a member of Confederate organizations. Ike Pringle also appears in a photo of another such gathering in 1925.
Ike Pringle died on Feb. 28, 1938. No grave marker has been found for him in a nondescript cemetery in Lauderdale County although more recent stones have been found with other people named Pringle.
So what was the role Ike Pringle played in the Civil War?
Many of the details are still unknown at this time but whatever his role was, it was enough for the State of Mississippi to grant Ike Pringle a pension in 1920 for being a member of the Confederate army during the Civil War.
Dixie*ping
Those of us who are native to Dixie find nothing unusual about this story. Its only the politically correct crowd that will tell us this isnt possible or that Ike was forced to follow his master and friend.
Southern history is a wonderful thing when told honestly. We dont get that very often.
Seems to me the very fact that Mr. Pringle continued to attend these reunions means that he WANTED to be considered a Confederate vet. At that point, his actual service doesn’t really matter too much, does it?
Wasn’t this a Dave Chappelle Show skit, but with the white hoods, etc.?
I was born in MS but where is that place?
Thanks for the ping SB
Slaves had to do what their masters told them to do under the threat of punishment or sale- do you really think Ike could have said "No, I rather stay behind" without consequences?
Though I’m WAY too far North to be from Dixie, I’d be most obliged if you’d include me on your Dixie pinglist.
Many thanks, a Canadian Southron in spirit.
The fact that a MS newspaper published the story indicates that even Mississippians would find it newsworthy.
David has a big rebel flag hanging in the back window of his pickup and loves to see the shocked expressions on bystanders faces when they see him driving around town.
bump
Sounds like a wonderful man
By 1937 Mr. Pringle had turned white? Otherwise an interesting story.
Boy, the author sure seems to go out of his way to drive home that Ike Pringle was treated as property. Doesn't use 'master' once, substituting in "owner" instead.
Interesting fellow. Obviously, he was respected in some way. Especially poignant is that Mississippi gave him a pension only around half a century before it was labeled one of the most racist states in the Union.
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