Shoemakers seemed most in demand; next to these blacksmiths, machinists, molders and metal workers generally.

Not a week passed during my imprisonment that I did not see a Rebel emissary of some kind about the prison seeking to engage skilled workmen for some purpose or another.

While in Richmond the managers of the Tredegar Iron Works were brazen and persistent in their efforts to seduce what are termed "malleable iron workers," to enter their employ.

A boy who was master of any one of the commoner trades had but to make his wishes known, and he would be allowed to go out on parole to work.

I was a printer, and I think that at least a dozen times I was approached by Rebel publishers with offers of a parole, and work at good prices.