I’d ruther be on the Grandfather Mountain

The 58th North Carolina was stationed in Dalton, Georgia, as provost guards from late January to late February 1864. Over the weekend, I was doing some research, reading parts of Rebel Watchdog by Kenneth Radley, on the role of the provost guard during the war.

I came across this four line poem on page 72:

I’d ruther be on the Grandfather Mountain
A-taking the snow and rain
Than to be in Castle Thunder
A-wearin’ the ball and chain

Radley cites Thomas’s biography of Richmond, Virginia, as his source. I also have this book and looked it up. Thomas writes that the quote came from a book by Arthur Palmer Hudson, titled Folklore Keeps the Past Alive, page 27. I do not have a copy of this book, so I’m going to Ill it. I’ll let you know what I turn up.

Anyone else ever heard of these lines from an as-of-yet unknown bard?