Elijah Crenshaw is a character in All to Pieces who appears posthumously. His story is important to understanding the character of Ben Crenshaw. As Jimmy learns about Elijah's fate, his story becomes a cautionary tale.
Just as Cato accompanied his brother William into the Confederate Army in Unmentionables, Elijah accompanies Ben Crenshaw into the Confederate Army in All to Pieces. It was common for Confederate officers to bring their slaves with them into the Army in order to attend to their personal needs. In most cases, the slaves did not participate directly in battles. But they were not invulnerable to the hostilities in which they found themselves.
Just as Cato accompanied his brother William into the Confederate Army in Unmentionables, Elijah accompanies Ben Crenshaw into the Confederate Army in All to Pieces. It was common for Confederate officers to bring their slaves with them into the Army in order to attend to their personal needs. In most cases, the slaves did not participate directly in battles. But they were not invulnerable to the hostilities in which they found themselves.