The Orpheus C. Kerr Papers, Series 1Newell, R. H. (Robert Henry)
History
The Orpheus C. Kerr Papers, Series 1
Newell, R. H. (Robert Henry)
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Fiction
"I'm supporting the Constitution," says Samyule, breathlessly, "I'm a
conservative, and--." Here Samyule tumbled over something and fell flat
on his stomach.
"By all that's blue!" says Villiam, frantically, "why the thunder don't
somebody shoot that unnatural dog!"
I looked, my boy, and beheld it was my frescoed canine, Bologna, who
had run between the legs of the fallen warrior, with the remains of a
captured Confederate chicken. I whistled, my boy, and the faithful
creature angled towards me with mitigated ears.
"I'm supporting the Constitution," repeated Samyule, rising to his feet
and examining a small, black bottle to see if anything had spilt, "I'm
a conservative, and have left the field to restore this here misguided
contraband to his owner, which is a inoffensive rebel. War," says
Samyule, convincingly, "does not affect the Constitution."
"Ah!" says Villiam, "that's very true. Take the African chasseur to his
proper master, and tell him that the United States does not war against
the rights of man."
Now it happened, my boy, that the withdrawal of this force to carry out
the Constitution, so weakened the Advance Guard, that the Southern
Confederacy commenced to gain ground, and Villiam was obliged to form
Company 3, Regiment 5, in line immediately, for a charge to the rescue.
He got the splendid _corps_ to leave the distillery where they were
quartered, for a few minutes, and says he:
"There's beings for you, my nice little boy! Here's veteran centurions
for you."
"Yes," says I, admiringly. "I never saw so many red noses together
before, in all my life."
"Ah!" says Villiam, dreamily, "there's nary red about them, except
their noses. And now," says Villiam, "you will see me lead a charge
destined to cover six pages in the future history of our distracted
country."
"Soldiers of the Potomac!" says Villiam, drawing his sword, and hastily
sharpening it on the left profile of his geometrical steed, "your
comrades are engaging nine hundred and fifty thousand demoralized and
routed rebels, and you are called upon to charge bayonets. Follow me."
Not a man moved, my boy. Many of them had families, and more were
engaged to be married to the women of America. They were brave but not
rash.
Villiam drew his breath, and says he: "The United States of America,
born on the Fourth of July, 1776, calls upon you to charge bayonets,
Come on, my brave flowers of manhood!"
Here a fearless chap stepped out of the ranks, and says he: "In
consequence of the heavy dew which fell this morning, the roads is
impassable."
Villiam remained silent, my boy, and drooped his proud head. Could
nothing induce those devoted patriots to strike for the forlorn hope?
Suddenly, a glow of inspiration came over his face, he rose in his
saddle like a flash, waved his sword toward the foe, and shouted--
"I know you now, my veterans! The day is hot, yonder lies our road,
and--my peerless Napoleons," said Villiam, frenziedly:
"COME AND TAKE A DRINK!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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