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
To the disgrace of his species be it said, my boy, he referred to the
spirited and fiery animal for which I am indebted to woman's
generosity. I admit that when seen at a distance, the steed somewhat
resembles an umbrella-stand; but a single look into his pearly eyes is
enough to prove his relations with the animal kingdom.
I have named him Pegasus, in honor of Tupper, and when I mount him,
Villiam Brown, of Company 3, Regiment 5, Mackerel Brigade, says that I
remind him of Santa Claus sitting astride the roof of a small gothic
cottage, holding on by the chimney. Villiam is becoming rather too
familiar, my boy, and I hope he'll be shot at an early day.
Yesterday the army here was reënforced with a regiment of fat German
cavalry from the West, under the command of Colonel Wobert Wobinson,
who has had great experience in keeping a livery-stable. Their animals
are well calculated to turn the point of a sword, and are of the
high-backed fluted pattern, very glossy at the joints. I saw one of the
dragoons cracking nuts on the backbone of the Arabian he rode, and
asked him about how much such an animal was worth without the fur? He
considered for a moment and then remarked that nix fustay and
dampfnoodle, though many believed that swei glass und sweitzerkase; but
upon the whole, it was nix cumarouse and apple-dumplings,
notwithstanding the fact that yawpy, yawpy, betterish. Singular to
relate, my boy, I had arrived at the very same conclusion before I
asked him the question.
Colonel Wobert Wobinson reviewed the regiment near Chain Bridge this
morning, and each horse used about an acre to turn around in. Just
before the order to "charge" was given, the orderly sergeant kindled a
fire under each horse, and when the charge commenced, only about six of
the animals laid down. Colonel Wobinson remarked that these six horses
were in favor of peace, and refused to fight against their Southern
brethren. I told him I thought that the peace breed had longer ears;
and he said that that kind had been very scarce since the Government
commenced appointing its foreign consuls.
Yours, hoarsely,
ORPHEUS C. KERR.
LETTER XVII.
NOTING A NEW VICTORY OF THE MACKEREL BRIGADE IN VIRGINIA, AND
ILLUSTRATING THE PECULIAR THEOLOGY OF VILLIAM BROWN; WITH SOME MENTION
OF THE SHARPSHOOTERS.
WASHINGTON, D.C., October 18th, 1861.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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