The Orpheus C. Kerr Papers, Series 3Newell, R. H. (Robert Henry)
History
The Orpheus C. Kerr Papers, Series 3
Newell, R. H. (Robert Henry)
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Fiction
"I have notice in der bapers that der Genral Fighting Cok cross
Dook Lake in two parts, the odder day, when he assaulted the Rebel
Army von Lee, which was strongly post in entrenchment built
especial for dees purpose. Das was vare wrong, and oppose to all
the princeeples von der Great Napoleon. Das vas der great troubles
with Fritz Magnus von Prussia, at Kunersdorf, where he had dirty
dousand pick troops, and lost seventeen dousand, in sooch way.
Genral Fighting Cok was adopting der princeeple of der Duke von
Cumberland at Fontenoy, when he should adopt sooch plan as that of
Marechal Saxe, und keep his troops all togedder, und not cross Dook
Lake in two parts. To attack sooch Rebel Army in entrenchment built
especial for dees purpose, it was necessaire as he should do
everydings togedder; keep his troops altogedder, und fight them
altogedder.
"I have not known Genral Fighting Cok in Germany, and I knows not
as he is as good Genral as Sigel; so I cannot say as he is sooch
goot Genral as Sigel und me. But _merk auf_!--_merk auf_--he has
not so large militaire mind as
A. P. SUVCHORK."
While you will join with me, my boy, in acknowledging the soundness of
this criticism from our able German critic, I am sure that we must both
perceive something like cruelty to animals in the very common practice
of giving the exact directions for gaining a victory so soon after the
battle has terminated in defeat. It is like telling a patient who has
just taken a dose of salts, how he might have cured himself by a course
of _pates de foie gras_.
And now let me direct your most intense attention to the Mackerel Camp
on this side of Duck Lake, where the spectacled veterans are all
repairing their umbrellas for another reconnoissance toward the first
point of the compass that seems most vulnerable. They are all full of
enthusiasm, my boy, over the loss of some of their comrades and arms in
the recent triangular geometrical proceedings against the unseemly
Confederacy, and unanimously demand to be led against the enemies of
human freedom that presume to show the freedom of human enemies.
You may remember that, just previous to the recent crossing of Duck
Lake, Captain Samyule Sa-mith was despatched with the Anatomical
Cavalry to dig a canal in the immediate rear of the Southern
Confederacy, in order that the legions of the enemies of human freedom
about to be captured by surprise, might be at once set to hard labor on
the tow-path. It was not more than four days after all the fighting was
over that Samyule came back with his equestrian warriors, and says the
General to him:
"Well, boy, is the canal finished?"
Samyule scratched his head, and says he: "Not quite, sire; but we have
torn up a Confederate railroad."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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