Incidents of the War: Humorous, Pathetic, and Descriptive

Alfred Burnett

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• Publié par: acti
• Publié le: 08 décembre 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 54
• Langue: English

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Title: Incidents of the War: Humorous, Pathetic, and Descriptive

Author: Alf Burnett

Release Date: December 4, 2007 [EBook #23733]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1

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Produced by David Edwards, Christine P. Travers and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from scanned images of public domain material from the Google Print project.)

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ALF BURNETT . From A Photograph By Winder.

Incidents of the War:

HUMOROUS, PATHETIC,

AND

DESCRIPTIVE.

By

ALF BURNETT,

COMIC DELINEATOR, ARMY CORRESPONDENT, HUMORIST, ETC., ETC.

CINCINNATI: RICKEY & CARROLL, PUBLISHERS, 73 WEST FOURTH STREET. 1863.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1863, by RICKEY & CARROLL, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of Ohio.

STEREOTYPED AT THE FRANKLIN TYPE FOUNDRY, CINCINNATI.

SKETCH OF THE AUTHOR.

BY ENOS B. REED.

The author of the following sketches, letters, etc., has been known to us for lo, these many years. We have always found him "a fellow of infinite jest," and one who, "though troubles assailed," always looked upon the bright side of life, leaving its reverse to those who could not behold the silver lining to the darkl ing clouds of their moral horizon. We could fill a good-sized volume with anecdotes illustrating the humorous in Mr. Burnett's composition, and his keen appreciation of the grotesque and ludicrous—relating how he has, many a time and oft, "set the table in a roar," by his quaint sayings and the peculiar manner in which they were said; but we are "admonished to be brief," four pages only being allotted to "do up" the veritable "Don Alfred us," better known by the familiar appellation "Alf."

Mr. Burnett has been a resident of Cincinnati for the past twenty-seven years, his parents removingthereto from Utica, New York, in 1836. Alf, at the Utica Academy, in his

earliest youth, was quite noted as a declaimer; his "youth but gave promise of the man," Mr. B., at the present time, standing without a peer in his peculiar line of declamation and oratory. In 1845, he traveled with Professor De Bonneville, giving his wonderful rendition of "The Maniac," so as to attract the attention of theliteratithroughout the country.

Perhaps one great reason for Mr. Burnett's adopting his present profession was a remark made by the celebrated tragedian, Edwin Forrest. Mr. B. had been invited to meet Mr. Forrest at the residence of S. S. Smith, Esq. Mr. Burnett gave several readings, which caused Mr. Forrest to make the remark, that "Mr. B. had but to step upon the stage to reach fortune and renown." "Upon this hint" Mr. B. acted, and at once entered upon the duties of his arduous profession. In his readings and recitations he soon discovered that it was imperative, to insure a pleasant entertainment, that humor should be largely mingled with pathos; hence, he introduced a series of droll and comical pieces, in the rendition of which he is acknowledged to have no equal. As a mimic and ventriloquist he stands preeminent, and his entertainment is so varied with pathos, wit, and humor, that an evening's amusement of wonderful versatility is afforded.

Mr. Burnett is a remarkably ready writer—too ready, to pay that care and attention to the "rules," which is considered, and justly so, to be indispensable to a correct writer. To illustrate the rapidity with which he composes, we have but to repeat a story, which a mutual friend relates. He met Alf, one afternoon, about five o'clock, he being announced to deliver an original poem in the evening, of something less than a hundred verses. In the midst of the conversation which ensued, Alf suddenly recollected that he had not written a line thereof, and, making his excuses, declared he must go home and write up the "little affair." In the evening a voluminous poem was forthcoming, Alf, in all probability, having "done it up" in half an hour "by Shrewsbury clock."

Mr. Burnett has contributed various poems to the literature of the country, which have stamped him as being possessed of a more than ordinary share of the divine afflatus. Among them is "The Sexton's Spade," which has gaine d a world-wide celebrity. The writer has been connected with Mr. Burnett in the p ublication of two or three papers, which, somehow or other, never won their way into popular favor: either the public had very bad taste, or the "combined forces" had not the ability to please, or the perseverance to continue until success crowned their labors.

In the commencement of the war, Mr. Burnett was on a tour of the State, in the full tide of prosperity. Immediately after Sumter fell, he su mmoned to him, by telegraph, his traveling agent, together with Mr. George Humphreys, who had, as an assistant, been with him for years. A consultation was held, which resulted in the determination of all three to enlist in the service of their country. The agent repaired to Chillicothe and joined the 27th Ohio; Humphreys joined the 5th Ohio, and Mr. Burnett enlisted as high private in the 6th Ohio, and served with his regiment in West Virginia, throughout that memorable campaign.

Mr. Burnett was subsequently engaged by the Cincinn atiPress,Times, and Commercialgreat avidity, and were, as war correspondent. His letters were read with replete with wit, humor, and interesting anecdote. His extensive acquaintance enabled him to gather the earliest information, and his letters were always considered among the most reliable. A number of them will be found in the succeeding pages.

That "Incidents of the War" will be found instructi ve and entertaining, we can but believe, although Mr. Burnett's professional engagements precluded the possibility of his

devoting that time and attention to its preparation which was almost imperative. It lays no particular claim to merit as a literary production— being a collection of letters and incidents, which Mr. B.'s publishers thought would be palatable to the public in their present form.

In the volume will be found several pieces for the superior rendition of which Mr. Burnett has been highly extolled. At the close will be found a famous debate, which, although not an incident of the war, is peculiarly spirited, and was delivered by Mr. Burnett before General Rosecrans.

For the graphic illustrations accompanying the volu me, Mr. Burnett is indebted to Messrs. Jones & Hart, engravers, and Messrs. Ball & Thomas, photographic artists.

Mr. Burnett is still engaged in giving readings and recitations, in city and village, and, since the death of Winchell, stands almost alone in his profession. Upon a visit to England, some years since, he gained the praise of the English press and public, as a correct delineator of the passions, mimic, and humorist. He is never so well pleased as when before an audience, and receiving the applause of the judicious.

In conclusion, let us hope that "Incidents of the War" may be welcomed by that large number who have had relatives in the armies of the Union, and whose names may, perchance, be found in its pages, while we know the numerous friends of Mr. Burnett will hail its appearance with unfeigned delight.

CHAPTER I

CONTENTS.

P REPARATORY  R EMARKS  — A C MP -L IFE  — N I CIDENTSOFTHE  B ATTLEOF P ERRYVILLE  — B RIGADIER -G ENERAL  L YTLE  — C APTAIN  M C D OUGAL , OFTHE 3 D  O HIO C — OLONEL  L OOMIS A — FTERTHE  B ATTLE R — EBELS  P LAYING 'P OSSUM  — K S EERED ! T HAT  A INTNO  N AMEFORIT  — A C MP  F UN , INA B URLESQUE L ETTERTOA F RIEND .

CHAPTER II

G ENERAL  N ELSON  — T HE  G ENERALANDTHE  P IE -W OMEN T — HE  W ATCHFUL S ENTINELOFTHE 2 D K ENTUCKY — T HE W AGON -M ASTEROFTHE 17 TH I NDIANA — D EATHOF  G ENERAL  N ELSON  — IS H F UNERAL  — O C LONELI N CK A NDERSON ' S O PINIONOF N ELSON .

CHAPTER III

D ESCRIPTIONOFA B ATTLE — T HE 2 D O HIO (C OLONEL H ARRIS ) AT P ERRYVILLE — M AJOR -G ENERAL  M C C OOK ' S  R EPORT  — M AJOR -G ENERAL  R OUSSEAU ' S R EPORT — S KETCHOF M AJOR -G ENERAL A. M C D. M C C OOK .

Page

13

23

37

CHAPTER IV

L OOKINGFORTHE B ODYOFA D EAD N EPHEWONTHE F IELDOF M URFREESBORO — T HE 6 TH O HIOAT M URFREESBORO — T HE D EADOFTHE 6 TH — T HE  36 TH I NDIANA — P UTTING C ONTRABANDSTO S OME S ERVICE — A NXIETYOF O WNERS TO  R ETAINTHEIR  S LAVES C — ONDUCTOFA  M ISTRESS "D — ON ' T  S HOOT , M ASSA , HERE  I I S !" — K IDD ' S  S AFEGUARD  — "A LWAYS  B EENA  U NION  M AN " — N EGROES E XHIBITINGTHEIR P REFERENCEFORTHEIR F RIENDS .

CHAPTER V

C UTTING D OWNA R EBEL ' S R ESERVED T IMBER — H OME A GAIN — L OOMISAND H I S  C OLDWATER  B ATTERY  — E S CESSION  P OETRY  — E H AVY  J OKEONAN "E GYPTIAN " R EGIMENT .

CHAPTER VI

G ENERAL T URCHIN — M RS . G ENERAL T URCHININ C OMMANDOFTHE V ANGUARD OFTHE 19 TH I LLINOIS — T HE 18 TH O HIOAT A THENS — C HILDRENAND F OOLS A LWAYS  T ELLTHE  T RUTH P — ICKET  T ALK A — BOUT  S OLDIERS  V OTING  — C APTAIN K IRK ' S L INEOF B ATTLE .

CHAPTER VII

C OMIC  S CENES  — M I PORTATIONOF  Y ANKEES W — OULDN ' T  G O  R OUND  — M AJORO B YNTONANDTHE  C HICKEN  — O M NOTONYOF  C AMP -L IFE  — E XPERIENCEONA  S COUTING  E XPEDITION L — ARZ  A NDERSON , E SQ ., IN  C AMP — A W OULD - BE  S ECESSIONIST  C AUGHTIN H IS O WN T RAP — G UTHRIE G RAY B ILLOF  F AREFORA  R EBEL  "R ECEPTION " — I P C  R USSELL  A MONGTHE S NAKES .

CHAPTER VIII

F UNINTHE  123 D  O HIO A T — HRILLING  I NCIDENTOFTHE  W AR G — ENERAL K ELLEY  — O V TE  U NDER  S TRANGE  C IRCUMSTANCES  — I D E , B UT  N EVER S URRENDER .

CHAPTER IX

O UR H OSPITALS — N O H OPE — A S HORTAND S IMPLE S TORY — A S OLDIER ' S P RIDE  — T HE  L AST  L ETTER S — OLDIERLY  S YMPATHY T — HE  H OSPITALSAT G ALLATIN , AND T HEIR M INISTERING A NGELS .

CHAPTER X

S PORTSIN C AMP — A NECDOTEOFTHE 63 D O HIOAND C OLONEL S PRAGUE — S OLDIER ' S D REAMOF H OME — T HE W IFE ' S R EPLY .

CHAPTER XI

T HE A TROCITIESOF S LAVERY — T HE B EAUTIESOFTHE  P ECULIAR  I NSTITUTION — A F EW W ELL - SUBSTANTIATED F ACTS — V ISITTO G ALLATIN , T ENNESSEE .

CHAPTER XII

G ENERAL  S CHOFIELD C — OLONEL  D URBIN  W ARD C — OLONEL  C ONNELL  — W OMENIN B REECHES — A NOTHER I NCIDENTOFTHE W AR — N EGRO S ERMON .

CHAPTER XIII

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57

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70

80

87

99

107

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135

L ETTER F ROM C HEAT M OUNTAIN — THE W OMENOFTHE S OUTH — G ILBERT ' S B RIGADE .

CHAPTER XIV

C ONFESSIONSOFA F AT M AN — H OME -G UARD — T HE N EGROONTHE F ENCE — A C AMP L ETTEROF E ARLY T IMES — "S WEETHARTS " A GAINST W AR .

CHAPTER XV

T HE  W INTER  C AMPAIGNIN  V IRGINIA  — D IDN ' T  K NOWOFTHE  R EBELLION  — G ENERAL W. H. L YTLE — D RILLING — A B LACK N IGHTINGALE ' S S ONG .

CHAPTER XVI

O LD S TONNICKERAND C OLONEL M ARROW , OF 3 D O HIO — G ENERAL G ARNETT ANDHIS D OGS — "A RE Y OUTHE C OL - O - NELOF T HIS P OST ?" — P ROFANITYIN THE A RMY — H IGH P RICEOF B EANSIN C AMP — A L ITTLE G AMEOF "D RAW ."

CHAPTER XVII

H ARDONTHE  S UTLER : S PIRITUALISM  T RIED A — P S ECIMENOF  S OUTHERN P OETRY  — IN S GULAR  — A M RCHTO  N ASHVILLE  — E G NERAL  S TEADMAN C HALLENGEDBYA W OMAN — N IGGER Q UESTION — "R EBELS R ETURNING ."

CHAPTER XVIII

G OING  I NTO  B ATTLE  — E L TTER  T OTHE  S ECESH  — G ENERAL  G ARFIELD , M AJOR -G ENERAL R OSECRANS ' S  C HIEFOF  S TAFF G — ENERAL  L EW  W ALLACE — T HE  S IEGEOF  C INCINNATI  — P ARSON  B ROWNLOW  — C OLONEL  C HARLES A NDERSON .

CHAPTER XIX

A N E PISODEOFTHE W AR — L AUGHABLE I NCIDENT — O LD M RS . W IGGLESON P ICKET D UTY — G ENERAL M ANSON — G OD B LESSTHE S OLDIERS — N EGRO ' S P EDIGREEOF  A BRAHAM  L INCOLN A M — IDDLE  T ENNESSEE  P REACHER A — L ACONIC S PEECH .

CHAPTER XX

U NION  M EN  S CARCE H — OW  T HEY  A RE  D READED  — N I CIDENTS  — T HE W EALTHY  S ECESSIONISTSAND  P OOR  U NION  W IDOWS T — HE  J OHN  M ORGANS OF  R EBELLION A C — ONTRABAND ' S  E XPLANATIONOFTHE  M YSTERY  — A CCIDENTAT  T HE  S OUTH  T UNNEL  — M I PUDENCEOFTHE  R EBELS  — A P ATHETIC A PPEAL , ETC .

CHAPTER XXI

A F RIENDLY V ISITFOR C ORNINTOAN E GYPTIAN C OUNTRY — O HIO R EGIMENTS — "C ORN O R B LOOD " — "F ANNY B ATTLES " — T HE C ONSTITUTION B USTEDIN S EVERALL P ACES  — DIC E TSG A AINSTI D NNER - HORNS , BYO C LONEL B ROWNLOW ' S  C AVALRY A — I S GNAL  S TATION  B URNED  — T WO  R EBEL  A IDS C APTURED .

CHAPTER XXII

R EWARDFORA  M ASTER T — URNINGTHE  T ABLES D — AN  B OSSAND  H IS A DVENTURE  — M AJOR  P IC  R USSELL A — I V SIT  T OTHE  O UTPOSTS  W ITH

143

156

167

172

181

188

194

201

207

G ENERAL J EFF C. D AVIS — R EBEL W ITTICISMS — H IGHT I GO , Y E E CCENTRIC Q UARTER -M ASTER — F LING O UTTOTHE B REEZE , B OYS .

CHAPTER XXIII

D EFENSEOFTHE C ONDUCTOFTHE G ERMAN R EGIMENTSAT H ARTSVILLE — T O T HE  M EMORYOF  C APTAIN  W. Y. HO G LSON  — O C LONEL  T OLAND  V S . C ONTRABAND W HISKY .

CHAPTER XXIV

W ARAND  R OMANCE C — OLONEL  F RED  J ONES H — ANGINGINTHE  A RMY  — G ENERAL A. J. S MITHVS . D IRTY G UNS .

CHAPTER XXV

A T RIPINTOTHE  E NEMY ' S  C OUNTRY  — T HE  R EBELSTWICEDRIVENBACKBY G ENERAL  S TEADMAN  — I NCIDENTSOFTHE  C HARGEOFTHE  1 ST  T ENNESSEE C AVALRY , UNDER M AJOR T RACY — T HE 35 THAND 9 TH O HIOINTHE F IGHT — C OLONEL M OODYANDTHE  74 TH  O HIO  — C OLONEL  M OODYONTHE  B ATTLE - FIELD .

CHAPTER XXVI

A W EDDINGINTHE A RMY — A B ILLOF F AREIN C AMP — D ISHONEST F EMALE R EB — P RIVATE C UPP — T OTHE 13 TH O HIO .

CHAPTER XXVII

T HE  O ATH A C — ONSERVATIVE  D ARKEY ' S  O PINIONOF  Y ANKEES  — V ISITTO THE  G RAVESOF  O HIOAND  I NDIANA  B OYS  — T RIPFROM  M URFREESBOROTO L OUISVILLE N — ASHVILLE  C ONVALESCENTS A D — EATHINTHE  H OSPITAL  — H ENRY L OVIE C APTURED .

CHAPTER XXVIII

G ENERAL  S TEADMAN  S UPERSEDEDBY  G ENERAL  S CHOFIELD , OF  M ISSOURI  — C OLONEL  B ROWNLOW ' S  R EGIMENT  — I H S  B RAVERY A — E R BEL  O FFICER K ILLEDBYA  W OMAN  — D ISCONTENTIN  E AST  T ENNESSEE  — I P CKET  D UTY AND I TS D ANGERS — A G ALLANT D EEDANDA C HIVALROUS R ETURN .

CHAPTER XXIX

A N  I NCIDENTAT  H OLLY  S PRINGS , M ISS . — T HE  R AIDBY  V AN  D ORN  — C INCINNATI C OTTON - DEALERSIN T ROUBLE — T ROUBLESOFA R EPORTER .

CHAPTER XXX

A R EPORTER ' S  I DEAOF  M ULES  — L ETTERFROM  K ENTUCKY C — HAPLAIN G ADDISTURNS F IREMAN — G ADDISANDTHE S ECESH G RASS - WIDOW .

CHAPTER XXXI

A V ISIT T OTHE 1 ST E AST T ENNESSEE C AVALRY — A P ROPOSED S ERMON — I TS  I NTERRUPTION H — OWYE  P REACHERIS  B AMBOOZLEDOUTOF  $15 ANDA G OLD W ATCH — C AVALRYONTHE B RAIN — O LD S TONNICKER D RUMMED O UT OF C AMP — N OWAND T HEN .

CHAPTER XXXII

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