Incidents of the War: Humorous, Pathetic, and Descriptive

Alfred Burnett

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pubOne.info thank you for your continued support and wish to present you this new edition. 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 darkling 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 Alfredus, better known by the familiar appellation Alf.

Informations

• Publié par: Pub One Info
• Date de parution: 23 octobre 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9782819913153
• Langue: English

Extrait

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 foundhim "a fellow of infinite jest," and one who, "though troublesassailed," always looked upon the bright side of life, leaving itsreverse to those who could not behold the silver lining to thedarkling clouds of their moral horizon. We could fill a good-sizedvolume with anecdotes illustrating the humorous in Mr. Burnett'scomposition, and his keen appreciation of the grotesque andludicrous – relating how he has, many a time and oft, "set thetable in a roar," by his quaint sayings and the peculiar manner inwhich they were said; but we are "admonished to be brief," fourpages only being allotted to "do up" the veritable "Don Alfredus,"better known by the familiar appellation "Alf."
Mr. Burnett has been a resident of Cincinnati forthe past twenty-seven years, his parents removing thereto fromUtica, New York, in 1836. Alf, at the Utica Academy, in hisearliest youth, was quite noted as a declaimer; his "youth but gavepromise of the man," Mr. B., at the present time, standing withouta peer in his peculiar line of declamation and oratory. In 1845, hetraveled with Professor De Bonneville, giving his wonderfulrendition of "The Maniac," so as to attract the attention of the literati throughout the country.
Perhaps one great reason for Mr. Burnett's adoptinghis present profession was a remark made by the celebratedtragedian, Edwin Forrest. Mr. B. had been invited to meet Mr.Forrest at the residence of S. S. Smith, Esq. Mr. Burnett gaveseveral readings, which caused Mr. Forrest to make the remark, that"Mr. B. had but to step upon the stage to reach fortune andrenown." "Upon this hint" Mr. B. acted, and at once entered uponthe duties of his arduous profession. In his readings andrecitations he soon discovered that it was imperative, to insure apleasant entertainment, that humor should be largely mingled withpathos; hence, he introduced a series of droll and comical pieces,in the rendition of which he is acknowledged to have no equal. As amimic and ventriloquist he stands preeminent, and his entertainmentis so varied with pathos, wit, and humor, that an evening'samusement of wonderful versatility is afforded.
Mr. Burnett is a remarkably ready writer – tooready, to pay that care and attention to the "rules," which isconsidered, and justly so, to be indispensable to a correct writer.To illustrate the rapidity with which he composes, we have but torepeat a story, which a mutual friend relates. He met Alf, oneafternoon, about five o'clock, he being announced to deliver anoriginal poem in the evening, of something less than a hundredverses. In the midst of the conversation which ensued, Alf suddenlyrecollected that he had not written a line thereof, and, making hisexcuses, declared he must go home and write up the " littleaffair ." In the evening a voluminous poem was forthcoming, Alf,in all probability, having "done it up" in half an hour "byShrewsbury clock."
Mr. Burnett has contributed various poems to theliterature of the country, which have stamped him as beingpossessed of a more than ordinary share of the divine afflatus.Among them is "The Sexton's Spade," which has gained a world-widecelebrity. The writer has been connected with Mr. Burnett in thepublication of two or three papers, which, somehow or other, neverwon their way into popular favor: either the public had very badtaste, or the "combined forces" had not the ability to please, orthe perseverance to continue until success crowned theirlabors.
In the commencement of the war, Mr. Burnett was on atour of the State, in the full tide of prosperity. Immediatelyafter Sumter fell, he summoned to him, by telegraph, his travelingagent, together with Mr. George Humphreys, who had, as anassistant, been with him for years. A consultation was held, whichresulted in the determination of all three to enlist in the serviceof their country. The agent repaired to Chillicothe and joined the27th Ohio; Humphreys joined the 5th Ohio, and Mr. Burnett enlistedas high private in the 6th Ohio, and served with his regiment inWest Virginia, throughout that memorable campaign.
Mr. Burnett was subsequently engaged by theCincinnati Press , Times , and Commercial , aswar correspondent. His letters were read with great avidity, andwere replete with wit, humor, and interesting anecdote. Hisextensive acquaintance enabled him to gather the earliestinformation, and his letters were always considered among the mostreliable. A number of them will be found in the succeedingpages.
That "Incidents of the War" will be foundinstructive and entertaining, we can but believe, although Mr.Burnett's professional engagements precluded the possibility of hisdevoting that time and attention to its preparation which wasalmost imperative. It lays no particular claim to merit as aliterary production – being a collection of letters and incidents,which Mr. B.'s publishers thought would be palatable to the publicin their present form.
In the volume will be found several pieces for thesuperior rendition of which Mr. Burnett has been highly extolled.At the close will be found a famous debate, which, although not anincident of the war, is peculiarly spirited, and was delivered byMr. Burnett before General Rosecrans.
For the graphic illustrations accompanying thevolume, Mr. Burnett is indebted to Messrs. Jones & Hart,engravers, and Messrs. Ball & Thomas, photographic artists.
Mr. Burnett is still engaged in giving readings andrecitations, 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 andpublic, as a correct delineator of the passions, mimic, andhumorist. 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 theWar" may be welcomed by that large number who have had relatives inthe armies of the Union, and whose names may, perchance, be foundin its pages, while we know the numerous friends of Mr. Burnettwill hail its appearance with unfeigned delight.
CHAPTER I.
Preparatory Remarks – Camp-Life – Incidents of theBattle of Perryville – Brigadier-General Lytle – Captain McDougal,of the 3d Ohio – Colonel Loomis – After the Battle – Rebels Playing'Possum – Skeered! That Aint no Name for it.
In a two-years' connection with the army, a man withthe most ordinary capacity for garnering up the humorous stories ofcamp may find his repertoire overflowing with the mostversatile of incidents. A connection with the daily press is,however, of great service, especially as a letter-writer isexpected to know all that occurs in camp – and more too !
The stories that I shall relate are no fictions, butveritable facts, to most of which I was myself an eye-witness.
The hardships of camp-life have been so oftendepicted by other pens that it will be unnecessary for me to bringthem anew before the public. A few jolly spirits in a regimentfrequently sway the crowd, and render the hours pleasant to theboys which otherwise would prove exceedingly wearisome; and many asurgeon has remarked, that it would amply remunerate Government tohire good, wholesome amusement for the benefit of the soldiers whennot on active duty. Frequently, when visiting various hospitals,have I noticed the brightening eye of the patients as I have toldthem some laughable incident, or given an hour's amusement to thecrowd of convalescents – a far preferable dose, they told me, toquinine. A word of praise to the suffering hero is of greatvalue.
I remember, the day after the battle of Perryville,visiting the hospital of which Dr. Muscroft was surgeon. I hadassisted all day in bringing in the wounded from thefield-hospital, in the rear of the battle-ground. The boys of the10th and 3d Ohio were crowded into a little church, each pewanswering for a private apartment for a wounded man. One of thesurgeons in attendance requested me to assist in holding a patientwhile his leg was being amputated. This was my first trial, but thesight of the crowd of wounded had rendered my otherwise sensitivenerves adamant, and as the knife was hastily plunged, thecircle-scribe and the saw put to its use, the limb off, scarce agroan escaped the noble fellow's lips. Another boy of the 10th hadhis entire right cheek cut off by a piece of a shell, laceratinghis tongue in the most horrible manner: this wound had to bedressed, and again my assistance was required, and I could butnotice the exhilarating effect a few words of praise that Ibestowed upon his powers of endurance had. This was invariably thecase with all those whom it was my painful duty to assist. Theeffect of a few words of praise seemed quite magical.
Men frequently fight on, though severely wounded, sogreat is the excitement of battle, and I am cognizant of severalinstances of men fainting from loss of blood, who did not know theywere wounded, until, several minutes afterward, they were broughtto a realization of the fact through a peculiar dizzy, sickeningfeeling. Brigadier-General (then Colonel) Lytle, who commanded abrigade during that battle, it is said, by boys who were near him,after the severe wound he received, fought on several minutes. Afield-officer, whose name I have forgotten, being shot from hishorse, requested to be lifted back into the saddle, and diedshortly afterward. Captain McDougal, of Newark, Ohio, commanding acompany in the 3d Ohio, who, with sword upraised, and cheering onhis noble boys, received a fatal shot, actually stepped some eightor ten paces before falling. Colonel Loomis, of the celebratedLoomis Battery, who did such service in that engagement, says hesaw no dead about him; yet there they lay, within a few feet of hisbattery. Loomis at one time sighted one of his favorite pieces,taking what he called a "fair,