Incidents of the War: Humorous, Pathetic, and Descriptive Part 15

In 1857 he was elected Major-General of the First District of Ohio Volunteers. On the 19th of April, 1861, he was ordered by the Governor of Ohio to organize a camp for four regiments of infantry, and the day after receiving this order General Lytle took into Camp Harrison the 5th and 6th Ohio Infantry, and shortly after the 9th and 10th Ohio. The latter regiment tendered him the colonelcy, which was accepted; and he led it through the Virginia campaign, under McClellan and Rosecrans, up to the date of Carnifex Ferry, where he was wounded, September 10, 1861. Recovering from his wounds, he reported for duty in January, 1862, and was placed by General Buell in command of the Camp of Instruction at Bardstown, Ky., relieving General Wood. In March he was relieved, and reporting at Nashville, was placed in command of Dumont's brigade, Major-General O. M. Mitchel's division, at Murfreesboro, and made, with General Mitchel, the campaign in Northern Alabama, and conducted the evacuation of Huntsville, August 31, 1862, under orders from Major-General Buell. He commanded the Seventeenth Brigade up to the battle of Chaplin Hills, where he was again wounded, October 8, 1862. During the following winter he was promoted to Brigadier-General, dating from November 29, 1862, and reported for duty to the Army of the c.u.mberland in the spring of 1863, and was a.s.signed to the command of the First Brigade, Third Division, of the Twentieth Army Corps.

A Tribute To the Tenth Ohio.

When Colonel Mulligan was in Cincinnati, he and the n.o.ble William H. Lytle were invited to the dedication of the Catholic Inst.i.tute. It was the 22d of November, 1861. Lytle had just recovered from his Carnifex Ferry wound. The Colonel was called upon for a speech. He said:

"When I go back and tell my men how, for their sakes, you have received me to-night, they will feel very proud. They often think of you, my fellow-citizens; and the brother, mother, wife, or sister, among you, in spirit visits the soldier as he rests in his chill tent at night.

"It does not become me to speak of my own regiment, for I know that he who putteth his armor on can not boast as he that puts it off. But, as it is distant, and can not hear my words, I may say this much: the Tenth has been ever true to the motto inscribed upon its flag-'G.o.d and the Union.'"

The Colonel paid a feeling tribute to John Fitzgibbons, the dead color-bearer of the Tenth, and hoped that the memory of his deeds, of Kavanagh, and others, who fell on the field in defense of their country, might inspire their countrymen to rise and avenge them.

Drilling.

Sweet Amy asked, with pleading eyes, "Dear Charley, teach me, will you, The words I've heard your captain say?

I should so like to drill you!"

"What! little one, you take command!

Well, Amy, I'm quite willing; In such a company as yours, I can't have too much drilling.

"Stand over, then, and sing out clear, Like this: 'Squad! stand at ease!'"

"O, Charles! you'll wake papa, up stairs; Don't shout like that, love, please."

"Now, stand at ease, like this, you see!

And then, I need scarce mention, The next command you have to give, Is this one: 'Squad! attention!'

"Now, Amy, smartly after me; (You're sure, dear, it won't bore you?) 'Forward, march! Halt! Front! Right dress!'

There, now, I'm close before you.

"'Present arms!'" "Well, it does look odd."

"You don't believe I'd trifle!

We hold our arms out, just like this, In drill without the rifle.

"Now say, 'Salute your officer!'"

"O, Charles! for shame! how can you?

I thought you were at some such trick, You horrid, naughty man you."

Charles "ordered arms" without command; She smoothed her ruffled hair, And pouted, frowned, and blushed, and then Said softly, "As you were!"

A Black Nightingale's Song.

Shortly after our troops occupied one of the towns in Virginia, a squad occupying a tent near a dwelling heard delightful music. The unknown vocalist sang in such sweet, tremulous, thrilling notes, that the boys strained their ears to drink in every note uttered.

On the following day they made some excuse to visit the house, but no one was there. Once they observed a sylph-like form, but she was not the person; and so they lived on, each night hearing the same divine music.

One night, when they were gathered together, the voice was again heard. "By Jove!" said one, "I'm bound to find out who that is; she must be discovered." A dozen voices took up the remark, and a certain nervous youth was delegated to reconnoiter the place. He crept on tiptoe toward the dwelling, leaped the garden-wall, and finally, undiscovered, but pallid and remorseful, gained the cas.e.m.e.nt. Softly raising his head, he peeped within. The room was full of music; he seemed to grow blind for a moment, when lo! upon the kitchen-table sat the mysterious songster, an ebony-hued negress, scouring the tinware, and singing away. Just as he was peering through the window, the ebony songster discovered him. The soldier's limbs sank beneath him, and the black specimen of humanity shouted:

"Go 'way dar, you soger-man, or I'll let fly de fryin' pan at your head! You musn't stan' dar peekin' at dis chile."

The soldier left, his romantic vision dispelled.

Our Hoosier Boys.

Dedicated To The Brave Soldiers Of Indiana.

From East to West your camp-fires blaze, Hoosier boys! our Hoosier boys!

On Vicksburg's hights our flag you raise, Hoosier boys! our Hoosier boys!

And on Virginia's trait'rous soil, In answer to your country's call, The echoes of your footsteps fall, Hoosier boys! our Hoosier boys!

While Southern suns upon you beat, Hoosier boys! our Hoosier boys!

You sternly march the foe to meet, Hoosier boys! our Hoosier boys!

Two winters, numbered with the past, Have o'er you swept with stormy blast, Since home's dear walls inclosed you last; Hoosier boys! our Hoosier boys!

By Richmond's fields, baptized with blood, Hoosier boys! our Hoosier boys!

By precious dust 'neath s.h.i.+loh's sod, Hoosier boys! our Hoosier boys!

By every martyred hero's grave, By sacred rights they died to save.

We'll cherish in our hearts the brave Hoosier boys! our Hoosier boys!

While yet a vacant place is here, Hoosier boys! our Hoosier boys!

From hearts and homes will rise the prayer, Hoosier boys! our Hoosier boys!

"G.o.d bless our gallant men and true, And let foul treason meet its due!"

That faithful hearts may welcome you Home again, our Hoosier boys![]

CHAPTER XVI.

Old Stonnicker and Colonel Marrow, of 3d Ohio - General Garnett and his Dogs - "Are You the Col-o-nel of This Post?" - Profanity in the Army - High Price of Beans in Camp - A Little Game of "draw."

Old Stonnicker and Colonel Marrow, of 3d Ohio.

A Peculiar specimen of the "genus Virginia" had a great deal of trouble while our army was encamped at Elkwater. Stonnicker's fences and sugar-camp were used for fire-wood, corn-field for fodder, apple-trees stripped.

Stonnicker's family were sick. One of his oldest gals had the "soger's fever." He "guessed she must o' cotched it from either the 3d Ohio or 17th Ingeeana Regiment, as the officers kept a comin' there so much."

One day he sent for Colonel Marrow, and the Colonel obeying the summons, Stonnicker said:

"Colonel, one of my children is dead, and I haven't any thing to bury the child in."

The Colonel, a kind-hearted gentleman, had a neat coffin made; lent the old man horses and an ambulance, and attended personally to the burial, at which the old man took on "amazingly."

An hour or two after the funeral, old Stonnicker strolled up to the Colonel's quarters.

"Colonel," said he, as the tears rolled down his cheeks; "Colonel, what shall I do?"

The Colonel, thinking he was mourning over the loss of his lately-buried child, replied:

"O, bear up under such trials like a man."

"Wal, I know I orto; but, Colonel, can't you do something for me? It is too bad! I feel so miserable! Boo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo!"

"O, come, be a man," said the Colonel; "any thing I can do for you shall be done, willingly."