General Schofield -- Colonel Durbin Ward -- Colonel Connell
-- Women in Breeches -- Another Incident of the War -- Negro
Sermon.
Triune, Tenn., _April 29, 1863_.
The last letter I wrote you was from the Missouri army. I am so
continually _flying_ around that I have won the cognomen of "the
kite." It is astonishing what a charm there is in camp life; boys that
have been away but a short time feel a craving to once more resume
their duties among their comrades. With me 'tis a great pleasure to
get back to the familiar faces of this splendid division.
Our new commander, General Schofield, is fast winning the devotion of
his troops; his policy in Missouri meeting the cordial approbation of
men and officers here. Leniency is played out; nothing but the most
extreme rigor of military law will bring these traitors to a
realization of the villainous stand they have taken. Nothing but the
driving of every enemy from our lines, as we go, will bring the
misguided citizen to his senses. The men and women, who have been
allowed so many privileges, have all along been acting as spies. A few
days since, a little boy, only eight years of age, was caught going
over to his "uncle Palmer's;" he said his mother wanted him to go
over and get a chicken, as the "sogers" ate all theirs up, and his
mother was sick. The picket was about to let the child pass, on such
an errand as that, and being such a small specimen of humanity. The
lieutenant of the guard questioned the child closely, but could not
glean any information of importance. As the child started off, down
the road, he again called him, and, upon searching, found in the heel
of his little stocking, _sewed in_, a full description of the entire
camp and fortifications. The boy knew nothing of this, but was merely
an instrument in the hands of the parents. As a matter of course the
house was immediately searched, but the whole mystery is solved in the
fact that several of the Secesh _dam-sells_ were quite favorites in
camp.
General Schofield is driving all known sympathizers beyond his lines,
and permitting none but the undoubted Union men to remain.
A few nights since, as I was about retiring beneath the umbrageous
shade of a lovely maple, a voice from above shouted, "Is 'Alf' here?"
"Yes, sir," was the response.
The voice emanated from the epigastrium of a huge fellow-wanderer in
this wilderness, who was mounted upon a fiery steed.
"You are sent for by the commanding officers of the First Brigade, and
I have orders to take you there, _peaceably_, if I can; _forcibly_, if
I must."
As our camp was just getting wrapped in the arms of "Murphy," and not
wishing to disturb them in their slumber, I consented to go. It was
about a mile, over hill, through woods and thicket, to their camp. I
preferred walking; but the gentle persuader on the horse induced me
to "double up," and, after various efforts, I succeeded in mounting. I
told the driver I was a poor rider, and convinced him of it before
long. As the horse objected to my being placed so far back on his
haunch, and I couldn't get forward, there naturally arose a dispute,
which eventuated in the horse running off with both of us. After being
duly deposited on the ground, the horse seemed delighted, and
expressed his pleasure by kicking up his heels. After various
vicissitudes, I was safely deposited at the head-quarters of the First
Brigade, under the command of Colonel Connell.
Upon the announcement that "Alf" had "arriv," I heard the stentorian
lungs of Colonel Durbin Ward ask: "Dead or alive?"
With fear and trembling I entered the tent, and found Colonel Connell,
with nearly all his officers. I think Byron says something about there
being
"A sound of revelry by night."
Well, so there was. Byron can prove it by me. O, shades of the
"vine-clad hills of Bingen," but the "Isabella" was profuse! I
remember being kept busy for two hours telling yarns and riddles, and
the next day was accused of borrowing a horse and leading him home. My
medical adviser, Dr. Wright, of the 35th Ohio, kept with me until the
roads forked, and then he _deviated_.
Yesterday I paid a visit to the lamented Bob McCook's "Old Ninth"
Regiment. The men are in splendid condition--the pride of the
division. They are noted as the most ingenious battalion in the Army
of the Cumberland. They have improvised a turning-shop, and
manufacture chessmen, checkers, and every variety of specimens in that
line. They have a flying-Dutchman, revolving swing, quoits, bag races,
etc., while the lovers of horse-racing and cock-fighting can be duly
amused every day in the week by members of the different regiments,
each tenacious of the fair fame of his favorite battalion. Last night
a fine game-cock, belonging to the 2d Minnesota, whipped one owned by
the 35th Ohio, and, as a matter of course, the 2d Minnesota are in
high glee, "crowing" over their chicken.
The 2d Minnesota, the 35th Ohio, and 9th Ohio Regiments are wedded.
Each will vie with the other for the laurels in case of a fight. We
have here, close at hand, the 17th, 31st, and 34th Ohio, besides those
already mentioned. Our force is adequate for all the rebels dare send
against us.
The voice of the boys is universally for the Union, against all
traitors, whether those who openly meet them in the field, or the more
dastardly coward that remains at home and backbites, and aids the
enemy by words of comfort, and spreading dissensions in the rear.
The soldiers are unanimous upon the war question. They want no
milk-and-water policy, and all they ask is, that the friends at home
will back them in the field. Let all, whether Democrat, Republican,
Abolitionist, or Pro-slavery, _unite_ upon the _Union_. Let us have
the Government sustained, regardless of all else. People at home have
no right to dictate to our leaders what policy they should pursue.
They are presumed to know what is best. If slavery falls, why
sympathize with the owners? What claims have they upon your
sympathies? A strange change has come over the people since former
years. One party accused the other, and all who were opposed to
slavery, as having "nigger on the brain." Now it is reversed. The
rebel sympathizer, the ultra pro-slavery man, is the individual who is
now troubled with this complaint.
Let us hope our whole people will be thoroughly united at the coming
elections, and let their motto be: "We are unalterably opposed to the
secession of one inch of the territory of the American Union." Then I,
for one, and I know it is the universal feeling of this entire
division, will not care if the man who comes in on that platform be
Democrat, Whig, or Republican; he should have the support of all true
lovers of his country.
WOMEN IN BREECHES.
Whether the women in modern times have taken the cue from the poet's
words,
"Once more unto the _breech_, dear friends,"
and merely added the plural, making it "breeches," I know not; but the
present war for the Union has elicited much enthusiasm among the
gentler sex, causing them, in many instances, to lay aside their
accustomed garb, and assume the exterior of the sterner portion of
creation; in proof of which the following story of the war is given:
A young woman arrived in Chicago from Louisville, Ky., whose history
is thus related in the _Post_ of that city:
"She gave her name as Annie Lillybridge, of Detroit, and stated that
her parents reside in Hamilton, Canada. Last spring she was employed
in a dry-goods store in Detroit, where she became acquainted with a
Lieutenant W----, of one of the Michigan regiments, and an intimacy
immediately sprang up between them. They corresponded for some time,
and became much attached to each other. Some time during last summer,
Lieutenant W---- was appointed to a position in the 21st Michigan
Infantry, then rendezvousing in Ionia County. The thought of parting
from the gay lieutenant nearly drove her mad, and she resolved to
share his dangers and be near him. No sooner had she resolved upon
this course than she proceeded to the act. Purchasing male attire, she
visited Ionia, enlisted in Captain Kavanagh's company, 21st Regiment.
While in camp she managed to keep her secret from all; not even the
object of her attachment, who met her every day, was aware of her
presence so near him.
"Annie left with her regiment for Kentucky, passed through all the
dangers and temptations of a camp life, endured long marches, and
sleeping on the cold ground, without a murmur. At last, the night
before the battle of Pea Ridge, (or Prairie Grove,) in which her
regiment took part, her sex was discovered by a member of her company;
but she enjoined secrecy upon him, after relating her previous
history. On the following day she was under fire, and, from a letter
she has in her possession, it appears she behaved with marked
gallantry, and, with her own hand, shot a rebel captain, who was in
the act of firing upon Lieutenant W----. But the fear of revealing her
sex continually haunted her. After the battle, she was sent out, with
others, to collect the wounded, and one of the first corpses found by
her was the soldier who had discovered her sex.
"Days and weeks passed on, and she became a universal favorite with
the regiment, so much so that her Colonel (Stephens) frequently
detailed her as regimental clerk, a position that brought her in close
contact with her lover, who, at this time, was either major or
adjutant of the regiment. A few weeks subsequently she was out on
picket duty, when she received a shot in the arm that disabled her,
and, notwithstanding the efforts of the surgeon, her wound continually
grew worse. She was sent to the hospital at Louisville, where she has
been ever since, until a few weeks ago, when she was discharged by the
post surgeon, as her arm was stiffened and rendered useless for life.
She implored to be permitted to return to her regiment; but the
surgeon was unyielding, and discharged her. Annie immediately hurried
toward home, and, by the aid of benevolent strangers, reached this
city. At Cincinnati she told her secret to a benevolent lady, and was
supplied with female attire. She declares that she will enlist in her
old regiment again, if there is a recruiting officer for the 21st in
Michigan. She still clings to the lieutenant, and says she must be
near him if he falls or is taken down sick; that where he goes she
will go; and when he dies, she will end her life by her own hand."
ANOTHER INCIDENT OF THE WAR.
A few weeks since, a captain, accompanied by a young soldier,
apparently about seventeen years of age, arrived in this city, in
charge of some rebel prisoners. During their stay in the city, the
young soldier alluded to had occasion to visit head-quarters, and at
once attracted the attention of Colonel Mundy, as being exceedingly
sprightly, and possessed of more than ordinary intelligence. Being in
need of such a young man at Barracks No. 1, the Colonel detailed him
for service in that institution. He soon won the esteem of his
superior officers, and became a general favorite with all connected
with the barracks. A few days ago, however, the startling secret was
disclosed that the supposed young man was a young lady, and the fact
was established beyond doubt, by a soldier who was raised in the same
town, with her, and knew her parents. She "acknowledged the corn," and
begged to be retained in the position to which she had been assigned;
having been in the service ten months, she desired to serve during the
war. Her wish was accordingly granted, and she is still at her post.
We learned the facts above stated, and took occasion to visit the
barracks, and was introduced to "Frank Martin," (her assumed name,)
and gleaned the following incidents connected with her extraordinary
career during the past ten months:
Frank was born near Bristol, Penn., and her parents reside in
Alleghany City, where she was raised. They are highly respectable
people, and in very good circumstances. She was sent to the convent in
Wheeling, Va., at twelve years of age, where she remained until the
breaking out of the war, having acquired a superior education, and all
the accomplishments of modern days. She visited home after leaving the
convent; and, after taking leave of her parents, proceeded to this
city, in July last, with the design of enlisting in the 2d East
Tennessee Cavalry, which she accomplished, and accompanied the Army of
the Cumberland to Nashville. She was in the thickest of the fight at
Murfreesboro, and was severely wounded in the shoulder, but fought
gallantly, and waded Stone River into Murfreesboro, on the memorable
Sunday on which our forces were driven back. She had her wound
dressed, and here her sex was disclosed, and General Rosecrans made
acquainted with the fact. She was accordingly mustered out of service,
notwithstanding her earnest entreaty to be allowed to serve the cause
she loved so well. The General was very favorably impressed with her
daring bravery, and superintended the arrangements for her safe
transmission to her parents. She left the Army of the Cumberland,
resolved to enlist again in the first regiment she met.
NEGRO SERMON DELIVERED AT TRIUNE, TENN.
Camp near Triune, Tenn., _May 16, 1863_.
Last Sunday week there was a grand revival meeting of the numerous
contrabands, at the Brick Church, near the village. The house was
crowded by the most fashionable black belles in the county, many of
them dressed "_a la mode_." An old man arose, and stated that he had
formerly been a _circus_ preacher, and "done been ober de country from
station to station, preachin' de gospel," and he now felt like
"talkin' to de brudders and sistern." He commenced his discourse:
"MY BELUBED BREDERN--I haben't got no Bible. De rebels, when dey
squatulated from dis place, done toted dem all off wid 'em. Derefore,
I am destrained to make a tex' myself, and ax you,
"'WHAR DO YOU LIB?'
"Is your dwellin' in de tents of wickedness? Now, my belubed bredern,
de world am a whirlin' and a whirlin', jest as it allers hes bin. Dish
here world nebber stan' still for de Yanks or for de rebs, but keeps
on its course jest de same, and why shouldn't you do so likewise?
"If de Lord is a smilin' on us dark sheep ob de flock, and Fader
Abraham has got his bosom ready for to _deceib_ us, why should we not
be _preparred_ for de glory ob dat day?
"My tex' _requires_ ob you, '_Whar do you lib?_'
"Is you strollin' round, wid no hope of de future freedom starrin' you
in de face? Massa Linkum has done tole you, dat if you work for de
salvation ob de Union, dat you shall be saved, no matter what de
Legislatur' ob Kaintuck may say to de reverse contrary dereof--_dat
is_, if de _Union_ be saved _likewise_; and Massa Linkum is de man
what will stand up to de rack; so, derefore, I ax you, '_Whar do you
lib?_'
"De good book done tole you dat you can't serb two masters; but dat is
a passenger ob Scriptur' I nebber could understan' wid all my larnin',
for de most ob us has been serbin' a heap o' masters durin' dis
comboberation ob de white folks, wherein we colored gemmen is
interested; derefore I ask, agin and agin, de momentus question ob
'_Whar do you lib?_'
"Now, my brudders, I is perfec'ly awar dat many ob you don't lib much,
but dat you jest 'sassiate round;' you isn't de right stripe; _you
don't lib nowhar_.
"Wharfor is dis state ob society, after all de white folks am a doin
for you?
"Look aroun' an' aroun' you, an' see de glorious names oh our colored
bredern what is fitin' an a fitin' for you in de army. Dars Horace
Greeley and Fred Douglass; dars Jack Mims and Wendal Phlips; dars
Lennox Ramond and Lloyd Garrison. De last-mentioned colored pusson is
a tic'lar friend ob mine, and is named after a place whar dey now is
trainin' a lot ob our race. De Garrison was named after de garrison.
"Den dars Mrs. Beechum Sto; look at dat lady; isn't she going from de
camp to de camp just like de Martingale--what de English people had in
de las' war in Florence; and don't dey call her de Florence Martingale
ob dis hemisphere?
"Be ye also ready to answer de question as to '_Whar do you lib?_'
"So dat de glorification ob Uncle Abraham Linkum shall resound ober de
earth, and we darkeys no longer hab to hoe de corn, but lib foreber on
de fat ob de lan'. Brudder Jerry will please pass aroun' de hat."