Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1852-04-15
From the Drawing Room Companion.
Surrender of CORVALLIS,
A MILITARY SKETCH.
BY THE OLD 'UN.

L =
no other than the anniversary Of the an
nual militia muster, and on this occasion
not only the Dogtown Blues were on par
ade upon the village green, but the entire
regiment of which they formed part,
commanded by the gallant Colonel Yep
hannah Slorky, post master and variety
store keeper, was to engage in a sham
fight. representing the surrender of Corn
| wallis. There was no attempt at histor-
ical costume, but it was understood that
Slorky, with his cowhide boots and rusty
plated spurs, his long, swallo tailed blue
coat. and ihreadbare chspeau with a
cocks tail feather in il, mounted on his
seven,y-fve dollar piebald mare, pro.
noted from the plougi, and "dunp. cart" !"
was the representative Of Gen. Wash.
Ington. Major Israel Peasely, his Sec
ond in command, native of the rival
village of Hardscrabble. was to figure as
Lord CORVALLIS. aud the selection was
the more appropriate, since the private
relations of these two great men were
anything but amicable, and they espous-
ed opposite sides in politics DIR. Gale
MUS Jalap. an apothecary and surgeon of
the regiment, atman with hatchet face,
hook nose, and thin, weeping whiskers,
the color of sugar gingerbread, undertook
the character OF Lafayette at very short
notice, and very dim conception of the
character he had.
The entire population of Dogtown and
Hardscrabble turned out to witness the
stupeudous military operations of the
day. On the American side were the
Dogtown Blues, with four companies of
uniformed militia, armed with rifles,
fowling-pieces and rusty muskets, and
sypifying the continental army. Their
artillery consisted of two light field
pieces served by select band of volun-
teers. These pieces we're posted on an
eminence commanding the entire plain.
On The foot Of this hill. Col. Slorky DIRE W
up his troops in line of battle, his left
wing protected by an impossible frog
pond. aud his right resting on large
piggery whose extent prevented the en-
eny from turning his flank in that di-
rec,ion.
On the descent of an opposing emf
nence. likewise sirengtlienedby two guns,
Major Peaseley placed the Hardscrabble
Guards, the Sheet Iron Riflemen, The
Mudhollow lnvIncibles, the Dandeliou
Fire ea,ers. and Scrutftown Sharpshoot-
ers. A ,housand brigh, eyes, from the
commanding eminences, looked down on
the serried ranks of bay yonets, the brazen-
throated artillery, the panoplied plough
horses, the plumed commanders. the
rustling banners, and all the ..pomp,
pride. and circumstance OF glorious war. -
Prelimmaries being thus settled, the
commanding officers put spurs to thei,
horses, and met in the centre Of the plain,
there salu,ing with their scythe. blade
swords.
"Msjor Peaseley." Sid the Colonel,
rising in his snrrups. "the follern' are
the odder of performances: we open epui
artillery-yor reply with youn. I'm.
der kiver of eour guns we advance to the
attack. You do the same 10 meet US
/ firih' like smoke. AFTER sharp scrlm.
medge you reiire--send US flag Of truce
with serms-and finally lay down your
arms"
The major bowed till his ostrich fea;h
er touched the name Of his wall-eyet
| plough horse, then turned bride, and re
/ gained his ranks at gait something be
tween stumble and rack. The rep
reseniative of Gen. Washington rejoineC
his men at hard tro,, rising two fee
from his saddle at every concussion o
his bony sieed.
"Fellur sogers!" roared the temporary
father OF his country; ''yonder stand.
CORVALLIS and his red coals--only they
haint 60, red coats, partikerlarly them il
blue swal!er tails. We air bound 20 l.cl
'em-7hurrah for our side! Go inter'em
like thousand oi bricks fallin' off'n /
slated rufe. The genius of Amanerkir
liberty. in the shape of the carniyorou.
eagle, soarin' aloft on diluied plllions
seems to mntter E Piuri6us Unam--w,
are one of 'em! Hail Columby happ,
land! Sing Yankee Doodle that fins
nne--cry havock! and let loose the dog
of war"
| Then commenced the horror of III,
sham fight. The Continental guns open
ed in thunder.tones. The British artil
lery hurled back their terrific echoes. -
Bang! bang. boom! boom! The canopy
Of heaven was stained with the sui phur
GUS smoke. The drummers ratified a
way on their sheepskins--th fifers dis
.tended their cheeks till they resemblet
blown bladders. In the midst of all ,hi
noise and tumult. the nndaunted Slorkey
and The indomitable Jalap, rushed To an,
fro. with clanking scabbards, and bran
dished scy,he.blades. twin .hunderbolt
Of war.
/ "Forrard march!" roared Slorkey.-
With the yell of demons, his fierce fol
lowers advanced TO the onset, firing ihei
blank cartridges with desperate valor.
Equally alertwere Major Peaseley an
his followers.
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