The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1859-01-06

In 1855, simultaneous attacks we're
made upon the French posts in Ameri-
ca. That against Fort Du Quosne Cthe
present site of Pittsburgh) was conduo-
ted by General Braddock; and those
against Niagara and Frontenac by Gov.
Shirley of Mass, and Gen. johnson,
Of N. Y. The army Of Shirley and
johnson, during the summer Of 1875,
lay on the Eastern bank of the Hudson,
little south Of Albany. In the early part
Of June the troops of the Casters Pro
vinces began to pour in, company after
company; and such a motley assembly Of
men never before thronged together on
such nm occasion, unless an oxample
may be found in the ragged regiment of
Sir John FalstafE Tt would have relax
ed the gravity of an anchorite to see
the descendants Of the Puritans march
ing through the streets of that ancient
city (Albany,) and taking up stations to
the left Of the British army-some with
long coats, some with short coats. and
others with no coats at all-with colors
as varied as the rainbow: some with tbeir
hair cropped like the army Of Cromwell
and others with wigs, the locks of which
toated with grace around their should.
ers. Their march, their accoutremepts
and the whole arrangement Of the trooDq
furnished matter of amusement To the
British army. The music pIaved tbp
airs of two centuries ago, and the tout
ensemble upon the whole. exhibited
sight to the wondering strangers to
which they had been unaecustomed- -
Among the club Of wits that BELONGED
to the British army, there was DR..
Shackburg attached to the staff who
combined with the science of a SURGEON
the skill and talent of musician 10
please the new comers. he composed
tune, and with much gravity recom-
mcnded it to the officers MS one of tbo
most celebrated airs of martial music -
The Joke took, to the no small amuse.
ment Of the British.
Brother Jonathan exclaimed Il vo,
nation fHe;' and in few davs moth.
ing was heard in the Provincial comn
but the air of Yankee Doodle TittIe
did the author, in its composition tbon
suppose that an air made for levitv and
ridicuIe, should be marked for s,,o6
hlgh destlnies. In twenty years from
that time, the national march insniro5
the heroes Of Bunker Hill. and in less
than thirty, Lord CORVALLIS marched
into the American lines to the tune Of
Yankee Doodle.
This tune however, was not origi,,1
with DIR, Shackburg. He.made IL f,o,,,
an old song, which can be traced bocI
to the reign of Charles T.; a sono which
has IN Its day been used for great va
rletty Of words One of these SONGS
written IN ridicule of the Protector he,
gan with this line D0-
"Ihe Rouudheads and Cavaliers"
Another set of words. 10 the sor,o
tune, was entitled 'Nankee Doodle and
ran thus
"Nankee Doodle came to town
Upon little pouy,
w lth q feather In his hat.
Upon macCaroni"
The first American parody upon Tho
original, which we have seen. was cnti-
tied, Lydia Fisher" An aged and 70.
spectacle lady, born in New EnoIanJ
says she remembers it well. and tbot
II was common song long before tbe
Revolution. Before the war. If was
customary to sing the tune with various
lmpromptu verses, such as
"Lydia Iocket lost her pocket.
Lydia Fisher found ii,
Not bit Of moneyin Il,
Only ndlng round it.''