The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-11-20
WHOLE NO.. 266.
Matters In Warrington.

! N0SVeTS IN "0Snon&lON.
The star-spangled correspondent of tn
New York N,rcury has we learn been en-
gagged in a thrilling skirmish. in which h.
came of najcstically victorious. Hi.
beautiful culogy Of bis fallen adversar,
will touch all hearts:
The star.spaweled banner, nv boy, IL
triumph shall wave DER the land Of the g..
and the home Of jeff Davis grave. Tn,
march Of the Grand Army has commenc
ed, amid the roar OF excited cannon ant
the sh'eks Of every roasting pig and trait
! orous chicken within reach Of our confs
eating pickets. We have taken the uppe,
Potomac, my boy, by cup de main: and
saw six brigadiers take the Oath yester
day by h1c-cup de brandy. My head
swells witt patriotic pride when casually
remark that the Mackerel Brigade occupy
the post Of honor to left of Bull Run, which
they also left on the day we celebrated. -
The banner which vas presented to MS by
the women Of America, and which il took
the orator Of the day six hours and forty
minutes to describe to US, we are using II,
the shape OF blazing nrckties; and when
the hard up sun Of Virginia shines upon
the glorious red bands around the sagaci.
GUS necks Of veterans, they all look as
though t!.ey had just cnt their throats.-
The effect is CORY, my boy-extremely CORY
and responsible
At the special request Of Secretary Sew.
ard, who wrote six letters about it to the
Governors of all the States, I have been
appointed picket Of the army of the up-
per Potomac. In your natural ignorance,
my boy, you may not know why a man is
called picket. He is called a picket, nv
boy, because if anybody drops a pocket.
book or watch anywhere, his natural gifts
would cause him to pick it up. IF he saw
a pocket, he would not pick-it-oh. no ,
But pick.lt-pickct
The picket, my boy, has been an insti.
tuition ever since wars began, and his per,
lis are spoken Of by some Of the high old
poets in these beautiful lines:
:.Vhe chap thy tactics doom to blood to-day
Had he thy reason, would he poker playp
Pleased to tho last, he does deal of good.
AHd heks the man just sent to shed his blood"
! am weeping, my boy.
While on my lonely beat, about an hour
ago, light tread attracted tny attention,
and, on looking up, bchcld one o!
secssh's pickets standing before me.
Soldier" says he, "you remind me of
my grandmother who expired before was
born; but this unnatural war has made us
enemies, and | must shoot you! Give me
cbaw terbacker."
tie was young man, my bov, in the
prime OF life, and descended from the FIRST
Families Of Virginia. That is to saw biz,
mother was virgin. At least that's what
! understand by the First Families of Vir.
ginia.
| looked at him, and says I:
Lets compromise, my brother"
Never " says he. The South is fight.
ing for her liberty, her fircsides, and the
pursuit OF happiness, and desire most
respectfully to welcome you with bloody
hands to hospitable grave
stand off ten paces." says I, "ani let'2
see whose name shall come before the cor.
ohcr first"
He took his place, and We fred s;mu,t,
neousIy. heard a ball 60 whiStline by
barn about quarter Of mile on INV
right; and when the smoke cleared away,
saw the secesn picket approach me with
AN awinl expression of woe on his other.
"ssc outy counteHanCe.
Soldier, says he, was there anything
in my head before you fired"
Nothing says l, ''save few harmless
Il speak not Of them." says he "Was
there nything inside Of my head ?"
Nothing" says I.
well, says he, lust listen now :"
lie shook his head mournfully, and
heard something rattle in it.
What's thal?" | exclaimed.
That says he, ''is yonr bullet, which
has penetrated my skull, and is rolling
around in my brain. die happy, and with
an empty stomach but there is one thing
should like to see before perish for nv
country, Have you quarter about you?'
Too much affected to speak, I drew the
com from my pocket and handed it to him.
The dying man clutched it convulsively,
and stared at it fevcrishly.
This" said he, "is the first quarter I've
seen since the fall Of Sumpter; and, had |
wounded you, should have been totally
unable to give You any quarter. All how
beautiful it is how bright, how exquisite.
and good for four drinks! But have not
time to say all | feel"
The expiring soldier then laid down his
gun, hung his cap and overcoat on
branch Of tree, and blew his nose.
He then died.
And there stood, my boy, on that lone.
y beat, looking down upon that fallen type
of manhood, and thinking how singular it
was nc had forgotten to give me back my
quarter. The sight and the thought SO
affected me, that was obliged to turn nv
hack on the corpse and walk little. way
from it. When returned to the spot, the
body was gone! Had it gone to Heaven
Perhaps SO, my boy-pcrhaps so but
havnt seen my quarter since.
our own NlCkpk 0RDurnS C Ken>