The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-11-29


And he is none Of your military popinjays, my
boy, iii plastered with buttons and eold lace but
an earnest, hard working soldier. HE dress for
the field is Characterised BY genuine republican
simplicity, and consists of hard working cortu-
roy breeches, sternly patched; an earnest pea
jacket, resolutely out At the elbows; pair Of
straightforward slippers, unflinchingly ragged
around the toes. and an uhtrfaing silk hat, de-
terminedly mashed-in ct various points. You
feel as you look at him, my boy, that he means
hard work, and is Indifferent to good clothes as
long az he can ssve his distracted country.
On the majestic brow of true hero, my boy,
. shocking bad hat 10 q far nobler, more glitter
ing crown, than the circle Of filthy lucre which
surmounts the head Of Europe's bloated despot
Grsnder, far grander is the nightcsp Of Wssh.
ington, than any style of army cap have yet
seen.
The new General Was mounted upon long.
tailed cob. my boy, and his horsemanship thrilled
this manly bosom with rapture. Did hs wish to
deliver an order to bis aid, he out slightly
frightened the reins Of his horse, and at once the
noble animal arose TO his hind-legs and fred of
q pistol held for him BY an orderly. Did be
wish to 60 the rounds, he but touched the left
flank Of his horse, and straightway the. sagacious
charger struck into graceful waltz, leaping
over five barred gates as he went along, and
d.shing through hoops held aloft by the troops.
Did he desire 80 approach one of his generals for
consultation, he had but to give low whistle,
about on three feet. as though lame, and drank
q bottle of wine presented to him by an orderly.
Dii be have an inclination to review his troops,
be was compelled only to gently pinch his horse's
neck, and at once the graceful beast laid down
upon his side and pretended to die as naturally
as any human being. s-2u SIT 6ofjsgset 4
10 In short, my boy, 1T is argued from the earnest
new Generals bad clothes, that he will speedily
bring the war to good close; and from his being
such particular horseman, that be will never
become any pafty's footman Es X'i7ctnaF tsloS
tia But let me change my subject fer time, and
relate the great triumph Of our new naval ar
tillery on Duck Lake, which majestic shee, of
water has returned to earth with the late rains.
o Rear Admiral Head, my boy, has 60 improved
the deadly swivel.gunp Of the ,Mackerel iron
plated squadron, that It will send ball some
distance without kicking the gunner overheard.
The secret Of this improvement is known only
TO the Government, my boy, and win be used to
advantage when cur cory confictwith combined
Europe comes off. a.is,rf-fsb a. ,ra,,43e
1t was Thursday morning, my boy, when an
enthusiastic military mob, consisting Of Capt.
William Brown, and Capt. Bob Shorty, and my
self. stood once more upon the familiar shore Of
Duck Lake. The squadron, which has been
named the "Secretary Welles," having been
launched upon the treacherous element by Rear.
Admiral Head and one Mackerel, We took our
piece of smoked glass and prepared for the naval
pageant =. 49,. =, n.. ],
miral busting about on the gallant Grandma
81 oP no 7 Tom fho 10
and hear him swearing in bis iron-plated manner.
Fracture my turret," says the old sea dog,
eff don't think this gun will surpass the Arm
strong-blockade me, if Idon't." ..a|aa1 q I
When it became the duty Of the solitary Mack.
erel crew to load the awful instrument of de-
struction, it was discovered that the ranrod had
been left behind at the Navy Yard foundry
This nautical disaster might have marred the
experiments, had not the Rear Admiral CHANGED
to have his brown Bingham umbrella along with
him. This was used as rammer, and the ex-
pertinent proceeded.
The first charge was twenty pounds of pow
der, not more than nineteen Of them running
out Of the touchhole. The ball slightly touched
the water and went down, the recoil of thu
squadron being only the width Of Duck Lake.
The second shot was made with only Ont
pound Of powder, as it was feared that the rud-
der might be strained by too much conclusion
and we SAW the ball drop into the ocean wave
At this shot, the Secretary Welles" only hop
ped out of the water few inches The thir'
shot was made with half pound Of powder, a
it was not deemed advisable to do too hue
damage to the surrounding country by the gun
merry.
We were gazing intently at the mercless i'm
plements of death, through our smoked glass
when this shot was fred, and suddenly beheld
phenomena, my boy, which made US catch GU
breath.
Mixed I'D with the fire and smoke, ther
emerged from the mouth of the swivel gun, wha
appeared to be an immense brown bird OF som
kind, spreading its huge wings as it came Out
and skimming YEARLY to the shore!
Captain Bob Shorty commenced to quake
and says be! Eat.a.,..... 81 x,
cts Confederate insect" r>.s.
"No!" says William, lowering his smoked glass
and speaking in solemn whisper. 'l,'s tn
distracted bird of our Country, floating spec
| trally uncorking my canteen, ''our sdistracte'
bird is no inseck." t,srt,. sz,s ne .ta.as
Was it indeed majestic Eagle, my boy, stoop
7 ing from his clouded heights tosanctify the ter
rible naval scene? guess not, my boy-l CUES
not, my boy, for we presently ascertained, tina
when the careless Mackerel crew rammed hom
that last charge, he heedlessly left Rear Admi
Fral Reads brown bingham umbrella sticking i
the gun; and it was the flight OF the umbrell
We had witnessed. a= g.e ~
Umbrellas, my boy, and horses, may be sal
to have some relations. We put one up when
rains, and we rein the other up when we put.
b. Yosrs, good-naturedy,
| - ORpHEUs G. KERR.
:. heard good story told of joke played
by secession wag, short time since, upo
I Gen, Negley. A whisky drinking, facetious j