Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-03-12
Away Down South in Dixie.

MAssA SWORN OUT AND coHTRABASD SWORN IN.
A few days since, while passing the
quarters of the lst Iowa Cavalry, under
the command of Col. Fitz Henry Warren
we heard warm and angry discussion
going on in the rear of some of the compa-
MES quarters. Thinking there might be
an item picked up in that vicinity we
passed through into the yard, where we
discovered group of soldiers gathered
around two persons who were engaged in
warm discussion. We recognized one
of them as being corporal of the COM
pany, who had evidently been enjoying,
very recently, the elevating benefits of a
pass beyoun the guard of the barracks
His attitude was of that erect military
character prescribed in the tactics of
Scott, Hardee- and Macomb. His havlock
was thrown well forward, while his blue
overcoat dropped its lappels and collar
gracefully back from his sholders, expos
ing to view his brawny hands, the thumbs
of which were hooked with an air of care
lessness into the armholes of his vest,
while his feet were spread well apart,
giving to him that peculiar attitude that
so happily combines the military student
with the Western orator. His opponent
was little old snappish Missouri planter,
with parrot bill nose; and profusion of
red hair that hung in festoons from the
low thatched caves of his forehead; the
whole being surmounted by white slouch-
ed hat, a long surtout coat, with hemp
bed cord protruding from one of the pock
cts, and the everlasting butternut pants
completing the prominent eXternals of
the Missourian. Judging from the style
of their language, both had evidently been
born and raised upon the frontier during
those peaceful, sunny days that preceded
the Inauguration of school district quar-
rels. But whatever had been denied to
them in educational attainment, nature
had amply accounted for by the bestowal
of large amount of pugnacity.
1t appeared that old Missouri was the
owner of a travelling contraband that he
had been pursuing for several days, and
had lost the trail in the immediate vicin-
ity of the corporaPs military jurisdiction,
and it was this negro in connection with
the institution of slavery, that appeared
to be the subject in controversy, and
which had awakened in the disputants !
that warmth of feeling and excitement
which often overleaps the rules of deco
rum, until arrested by the bland and /
courteous interference of the presiding |
umpire but there being no umpire here, /
the discussion went fiercely on. Present /
ly old Butternut let loose a position on /
the side of slavery which was entirely new /
10 the corporal, who was evidently not
to answer it, which his opponent /
quickly discovered; when he Immediately /
pressing his argument with |
e, -
If triumph seemed to illumine the fea-
,ures of his face and wanton among his
shaggy locks.
1t was evident that the corporal was
getting cornered, while the winking of
lis eyes, the spasmodic twiching of the
muscles of his face and drumming of his
ingers upon his vest, all indicated a lean
ng of the mind toward belief that he
vas getting into tight place.
But suddenly breaking through all pre-
iminary rules he grasped his havlock in
lis hand and waved it gracefully above
lis head, and as it descended upon his
lplifted knee, he exclaimed, ''See here,
Id hoss, I'll be id if you get him;
md now that ends it; and if you don't
want your wife to put patch on the seat
# your trowsers you'd better be making
racks from the neighborhood Of my toad
ticker, fast %
Here the laugh came in. Old Missouri
lid. Iowa was declared victorious and
he group withdrew to their quarters,
headed by the corporal, moving with
lignifed military stride. Here, after re-
moving sundry grass stacks in one corner
# the quarters, black glossy negro, ap-
,arently about eighteen years old, was {
,rought forth.
Had he lived in the palmy days of {
lavery he might have led down the dance
N Congo Green at New Orleans, without I
rival, in that rich and luscious combi-
ation of negro perfection, so captivating !
o the eye of the Red River planter
here was a grin on his countenance that j
lternated with solemnity of expression s
hat indicated an uncertainty of mind as !
D what was to be his fate. Innumerable {
uestions were being propounded to him, I
hen the corporal advanced, observing, '
See here, Dixie before you can enter a
he service of the United States you must |
e sworn" "Yes, Massa, / do dat" he S
eplied, when the corporal continued, y
Well, then, take hold of the Bible"
Gliding out a letter envelope upon which a
'as delineated the goddess of liberty, a
landing upon q suffolk pig, wearing the ]
m6lem OF our country. The negro grasp
the envelope cautiously with his thumb {