Litchfield enquirer., 1862-08-14
Alisfella1tp.
Letter from Orpheus C. Kerr, ON WESTERLY STRATEGY.

recent great strateglc Vlctoly near Pars, my boy, it only remained for the General of the Mackerel Brigade to commence un dermining the Confederacy, after the manner of civil en- gineer; and when last v. sited the lines, 1 found a select assortment of Mackerels engaged in the balmy summer pastime of digging holes and dying natural deaths in them.
 There was one chap with an illuminated nose, who attracted my particular attention by land ing spadeful of sacred soil very neatly in my bosom, and says to him:
 We'll: my gallant sexton, how do the obse- quies progressr a.- -...
 Beautiful,' says he, pausing long enough to take powder which the surgeon had left with him. We've just struck large vein of typhoid fever, and them are Peninsula veterans, which you see in them holes wonder, are already delir- ous with it. Really says the chap, with an air of quiet enjoyment, as he climbed into the hos pital litter, just sent after him. really there's smart chance of pushing on our cemetery to Richmond before the roads become impossible again.
 was looking after him, as the bearers carried him off, my boy, when I saw Captain William Brown ambling lesurely toward me on his geo. metrical steed Euclid, alternately perusing a paper which he held in his right hand, and dis cussing canteen in his left. The countenance of the warrior was thoughtful, and his shovel swung listlessly against the chargers flank.
 How, now, my Jack of Spades ? says spor- lively.
 'Ah r says William, slowly descending from the roof of his stallion, and suffering the latter to lean against tree, here is new Proclama- tion for the moral refreshment of the United States of America. Read this impartial edick, says William, impressively, 'and you will find it worthy of the Union Track Society,"
 l took the official parchment, my boy, and found inscribed upon it the following affecting
 GENERAL ORDER.
 Whereas The United States of America now finds himself engaged in an unnatural struggle with the celebrated Southern Confederacy, for the Union which our forefathers planted; and 1t being our object to show the world that our intentions are honorable it is hereby ordered, that the Mackerel Brigade do take possession of all guns, pistols, and howitzers previously fired at them by persons now in arms against this government keeping strict account of said wea- pons, in order that their owners may be duly and amcably paid for them hereafter. It is further ordered that persons of Mackerel descent occupying the cultivated grounds of the afore- said Southern Confectionery, shall keep strict ac- count of the time spent upon the same, in order that reasonable rent may be paid for the same as soon as the United States of America shall resume specie payment.
 By order of
 GENERAL OF THE MAcKEREL BRIGADE GREEN SEAL,
 VINTAGE OF lT76.
 Having perused the document with much at tention, handed it back to William, and says I: In purity of moral tone, my hero, that paper is worthy the descendants of l77G.'
 'l776p says William, effectively. 'Ahv says William, it takes strategy to revive recollections of those days. We have at least seventeen hun dred and seventy sick ones in our new hospital already. Come with me- says Viliam genially, and we will survey the interior aspect of Strat- egy Hall.'
 Strategy Hall, my boy, is fine airy hospital extemporized from barn, on the estate of a prominent Southern Union man, now command ing regiment of Confederaces. The house it. self would have been taken, as it has somewhat more roof than the barnard little more shade but when the General of the Mackerel Brigade learned that Washington had once thought of taking second hand mortgage on it, he gave orders that no Mackerel should go within halfa mile of the front door.
 On entering Strategy Hall, I beheld scene calculated to elevate sickness into virtue, and shed immortal lustre upon the kind hearted wo. men of America. Comfortably stretched upon rails taken from Confederate fences, and of which strict account had been kept, with a view of future compensation, were whole sec. ton of the Mackerel Brigade in the full enjoy ment of strategic health. Over each chaps head hung his shovel, and a shingle inscribed with his name and address. Thus, the shingle nearest me read: 'Spoony Bill, Hose Co.,, 123, New York Fire Department : And woman-lovely woman was there, ad ministering hot drinks to the fevered head, bath ing with ice water the brow of those shiverins with the cruel ague, pouring rich gruel over the chin and neck of the nervous sufferer, and read ing good books to the raving and delirious. Il was with species of holy awe that beheld on' of these human angels stand hot coffee pot up on the upturned face of one invalid, while sht hastily flew to fill the right ear of more urgen sufferer with cologne-water. And then to SCI ner softly place one of the portable furnaces up on very sick Mackerel's stomach, while sh, warmed the water with which his beloved heas } was presently to be shaved and to see he bending over to ask one of the more dangerous ly ill ones if he would not like nice fat nice, of fresh pork, while the other end of her crino line was scraping the head of the Mackerel ol the opposite rail.
 60 woman in our hours of ease,
 Uncertain, coy and hard to please, And variable as the shade By the light, quivering aspen made;
 When pain and anguish wiring the brow,
 A ministering angel thou"
 could have remained here all day, my boy for found the berries, ice cream, and liquor prepared for the patients, really excellent; b1
 William hinted to me that splendid piece { { { naval strategy was just about to come of Q
 Duck Lake, and desired to witness our natiol