Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-01-10
THE MACKEREL BRIGADE ON A RE-
CUNtOIsSANCE.
FROM wAsHfSeroy
FROM WASHINGTON.

Editor T. r.: When Britain first at Tup-
per's command, my boy, arose from out the
azure main, this was her charter, her charter
OF the land, that Britains never, never, shall
be slaves-as long as they have a chance to
treat everybody else like niggers. Suffer me
also to remark, that, Britannia needs no bull
warks, no towers along the steep; her msrch
is Ger the mountain wave, her home is on the
deep-where she keeps up her neutrality by
smuggling contrsband Southern confsder acies,
and cussin like Presbyterian chaplain when
Uncle Sans ocean pickets overhaul her.
British neutrality, my boy, reminds me of a
chap once knew in the Sixth Ward. Two
solid men, who didn't get drunk more than once
a day, we're running for alderman, and they
both made dead set on this chap; but they
hadn't any money, and he couldn't see it.
"See here, old tops" says he, "I'll be q neu-
tral this time; 30 60 In porgies"'
Well, my boy, the election came of, and
neither of the old tops Was elected. No sir
Now, who do you suppose wss elected?
The Neutral Chap, my boy!
Mad as hornets with the hydrophobia, the
two old tops went to see him, and says they:
rCsnfound your picture, didn't you promise
The chap dipt his nose into a cocktail, and
then says he blandly:
"l toGs neutral, old Persimmonses. I only
went to fifty Democrats, and got 'em to vote
of the other feller's Black Republicans to do
the same thing. Then I voted twelve times
for myself, and tcent in."
II was very beautiful case, my boy, and the
old tops were only heard to utter-they were
only known to exclaim-they were barely able
to articulate-that neutrality didn't pay.
Early yesterday morning, my boy, Company
B, Regiment 8, Mackeref Brigade, went down
toward Centreville, on a Reconnaissance in force
under Captain Bob Shorty. The captain is O
highly ly-intellectual patriot, and don't get his
sword twisted between his legs when he carries
1t in his hand. He led the company through
the mud like Christmas duck, until they
came to thicket in which something was seer
to move.
Halt, you tarriers !" says Captain Bob
Shorty, in q voice trembling with bravery.
"Form yourselves into a square according tc
Hardee, while stir-up this here bush. There's
something in that bush, /" says be "and it'i
either the Southern Confederacy, or some other
cow"
The captain then leaned up to tree to make
him steady on his pins. my boy, and rammed
his sword into the bushes like a poker in a
fire.
Nobody hurt on our side.
What followed, my boy, can be easily teld.
At an early hour on the evening of the same
day, solitary horseman might have been seen
approaching Washington. Itwas Captain Bob
spouting under his left eye. He went straight
70 the headquarters Of the General Of the
Mackerel Brigade, and says he: ore
"General, I've reoonnoitered In force, and
found the enemy both numerous and cantan-
:. Beautiful - says the general "bu. where
"Well, now" says Captain Bob Shorty.
'.you'd hardly believe It ), but the last see of
that ere company, Ii was engaged in the pur-
suit of happiness at the rate of six miles an
hour, with the rebels at the wrong end of the
track. Dang ny rations :" SAYS Captain Bob
Shorty, ''if don't think that ere bob-tailed
company has got to Richmond by this time"
r"fhunder!" says the general, adidn't thsy
kill any of the rebels ?" : : -
'"Nary Confedsracy," saws Captain Bob
Shorty. "The bullets ali rolled out of them are
muskets Of theirs before the powder rot fairly
on Are, Them musksts," !" continued Captain
Bob Shorty, "would be good for o lombard
ment, You might possibly hit city with them
at two yards range; butin personal encounters
they are inferior 70 the putty blowers Of our
innocent childhood
As the captain made this observation, my
boy, he stepped hurrisdly to the table, lifted
a tumblsr containing the Oath TO his pallid
lips, took asest in the ooal-seuttle, and burst
into food Of tears. : ----.--.--.5I5-}
Deeply affected by this touching display of q
beautiful trait In our common nature the gen
erai placed small piece Of Zoe on the captains
aanung brow, and hid his own emotions in Q
ootue noiding about quart. = r n "a ~
+ Yours, for 6igh old art, q
1 . >oafHIus o, KHnn.