Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-12-02
OEpheus C's Observations on the new
Generals Clothes and ON Naval
From the Now York Mercury.


Noticing a circle of Mackeral Officers
short distance in my rear, / dismounted
from Pegasus, and walked thither for
greater speed, discovering that the brilli-
ant staff we're admiring the great equest-
rian gambols of the new General Of the
Mackeral Brigade.
The new General il dignified, middle
aged chap, my boy, with face which
expresses many whiskers, and an eve to
look you through and through when your
meaning is transparent He is not quite
two yards high, has head which looks
like lustrous apple-dumpling, dropped
into the middle Of a window-brush, and
graduates downward into his boots, with
out seeming to be either growing out of
them, or running through them. And he
is none of your military pOpinjaws, my
boy, all plastered with buttons and gold
lace, but an earnest, hard-working soldier.
His dress for the field is characterized by
genuine republican simplicity, and con-
sists of hard-wOrking corduroy breeches,
sternly patched; and earnest pea.iacket,
resolutely out at the elbows; pair If
straight, forward slippers, unaIn;hingly
ragged around the toes, and an untrifiing
silk hat, determinedly mashed-in at various
points. You feel as you look at him my
boy, that he means hard work, and is
Indifferent to good clothes as long Us he
can save his distracted country. On the
majestic brow Of true hero, my boy, u
shocking bad hat is far nobler, more
! glittering crown, than the circle of filthy
lucre which surmounts the head of fEurope's
blonted despot. Grander is the nightcap
of Washington, than any style of army
cap l have yet seen, The new General
was mounted upon q long-tailed cob, my
boy, and his hOrsemanship thrilled this
manly bosom with rapture. Did he wish
to deliver an order to his aid. he but
slightly frightened the reins of his horse,
and Mt once the noble animal arose to his
hind-legs and fred off pistol held for
him by an orderly. Did he wish to 90
the rounds, he but touched the left flank
ofhis horse, and straightway the sagacious
charger struck into a graceful waltz,
leaping over five. barred gates as he went
along. and dashing through hoops held
alOft by the troops Did he desire TO ap-
proach one of his generals for consultation,
he had but to give low whistle, and
forthwith the intelligent animal limped
on three feet, rs though lame, and drank
q bottle of wine presented to him by an
orderly. Did he have an inclination to
review his troops, he was compelled only
to gently pinch his horses neck, and at
once the graceful beast laid down upon
his side and pretended to die as naturally
as any human being
In short, my boy, it is argued from the
earnest new Generals bad clothes, that
he will speedily bring the war to good
close: and from his being such particu-
| lar horsemen, that he will never becOme
any party's footman. .,,.r ..,5-..-
But let me change my subject for a
time, and relate the great triumph of our
new naval artillery on Duck Lake, which
majestic sheet of water has returned to
earth with the late rains ID.
ReaF-AdnIiral Head, my boy, has SO
improved the deadly swiyel-gun of the
Mackeral iron, plated squadron, that IL
will send ball some distance without
kicking the gunner overheard. The secret
of this improvement is known only to
the Government, my boy, and will be used
to advantage when our CORY conflict with
combined Europe comes Of. 1t was on
Thursday morning, my boy, when an en-
thusiastie military mob, consisting OF
Capt. William Brown, Capt Bob Shorty,
and myself, stood once more upon the
/ familiar shore Of Dock Lake The squad
iron, which has been named the ''Seere-
tary Welles.'' having been launched upon
the treaeherous element by ar-Adnaifal
Head and one Mackerel, we took ont ouI
piece of smoked glass and prepared for
the naval pageant. We could plainly see
the stern old Rear-Admiral bustling about
i on the gallant GRANDMOTHER of the Seas
as may term the noble craft, and hear
him swearing in his iron-piated manner.
Fracture my turret,D says the old SEA
ldog, .'if don't think this gun viii spf,