The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-02-20
From Special Correspondence \. Y. Tribune.
MURFREEsBORo, Tenn. Jan. "a.

MURFREEsBORo, Tenn, Jan. q.
There was rare comedy commingled with
the tragedy of Stones River. The humor-
ism of battle saturates you after carnage
is ended. The richest of the drollery and
fun is not printable. But we can roar over
it in bivouac. Suppose we have a chapter
OF incidents. One of the good things was
Irish, of course. An Irish rebel of the
LIST Louisiana, who had charged too far
into our front, was coming out of the fight
a captive, with a broken arm. A surgeon
had dressed it temporarily. "You an
1rishman and Rebel" quoth /, "What
are you fighting us for?'' s'Sure, your
HONOR" swiftly retorted Pat, San did ye
ever hear Nv the likes of an army, an
there wasn't Irishmen in it," "But, Pat"
interposed Father Trecy, "you were forced
into the service" eyer reverence. re-
piled Pat, respectfully salutng, 81 whit
into it with good will. The boys was all
goin; there was foight, an sure Patrick
wasn't the man to lit inny man 90 furnist
him." Pat was an incorrigble, and we
let him go.
A cluster of mangled fellows were hud-
died about field hospital waiting surgical
attention. A big brawny trooper, with
bullet in his left leg and another in his
right arm, hobbled up, holding his wounded
arm in his left hand "By Cd, Doc
tor" said he, with much less piety than
pain, "the ID Rebs came pretty near
hittin' me-" Another fellow, blowing blood
copiously from his nose-the point of which
had been shot Off-as a whale spouts sea-
water, interposed: "The ID rascals -
sputter -" come id near y another
blow and sputter-" missin me.''
Col. Granville Moody, of the 74th Ohio,
is famous Methodist preacher from Gin
cinnati. He is something over fifty, I
"reckon six feet two or three inches,
of imposing presence, with a fine genial
face and prodigious vocal range. The rev.
erend Colonel, who proved himself fight
ing parsOn of the first water, was hit four
times, and will carry the signature OF bat
tie when he goes back to the altar. His
benevolence justifies his military flock in
the indulgence of sly humor at his expense,
but he never permits them to disturb his
equanimity. Several battle anecdotes of
him are well authenticated. Not long ago
Gen. Negley merrily accused him of using
heterodox explosives in the ardor of con-
fiict. ''Is it fact, Colonel, inquired the
General, {" that you told the boys to give
'em hell p" CHOW, replied the Colonel,
reproachfully, "there's some more of the
boys mischief. l told them to give the
Rebels Hail Columbia, and they have
perverted my language" The parson,
however, explained with a sly twinkle in
the corner of his eye, which left me in con-
siderable doubt.
You probably know that our Western
Circuit preachers are Stentors. Where
other parsons are emphatic, they roar in
the fervor of exhortation, especially when
they bulge upon you with big "Amen. {"
You must imagine this fact to appreciate
the story. The Colonel's mind was satur-
ated with piety and fight. He had already
had one bout with the Rebels, and did give
them ''Hail Columbia" They were re-
newing the attack. The Colonel braced
himself for the shock. Seeing his line in
fine order, he thought he would exhort
them briefly The rebels were coming
swiftly. CHANGING first at the foe, then
at the lads, he said quietly, 'Now, my
boys, fight for your country and your God, !"
and, raising his voice to thunder tones, he
beloved in the same breath, CAIN LOWv
Says one of his gallant fellows, I fancied
for an instant that it was frenzied ejacu-
lation from the profoundest depths of the
"Amen Corner" Any day now you may
hear the lads of the 9TH roaring, eight
for your country and your God-aims
lO,D % A'.'
An Irish soldier being hit, turned to his