The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-03-28

| RID Van Wrinkle In the Army Ordnance
II is q popular legend, and therefore a
popular belief, that Rip Van Wrinkle commen.
lced his long sleep .somewhere on the banks OF
the Hudson and it is Furthermore popularly
believed that, after dozinga century or so, be
awoke to find himself behind the age. We
are sorry to be obliged to discredit this ven-
cradle and respected legend, but tradition must
fail if the ligh. of truth, thrown backward
npon the past, betrays the error Rip ley Van
Wrinkle Is still asleep on the banks Of the
Potomac, in the War Ordnance Department,
and has never woke up since his last yawn
in 1856, in which year French officer named
Grlebeauval, having settled o system of Field
Artillery for France, Ripley the Sleeper adopt
ed it, of course; and, his mind being relieved
from all further consideration Of the subject,
he went to sleep, the good old Rip He slept
so soundly that the world believed he was
dead, and the people, after awhile, thought
that some one should be put in his place to
perform his duties. But, no. the good old Rip
was asleep in the Ordnance Department,
guarded by the terrible giant Routine. and
nobody could enter. 1t is remembered by the
oldest inhabitant that the sleep of the Old
Man was very much troubled about the year
1927, caused by some sacrilegious hand daring
to alter the trail of the field carriage. The
Old Sleeper was observed to turn uneasily, his
face to assume an expression of deep disgust,
and his lips to mutter, in broken manner:
keep him out!-inventor!-new idea!-cap't
comein herei --Routine!- tape" and then
he turned his back to Time as be passed
along, and slept more soundly than ever. In
the mean time, the affairs of the Ordnance
Office became, as it were, mixed up, entangled,
and confusion prevailed throughout all its
ramifeations. The system Of 1855 had been
departed from, and the variation only increased
the difficulty. The guns instead of being
uniform in their calibers, exhibited many
different varieties; so that on the battle field
battery, having expended its ammunition,
could hardly hope to get fresh supply of the
same sort among the infinite varieties in size
and shape of the projectiles in reserve. New
shaped guns were mounted upon old carriages,
| which were too weak to resist their recoil, and
so fashioned as to admit of but little, if any,
elevation.
In accordance with the slumberous spirit of
the office, somebody invented a slow-burning
powder; but 1t was good for nothing, and
therefore did not interfere with the old system,
SO it was adopted without disturbing the rest
of the good old Rip. One Dyer then invented
projectile which would not do anything, and
many thousands were bought because they
would not interfere with the established order
OF things. After him, one Shenke produced
shell which could not be persuaded to 90 in
the direction desired, and would not explode
except at the wrong time. These quali6ca.
tons recommended it to the Sleepy Hollow
Department.; immense numbers we're made and
more specially reserved for the purpose of not
iDjuring the Rebels at Fredericksburg, With
er they were sent on the demand of the Chief
of Artillery. The somnolent influence of the
good cid Rip permeates the entire Office, even
while he is dreaming. Happy old man Made
General by grateful Government, conscious
Of the fact that he does less harm in his sopor-
ifc state than he would if he should awake
The light Of truth, then, has shown the false
hood Of the poetic legend, which made Rip
Van Wrinkle awake to find that the age was in
in advance of him. In Sleepy Hollow office in
in Washington, the veritable Rip ley Van Win.
kle is. sleeping still The guns of unholy Re.
bellion may thunder in his ear; the enemy may
be knocking at the door; the country may cry
out in its great need; but he still sleeps, and
the giant Routine still bars all entrance
Deaf to the peril of his country; unheeding
the call of duty; regardless of the spirit of the
age, which says, BE up and doing'-if he
should ever wake, he would only say, "Pay
me my wages and let me- sleep again" Let
him rest Do not disturb him. Respect the
'Sleepy Hollow" inscribed over his door in
mouldy letters, and, as you pass it, say in q
spirit of charity and commseration, s.Sleepy
old Rip!"-[N. Y. Tribune.
Three Hundred Copperheads Wanted
hereby make special requisition on the
State of Illinois for three hundred of the vilest.
meanest, most disloyal Copperheads that can
be found. know they have them there, and
| am satisfied that they are actually all needed
here for the good Of the public service, rem
dered so by the following circumstances, viz
There are here in the 26th Illinois Infantry
about six hundred as neat clean, hardy and
we'll disciplined men as ever marched to the
sound of drum-men who have borne promi-
nent and honorable part in the taking Of New
Madrid, Island No. 10, siege of Corinth, battle
of 1uks, and the late battle of Corinth, besides
many other engagements ofless note.
These men are tried and true as ever drew
bead on rebel head; the love of country swells
their hearts and throbs in every vein. They
have unanimously said they want no peace
that will ''yield single right of humanity or
take one star from our glorious flag
Three 'hundred able bodied Co2perheads are
needed to ill this regiment up to the maxi. |
mum number. These noble and brave men
will hold them straight in camp, steady in the
hour of battle, teach them to endure hardships
and suffering, to eat "hard crackers" and
sleep Oh the bare ground Iu short they will
train them mp in the way they should 60" and
bring them back through tribulatiou to the
good old doctrines of equal rights, common
sense, aud the Union forever
speedy compliance with the provisions of
this requis!tion is respectfully requested.
Capt. IRA BLOOMFIELD.
26th I'll. Vol. nifty
FROM NAssAU.-We nave news from Nassau
to the 10th inst. The trade between Nassau and
the Rebel States seems to be increasing About
score of steamers run regularly from Nassau to
Rebellion. The following is . list of some of
them: Antonica, Stonewall Jackson (late Leon.
ard Douro, Annie Childs, Ruby, Eagle, Wave,
Queen, Nichola. l, Mariel, Victory, Douglass,
Emma, Britannis, Calypso, Flora, Minna, Ger
trude, and Giraffe. Capt. Carlin, recently liber,
ated from Fort Lafayette as British subject,
commands the Ruby. Three steamers arrived
on the 18th inst from Charleston, bringing,