The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-06-05

city OF Paris by way OF Duck Lake. the IRON
plated squadron Of Rear Admiral Head being
detailed from the blockade 10 take the Mack.
erels across, rs soon as heavy rain should
make tho lake too deep for navigation by
personal wading. The troops were ut the
landing at the appointed time, and were about
to embark in good order when II was discov-
cred by the negro servant Of one Of the officers,
that they had forgotten to bring any ammuni-
ton with them and that the iron.plated squad.
ron had not arrived. This unfortunate dis
covery made it necessary for the Mackerel
Brigade to fall back thirty.three and half
feet, and the General thus wrote to tho Hon.
est Abe at Washington:
"DEAR SIR: The safety Of this army de-
pends entirely upon its immediate reinforce
ment by all the troops at Washington, as my
plan is entirely different from your plan, and
your plan differs somewhat from my plan
The Importance Of saving Washington by
your plan. is as nothing when compared with
the opposite tenor of my plan which might,
after oil be the saving of Washington to my
plan though my plan does not agree with
your plan. I will stay with this army, and
die with it, II need be, by my plan.
"THE GEN'L OF THE MAcxEREL BRIGADE"
"Both plans were put in force, and during
the period elapsing between this date and tho
middle of November, the troops were busily
occupied in fortifying ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
the inclemency Of the weather. Arrangements
being made and completed for tho decent in.
terment of such troops rs should die of old
age before the next great movement took place,
tho General OF the Mackcrel Brigade had just
opened correspondence with his family on
tho subject of tho Presidency of tho United
States in 1865, when ho received tho appended
note: .
"GESEnAL You will feel Immediately re-
lieved upon receiving this, and will report
Immediately to your wife at Hobokcn. Col.
Wobert Wobinson is hereby ordered to take
command of the Mackercl Brigade.
"ADJUTANT.
"Upon the assumption of the command by
General Wobinson it was Immediately oh.
served that he possessed great deal Of Shape.
He crossed Duck Lake upon his Shape, and
in pursuance of tho plan Of his predecessor,
opened an instant attack upon Paris. Short.
" after, tho whole Brigade was back across
Duck Lake again, and tho new General sent
his resignation to Washington. 1t was re
fused as unnecessary; and the General then
devised a plan for startling the whole coun.
try, by organizing the Anatomical Cavalry
upon an equestrian basis, and making n raid
upon some Confederate oats known to be some.
where in the daily Journals.
"The secret OF this movement was confi-
ded to but three persons-tho Honest Abe,
tho Southern Confederacy and the public;
but before the move could take place it was
diyulgcd and frustrated. The General thea
sent in his resignation. which was refused as
unnecessary. II was subsequent to this that
u third great movement was arranged, when
u shower came up suddenly, and 1t had to be
abandoned. It was upon this occasion that
the General sent in his resignation, when 1t
was refused rs unnecessary. Simultaneously,
as it were, the officer popularity known rs the
Grim Fighting Cox was appointed TO the
command, and here our exciting tale ends for
the present.
''lf the above record OF year OF the pres.
ent war presents some discouraging feat
ures, il also offers much hope for tho future,
inasmuch as it would appear utterly i'm
possible for the future to DO less fruitful OF
national trluinphs than the past has been
The greatness Of our nation is sufficiently ev
ldenced by the fact tha. we are spending two
millions Of dollars per day; and as soon as
the rebellion shall have been crushed, the
final defeat of the celebrated Southern Con-
fedcracy will becolnea mere question of time,
and we shall be prepared to commit immcdi-
ate assault upon combined Europe.
Nv. Cannon"
Alas my boy, what can we say of such
rcvelationoi national strategy? | was think.
ing over the Developments us wandered
listlcssly amongst tho deserted Mackerel for
tiicatious this side of Manassas on Thursday
Il was thinking about it. say. when my
attention was attracted by soldiers grave
located in tho very midst OF the dismantled
earthworks. II bore rude monument of
pine board. on which tho comrades OF the
stratcge.ic deceased had written the follow
Ing. inscription with chalk:
MUGGY JIM.
A MAcKEREL FLYER.
LATE OF THE N. Y. FIRE DEPARTMENT,
TAKEN Sick
Or INDIGESTION
HE COMMENCED TO
Throw UP FoRricATioSs,
AND DIED OF STRATEGY.
Hie Jacsf.
l...5-4.
A...i....2.-8,
O....i..l...2..0,
o.. 2..s0...S,
q. ...2..45....4.
As I read this simple inscription, my hoy,
could not help thinking how many Mack.
crcls, like this poor fifcr, had rushed from
their homes to the war, painting for victory
or honorable death, or to be slowly consum-
cd by national strategy, and die Of inslorious
fortilica:ion and indigestion. 49,.
It needs no Champolion's hicroglyphical
skill to read the beautiful little verso Of tho
6fer's epitaph, though that verso had to be
inscribed Gsuratively, in order to get il all
upon the narrow monument. In all its
praise OF that quiet sleep in which there arc
no an,icipations to be disappointed. no glut-
tony to mako sick, and no ConIedcracics
TO guard against-the verse will bo plain to
all as reading
Here Lies
ONE FiFER.
Nought for 10 walt,
Nought for ono TO sigh for,
Nought too welghty ate ...t
Nought 10 fortify for.
Tho Mackcrel poet who wrote those lines,
my boy, may have but been no rhetorician
but his theme was an inspiration giving him
moro than ordinary mastery Of the figures Of
speech. Yours grayely,
ORrHEus @. KERR.
QUEER EPIrArH.-The following is on a
grave-stone in the burial ground ut Baton
Rouge, La:
"Here lies buried In this tombe
constant sufferer from salt rlieum.
Which finally In truth did pass
To spotted erysipelasi
A husband brave. father true,