Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-08-14
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THE DAILY SPY.


HARPER BROTHERS nave just puDllSneu
"The Bivouac and the Battle Field; or,
Campaign Sketches in Virginia and Mary
land" by Geo. F. Noyes, from which we
gather a glimpse or two of tho comic side
of soldiers life, and see how our boys
pick up fun by the road side, and manage
to be as jolly under difficulties as the veri-
table Mark Tapley himself. We add also
an incident of the siege of Port Hudson,
which must have provoked a laugh even
under the rebel guns.
Pork VERSUS ToMAToEs. -''Hallo, my
man, where did you get that pork?' called
out our major to a soldier staggering along
with something wrapped up in his shelter
tent, and crinsonng the ground as he went
by.
at isn't pork, sir, it's tomatoes; you don't
know, sir, how hard it is to tell pork
from tomatoes in this country" The ma.
jor, pleasant hand at joke himself, was
conquered at once, and did not press his in
quiries.
A RAINY DAY MARCH.-''I have noticed
that the rOugher the day and the more hOrri-
bic the marching, the more jovial and exhil-
iarated are the troops. As they came plung-
gering under the torrents of rain, past my tent
on the roadside, l have rarely seen them in
better spirits. | had appropriated the stove
OF the heutenants, and its long pipe now pro-
Jected from my tent flaps and pointed straight
over the road. Not company passed by
without some fling at my canvas fortress.
Don't shoot, would cry, in imploring tones,
some wag in uniform, as he plowed through
the mud, his heavy knapsack dripping with
rain, his shelter tent wound around his shout
ders, his bayonet ornamented with a tin cup
and frying pan strapped to his side and
'D-o-n-'t. shoot! came in all sorts of
laughing tones from the waddling chorus
Iie down, boys, lie down! the usual order
given to infantry when under artillery fire,
and not themselves engaged. Boys, we've
got to charge that battery! interspersed with
variations, gave the bedrenched column a
good deal of fun. There was one good fea-
ture about this days march, 1t was not one
of those doubtful days when, by picking your
way, now here, now there, you can partially
protect yourself, for the mud was deep and
universal. There was no anxiety about it :;
your first plunge settled the matter, and YOU
had wet feet and the entire freedom of the road
for the rest of the day.
John Browns body lies Wondering in the grave
His soul is marching on
was ever and anon waited to my ears by
chorus of marching singers
HE INQUISITIVE OWL REPLIES TO A TOAST
Gone moonlight night, while the shells of
the rebel batteries in Port Hudson were out on
regular bust directly over oug line, some Of
the staff of the TIL brigade were holding a
petite seGnce in IL leafy bower close within
range of the enemy's guns One of the num-
Der, IL portly, grave, and reverend senior IT
hnar I1tp iv apppiDtpu marshal TN tho
division, was fast forgetting the noise of viii
famous gunpowder overhead and beyond,
through the nepenthe-like virtues of genu-
inc mint-julep OF his own compoundng. The
wrinkled front Of grim vsaged war was fast
smoothing beneath the frequent flow OF these
unusual spirits, and the gallant capt lin arose
in polite dignity to reply to toast with which
his name had just been coupled.
Gentlemen, he began, 'mOdesty fOrbids
that should receive, without protest, the very
tiattering compliment that you have paid to
the one who now addresses you. 1t is too lit
tie to say that lie Is overwhelmed, surprised,
confounded. He of whom speak is
Who-o-o? interrupted long-drawn voice
above his head-'who.o-o?
Il, sir! myself, sir !-Captan---, pro-
vost marshal Of this divisionn rejoned the
speaker.
"O-O-o! lhqulreu tile lhberIocutor, Will
persistent impertlnence and tone of mock
cry.
Captain --, division provost marshall
replied the beginning to-feelinsulted officer,
III Il louder tone than before.
'Who-o-O| And this time the derisive
voice seemed half sutfocated with laughter.
by Jove, sir I'll teach you acho p return
ed the captain, fairly boiling with rage. Cor
poral of the guard arrest this fellow behind
the tree, and confine him in the guard house.
I'll prefer charges against him in the morn
ingH
A shell exploded high above the scene; the
fragments came rafting and crashing down
through the branches, and great owl flew
suddenly out into the moonllit air, leaving the
astonshed and astounded marshal with one
long, last, lingering inquiry OF 'WHo-o-or"