The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-13


tions, the dailies have been ponderous in their
Jokes, and now the rural Jones takes up the
subject, and our exchanges come laden with
false accusations, vile innuendoes and coarse
abuse. This, too, after we had almost for
gotten the whole thing in this our city of
daily and hourly wonders.
Well, it is getting to be fatiguing, and we not
only protest against the wearying repetitions
that, like an oft told tale, vex the ears of a
drowsy man, but we are moved by sense Of
duty to hurry to the defence Of our distin-
guished fellow citizen. We say, breathes
there man with soul so dead who never to
himself has remarked, this is our own, our
townsman, Fiskf or words to that effect. IF
such a man breathes we feel impelled to say
that he must be ashamed of himself.
We hasten to the rescue Of Colonel Rear
Admiral Fisk, Jr., and hope, by q judicious
military statement of facts and comments
thereon. to put an end to this improper jest
Ing and fln-making and loud laughter that
obscures history and does injury to the fair
fame OF our distinguished townsman.
IT seems that objection Is taken to the fact
that when the gallant Ninth appeared charg-
Ing in upon the rioters Colonel Rear Admiral
Fisk, IT,, appeared n his shirt sleeves. wsy:
ing his majors sword. 'sr2 e. - 20 - -,
Now, looked at from o correct point of view,
military and otherwise, we can see no reason
able exception to the shirt. Shirts have ap-'
peared conspicuous in literary historical and
military annals. First, there was the shirt of
Nessus. This garment Is frequently referred
to by orators. When man is suffering from
computations Of conscience he is said to
be wearing this classic garment and not to like
it, IT is claimed that our literary Mayor,
Oakley Hall, has put himself inside Of such
garment for example; and, according to our
sxctabIe Irish citizens, His Excellency Gov
srnor Hoffman has not only the shirt but
enough material for a pair of drawers. But
then our Irish fellow citizens are imaginative.
Then we have Hoods ''Song of the Shirt, "
and, cleaning through the wreck of fallen
monarchies, appears the red shirt of Garibaldi
The shirt was the right thing, evidently. But
in addition to this we find, on consu lting
standard military works, such as ''Hardie's
Tactics, Halleck's cart of War" and the New
York Tribune, that 1t is proper for the general
in command to avoid unnecessary exposure.
The head of the army is generally, in a crisis,
The salvation of the army. Had Colonel Rear
Admiral j. Fisk, Jr., appeared in his regi-
mentals with that diamond on his martial
bosom, cleaning like the headlight Of loco
motive, he would doubtlessly have drawn
upon himself the concentrated fire of old boots,
dead cats, brickbats aud bullets. What folly
were this
There is here, however, fact that is no,
taken into consideration. Our gallant friend
is not only of the military, Colonel of the gal
liant Ninth, but he is also a naval hero, being,
as we have said, Rear Admiral. Now, when
the urgent demand reached him for boat he
had to retire, divest himself of his military
coat and don the naval uniform. What,
would naval order be sent In military uni-
form? Naught Such conduct would be
death to all propriety, and propriety, accord
ing to the high authorities above referred to,
is the soul of discipline and drill. Then,
again, We learn from Moliere in his classic
comedy of the ''Mser," the importance of
coat "A change Of coat made my one SER
vant coachman or q cook" 1t is not too
much to say that coat makes the allant
Fisk an admiral or colonel.
Before this important naval order could bs
completed the clash of arms announced the
deadly fray, and our hero, hastily throwing
~ his naval character, hastened In his shirt
sleeves TO the head Of his gallant reg iment---
God bless t!"--and waved his majors sword
/ Now we know nothing in the military autho
rifles before mentioned, or in the constitution
As amended, that prohibits colonel from
wearing his majors sword If his own sword is
not handy. This is the correct thing if the
,colonel's sword is handsome dress sword,
set with diamonds and present from the
~egiment--s'God bless Ill" This sword, like
sc sabre de mon psre," has to be guarded
with jealous care. What a shame, what
humiliation IL would have been to have had
the sword Of the Colonel taken by the mob and
borne in triumph over the decsyed eggs. shiI-
Ielshs aud guns Of the mob! The gallant
Ninth would have died with vexation at snch
. result. This was to be avoided 1t all
hazard.
Nor do we find anything but admiration for
ihe position of our hero when he was endorsed.
He was in the van, far in the van. in his shirt
sleeves, waving his majors sword. Colonel
Rear Admiral Fisk, Jr., knew enough Of the
art of war to DO well aware that skirmish
limo was necessary in q great engagement
A skirmish line, say Hardie, Hslleck and the
learned Greeley, 10 necessary to feel the
enemy and hold him in check until the army
is we'll prepared for action. Our hero saw at
glance of his eagle eye the necessities OF
the situation, and Immediately resolved him