The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1886-09-02
BLOODY Y-SHIRT PAPERS!
NUMBER XII.

lu6 season Is one Ol dTLly Ie-uulOlIS,
brass bands, martial music, and the clasp
ing of hands that dealt strong blows in
defense of the Government when armed
traitors were trying to destroy it. The
boy of to-day knows of war excitement
only through the conception induced by
the spectacle of marching batta1ions,
sham battles, or militia camps. Those
boys who witnessed the scenes and un-
derwent the experiences of 1861, will
scarcely forget those days, though they
may not be able to fully describe them.
The sound of martial music recalls the
fling Of Maj. Roberts, who was peerless
in that line. On one of the exciting days
in the early part of '61, Maj. Roberts was
playing his favorite piece, "The Black
bird, and after it's conclusion said: "That's
the piece l will walk up the street in
Washington, playing, when we Demo-
Gratis go there to prevent Abe Lincoln
from taking his seatr' But within less
than week the brave old Major had cast
his Democracy aside, became a Union
fifer, and the town rang with the notes Of
his fife, as he and Grandpap Clayton
up NO1tihOCC1o AOI yin Ctthl
army "The Blackbird' sounded through
every street of Jackson, while "The Flow
ers of Edenboro," chippewa" Dixie"
and others of his selections, became quite
familiar. Enthusiasm knew no bounds
One fine morning Clayton was on hands
with his drum, and some man-who it
was we have forgotten now-had the
bass drum. 1t was to be a recruiting
meeting. Maj. Roberts was not on hand,
perhaps had not had his breakfast yet. A
crowd had collected about the drummers,
on the corner of Main and Portsmouth
streets, at the Sternberger building,
where the Democratic Cor rather Rebel
Iron Valley Express was printed. The
people wanted the music to strike up, but
where was Roberts 2 This was Old Frank
Smiths opportunity. If there was any
thing, short Of Righteousness itself that
the Democrats hated, it was Old Frank,
and he was determined that this nest of
Butternutism should have a serenade.
Clayton squared himself and got his
drum ready, and Old Frank, placing two
fingers of each hand in his mouth, after
the manner of a boy whistling for dog,
poured forth "Yankee Doodle" as loudly
and shrilly as the Major could have done
it with his fife, the drums keeping per-
feet time, and producing altogether as
novel a piece of martial music as any
man ever heard. This old man who, in a
spirit Of jollity born of enthusiasm,
whistled the old National tune, after
wards changed the comedy to tragedy
by giving his life for his country on the
battlefield
There is not community in Jackson
county, perhaps, in which the sound of
the Majors fife was not heard sending
forth a note of defiance to traitors, and
an appeal to loyal men. In those days a
word, or even a saucy look, was enough
to start into life flame of hatred which
would burn and rage with inordinate
fury. Among the many little outbursts
occurring while some Of us were away in
the field-was that between Fought and
Nance, on Broadway. These two men
got into fight near the Grafton Block,
and Fought got whipped. A number of
Democrats gathered around, and the men
got to fighting again on the other side of
the street. The COpperheads doubled up
on Nance, and got him down, and one of
them was about to stamp him in the face.
Mr.. o. S. Miller, quiet gentleman, a
church member, was passing, and seeing
the brutal attempt to kick the prostrate
man paused to demonstrate, when James
Hatten, d well known Dehfacrat-long
since dead-in the excitement turned to
strike Miller. Just about this time, Mike
Vance and Bob Ross arrived upon the
scene-and the subsequent proceedings
interested the other side no more. One
of Fought's friends was sitting upon
horse, hallooing for Fought, and urging
On the mob. Vance seized the horse by
the tail and swing it around as though it
were q hobby-horse, and that man trav-
eled hence without day. Thus it was a
continual battle and warfare, all the time.
The news of the disaster to the Union
arms would come-all kilograms had to
be brought from Hamden- then, there
being no line here-which would set the
Copperheads to grinning and the loyal
men to looking blue. Out would come
Roberts with his fife, and numbers of
men would enlist, to hold themselves in
readiness to go to the field at any time.
There was great eagerness to learn
military evolutions. and every travelling
man who came along-who had picked
up any knowledge of military drill-was
pressed into the service as drill-master.
It was an unusual thing to have day
pass without hearing the fife and drum,
or speech, or seeing a fisticuff or a riot.
1t was then, in time which tried mems
souls, and compelled men to take sides
either one way or the other, that the
Democratic party shone at its best. There
was no party voice raised in defense of
the Government, on that side, nothing
but a truculent cry for "peace on any
terms" The Democracy did not feel any
solicitude as to the number of Union
men who might be killed, but they
greatly feared that some good "Dimo-
crat" ia the South might get hurt. Has
the Democratic party improved?
We do think of all the dismal frauds
we ever met with in the way of Il band,
| tho "Druno COrnSn of tho IVal1cton Re-