The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1886-07-08
BLOODY PAPERS! !!
NUMBER XXXIV.

An OlQ soldier called feW Gays since
to inquire the terms for printing a
collection of old army songs. The
subject revives long train Of recol-
lections-some lively and pleasant,
others neither Who does not remem-
Der the old Army Song Amid the
jollities Of the peaceful camp, it was
quite common to hear the familiar
notes Of the Star Spangled Banner,
Dixie, and other songs greatly worn
during the early days of the war. The
Army Song was almost as much abus-
ed as the Army Mule, and we are not
sure but they should have been the
subject Of as much kicking. We re-
member one occasion at Camp Denni-
son, in the early days Of the war,
which brought out the Objectionable
side of the Army Song. A young
soldier was afflicted with bealing in
the head, and his head was much
swollen, placing him in very bad
physical condition An older soldier,
who rejoiced in the possession Of voice
which very strongly resembled the
melody produced by blowing through
a corn-husk, took occasion to sing for
the sick boy, not only every day, but
several times day. 1t was not long
until this became unbearable, and
though the boy did not expect that he
would get over his sickness, the cur
ses and maledictions he heaped upon
the croaky minstrel were both loud
and deep. And a fact it is that the
poor boy was compelled to seek fur
Tough and go to his home to escape
the melodious (?) torture. This was
in time Of ordinary quiet. Yet amid
the sounds of cannon, and all that
went to make up the tumult Of war,
the mutterings Of the Army Song
found expression. Often, when cor
rallied in our pup-tents," with the
rain pouring and beating upon the
frail shelter, would we hear, clear,
terrible, ominous, the Army Song,
pouring forth in defiant triumph over
the storm Of earth. And no calamity,
no visitation Of earth, could quell the
tumult, or cool the ardor Of the vol
untary minstrel. Did you pray for
death to silence that croaky voice, or
that stray shell might get in its
work What booted it that your
prayer was answered ? The death Of
that one only served as a subject for
new song by the laureate of that
brigade or division. The weather
might change, the fortunes Of war
tremble in the balance-but the Ar
my Song was unchanged, perpetual.
How great the satisfaction when,
after long and wearying march, one
was permitted to lie down for good,
refreshing sleep. Now let the trials
and dangers of war be thrown aside
for a few hours, and let exhausted
Nature regain her wasted powers
" Lights out !" rings mournfully over
the camp, and. rolling yourself in
your blanket, you lie down to rest
to sleep. Yet scarcely has the act
been done when the minstrel begins
his lay, and until twelve o'clock, per-
haps, you will be bored with the at
tempts to sing "Who Will Care For
Mother Now ?" Yes, who will care
for her !? The most that you can do
is to secretly thank the Lord that
mother is not here to hear the glori-
Gus music of the camp. Oh, how you
wish that friendly Rebel battery
would open lively fire upon the
camp. And such battery, and such
an act, could only be friendly. Along
the hillsides, up and down the valleys,
through the trenches, above the roar
of battle, the Army Song prevailed,
triumphant through all, and over all.
Aside from the usual and ordinary
sins attached to the Army Song, there
is another and greater for which the
Song must answer. The poetic cop
perhead Of the North, not to be out
done by the detested Yankee, poured
fourth his venom in jingling dogger-
Ell, portraying the terrible manner in
which the Yank was to be chewed up
by the chivalry of the South. Thus
with the Democrats of the South fir
ing grape and canister in the faces of
the Boys in Blue, and the Democrats
Of the North firing doggerel songs at
their backs, the boys were in danger
more terrible than one would readily
conceive of. And the Democratic
party has it all to answer for. If
there had been no war, there would |
have been no Army Song. If there
had been no Democratic party, there
would have been no war Truly the
sins of the Democratic party are many
and dark-hopelessly dark.
Consumption Cured.
An old physician, retired from practice, having