The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-08-19
A Song That Won a Battle.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

WASHINGTON, Aug. TILT Is the custom
for the Marine Band to give a concert on the
lawn in the rear OF the White House every
fine. Thousands of people oongregate to
hear the music. This was one Of the most
fore Professor Sousa. the director, began to
WELD his baton hundreds of music. lovers
were waiting for the first strains One of
them had q copy OF an evening paper in bis
hand. and exclaimed as he glanced at the
sheet: by George. Jim Laird is deadr"
His ~neighbor expressed surprise and sOr-
row at the news. and remarked: ut is
strange that i should have learned of
Lairds death on this spot. The last time
that 1 came to one of these concerts I was
this seat. The band had just finished the
Marseillaise, when Laird said: It's wonder
full what power of inspiration that
hymn has for a man. think 1T
would force a coward to fight like a tiger.
We have no really inspiring airs which
may be called purely national, but l re-
member that on one occasion an air which
was very popular during the wal had q
wonderful effect upon the men,.
during the war l served with a Michi-
gan cavalry regiment, and our chaplain
was a man of wonderful physique and
powerful mold. At the battle of Gaines's
Mills we had received q very severe set
back. We were all but utterly demoralized,
and a stampede seemed imminent. The
Sb0BA0ihs NhOoO "a INV lOulr =
above the best horse in the regiment, saw
the situation at a glance, and realized that
something must be done, and done quickly.
His spurs fairly seemed to make blood fly
out of the TANKS of his horse as he
rode over toward the bugler. In
another moment the notes of John
Browns Body. were floating in the
air. The other buglers took up the strain
and the effect was instantaneous. The
men halted from their rush backwards.
while they listened for a moment to the
well-knOwn air. The chaplain saw his
chance, and in an instant he had started
the words of the melody. AS though there
was a previous understanding every man
joined in, and pretty soon a thousand voices
were yelling, "His soul goes marching on"
THAT song saved the day for our regi-
ment. 1t was one of the most thrilling
sights ever seen on the battlefield, and if
i ever have to lead a cavalry charge / shall
certainly have the buglers massed some
where near where their music will give
nerve to the men,"
1t is not thought that the death of
Mr.. Laird will have any effect upon
the Presidents intentions concerning the
call for an extra session of Congress.
1t is thought here that the Governor of
Nebraska will be likely to call a special
election to fill the vacancy before the regu-
be done, but inasmuch as there is very
little probability that Congress will be
convened In any event before the certifi-
Gates OF members from the new States are
filed with the clerk, the Republicans will
have a majority in spite of the fact that
there may be avacancy in the representation
from the Third district of Nebraska. The
district is Republican without doubt, and
Nebraskans who know the situation in the
State think that the successor to Laird is
likely to be George H. Hastings, of Crete,
who was the elector from the district last
fall.