The Irish standard., 1898-06-04

In the 18th regiment. The quartet, all
made sergeants, were divided, two en-
listing in company a, two in company
Z. The Tigers carried their song with
them naturally, and after dress parade
it grew to be the custom for the regi-
mcnt to sing the song as they marched
around the parade ground. So they very
soon added an appropriate verse;
John Browns knapsack strapped upon
his back,
AS VIC go marching on.
Tho chaplans were very fond of
calling the volunteers the army of the
Lord. So, still with strict reference
to the Scotch John Brown, they sang
OF the Lord,
And his soul is marching on.
"fhc regiment was commanded by
Col. Fletcher Webster, the son of Daniel
Webster. He was just like Il father to
the boys. lie knew us all by name, and
We all loved him. Shut up together
there, wo were all lik" one hig family,
anyway. We would have followed him
through tho grave itself. He was a
bravo soldier He fell at the second
battle of Bull Run. Peace be to his
soul"
Tho veteran WAS silent for Il few mo-
mcnts. Then his eyes twinklcd.
Camp life isn't all hardship and sor-
row, though he began again. I'VE
wcro SO fond of Webster that we called
ourselves his cattle. Once after Il long
march, when we We're half-starycd,
some of tho boys killed Il farmers pet
COW. They didn't know 1t was his eve
lamb. you know. But the farmer came
in high dudgeon to the colonel and rated
the boys soundly. Tho colonel was very
sympathetic and soothcd tho farmer
down. I'll tell tho boys not to kill your
pet COW again. he assured the irac h,ls-
bandman. All the same, I'm glad that
1t was one Of your cattle, not mine, that
was killed. The farmer not appreciate
ing tho humor Of the remark, walked Off
shaking his fist.
but where was l about the song? l
was just going to tell you why VIC made
the fourth verse; We were 'Wcbstcr's
cattle, you understand. Well, this
fourth verse went:
"His pet lambs will meet him on the
way,
Whilo he goes marching on.
Even then, you sec, the original idea
OF the song was growing little hazy,
and we brought the colonel into It, The
air was whistled to the bandnaster and
was written down by one Of the band.
Soon after the tune was played on dress
parade and eleven hundred voices took
up tho words Copies were given to Gil
moros band and to the Germania band.
Oliver Dtson published tho. song, and
then it became public property.
Our Webster regiment sang John
Brown in Boston for the first time on
July is, 1861, when our colors wcrc pre-
scnted by the Hon. Edward Everett. We
sang IL in New York just after the first
terrible battle of Bull Run. The cuun-
try was almost paralyZcd with horror,
and VIC were ordered to the front at
once. We landed at East Fourteenth
street, In New York, on our way from
Boston, and marched to Broadway. Tho
colonel gave the order Route step,
which means carry your guns at will,
you know. Tho band struck up tho
song. and 1,400 voices sang with their
! might:
Johns Browns body lies a-moullcring
ir4 tho grave,
John Browns body lies a-moudcring
In tho grave.
John Browns body lies a-mouldcring
In tho grave,
But his soul goes marching on.
"Broadway was SO crowded with tho
multitude Of people who had come to
sec us that ahead 1t looked like 4 vast
ant heap, and the policemen had all
they could do to clear Il path for us
When wo began singing there was a
spectacle for gods and men. The people
were so stunned and discouraged by the
, defeat that they had been us quiet as a
company of mice, but a few bars
of that song they began to cheer and
shout lilo mad things. They threw ul
their hats and never saw them again
Perfect strangers huggcd one another
and wcpt like children. Opposite city
hall we stopped singing from sheer
exhaustion. But the sight of our spen-
didly trained regiment and the swing
and sweep of that song put hope into
that vast cOncourse OF people as IL did
into us many q time aftcrward when We
were footsorc and weary and nigh unto
death.
On the 1st OF March we sang that
song on the very spot where John
Brown, of OssaWatomic, was hanged. II
was kind of Il dedication vow, and VIC
weren't thinking much of the Scotch
John Brown while we sang. But even
then, | think, we had him in mind
moro than VIC knew For even though
regiment after regiment adopted the
song, until it came to bo indeed tho
marching song Of the nation Oul
18th Massachusetts rarely sang it in
the latter part Of It's history. When We
wero at Fort Royal wo crossed tho