Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-16
CHARLIE DER THE WATER.
The Tune Played at the Old Virginia
Militia Masters.
dor the Dispatch.)

Nf OF the DlSpdtcN.)
The older readers Of the Dispatch who
are natives Of Virginia must remember
the old Militia Musters" of their boy
hoods time. What occasions they were
in the rural districts What incidents in
the life Of the boy who, as was my good
fortune, lived near enough TO the place
where the muster" was held, never 20
miss attending. Everything was OF inte-
rest to the boy, the sight of so many
men, especially Of the officers with their
uniforms and their swOrdsl And some
times there were excitements not down
on the bills-not infrequently a fight
fist and skull" But always, where /
lived, there were ginger-cakes for sale
And such ginger-cakesi l think ] have
never eaten anything so good since. The
muster" came at a pleasant time Of the
year 1t was a time for enjoyment The
men as they gathered in discussed the
crops told anecdotes, maybe traded
horses until the arrival of the hour for
the business OF the day. Then the com
mand 10 Fall in!' was given, and two
men were placed side by side in the road
looking at our place, up the road. Two
other men took their places behind the
first two, then others behind them, and
so on until all were in the road, forming
q
right flank. This is the way it was done
where 1 was brought up, and the next
proceeding was then always the same
The command was given, Forward
march, and Immediately after Right
and left, countermarch."
THE LIEUTENANTS.
The two lieutenants had previously
taken their places-One on the right, the
other on the left of the two men in front |
At the command the line started for |
ward, but at the second command the |
two men leading wheeled around, one |
to the right, the other TO the left. and |
on the outside Of the moving |
and in opposite direction TO it, |
until, when they had passed the last man,
they came together again-all the others
having marched 20 the same spot and
as the first. The company con-
tinued their march until they reached the
field where the drill was conducted.
Years passed, and I myself took part
in drilling and marching. never though,
heard in the army the command, Right
and left, countermarch." With the march
Ing the music began-the fife and the
drum-and Il is because of what was 10
me an interesting discovery with re-
ference 10 the tune always played that ]
write these lines. What the name of the
always heard that tune on these occa-
sions. and no other, I naturally thought
L was the only one that could properly
be used in connection with anything mill
.ary. 1t was really an admirable air 10
step TO. Some years ago l found this
tune in the first No. OF the Harper's
rranklin-Square Song Collection. l was
greatly surprised 10 learn then that the
llr which / used TO hear at the militia
'musters" was actually that OF the Old
Iacobite song, "Charlie Ger the Water"
It seemed very strange. ! am sure that
he fifer and drummer, whom | knew well,
lever heard of Prince Charlie. But they
new the tune. The explanation came
4 itself.
THE EXPLANATION
The Colonial Virginians were loyal TO
he King. In the troublous times which
ep up to the death of Charles l. they were
N the side OF the unfortunate monarch
10 regicide could have found shelter
mong them. They had to DO forced into
admission to the protectorate and they
invited Charles H.. who was then wander
lg homeless over Europe, to come and
et up his throne in Virginia. This suffer
lgs of his family only made the Vir-
inians more devoted In their loyalty.
ames III. was deposed; a foreigner took
is place. When later on the House Of
runsWlck held the royal power, and | ,
here was again wandering Prince
harles, we may easily suppose that the
OF very many OF the Vir- I
inians were with the family OF their old q
We can suppose, too. that I
fter the cause Of the Stuarts was lost I
{ Culloden, many of those who had been '
rebellion against the reigning house I
ought and found refuge I'm distant Vlr- y
mia. Here they spent the remainder ;
: their lives in peace, not forgetting !
1wever, the cause for which they had q
filtered. No doubt they brought with h
lem the songs which had been their '
lllyng cries-perhaps. they found them Il
READY here. Then, perhaps, as q covert Y
ssertion OF their continued adherence 10 =
lie Stuarts they used this tune, Charlie. I
er the Water" IN their military ex- Il
clses, and the practice was continued h
ter the cause was forgotten and the II
Gaming lost. Habits are easily fixed y
ID Vrginians are very conservative.
send this, thinking Il may interest u
me who are not already acquainted with .
lis evidence OF the conservatism OF Vlr- h
mans ROCKINGHAM. n