The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-05-13
GAN Quiet Along the Potomac."

On the 29th day OF April last the House
Of Representatives held a Sunday ses-
sion to listen to tributes to the memory
of the late JOHN NJ. PINCKSEY, a member
of the House from Texas, who was shot
and instantly killed at a political local
option meeting in his district by the
opponents Of his views in favor Of pro-
hibition. As one of his colleagues said,
he was slain at a public assembly of his
own people in his own loved town, falling
under the deadly fire of passionate and
misguided men.
Although Mr.. PINCKNEY was only a
boy at the outbreak OF the civil war, he
entered the Confederate service at once
and served four years in the Fourth
Texas Regiment, which was attached to
Hoods brigade. His biography in the
Congressional Directory does not state
what were his pursuits during the ten
years following the close OF the war,
but 1t appears that he entered upon the
as District Attorney in the Twenty
third Judicial district Of Texas and three
years as County Judge of Waller county,
and was then elected TO the Fifty-eighth
Congress and reelected to the present
Congress.
The addresses made in the House OF
Representatives in loving memory of
this man on the occasion to which we
have referred indicate that he was a
brave soldier and a patriotic and capable
public officer. 1t is not for the purpose,
however, of calling attention to his most
worthy and creditable career that we
now make mention Of the occasion. 1t
is rather to correct a notable error in the
history Of American verse which found
its way in some mysterious manner into
one Of the speeches then delivered.
The speaker to whom this mistake is
attributable was the Hon. JOHN LAMB
Of the Third Virginia district. Mr.,
LAMB, like the late Mr.. PINcKNEY, APP
pears to have been a Confederate soldier,
for he spoke of Mr.. PINcKNEY as an old
comrade in arms-"a private soldier Of
that incompatible body of men, the
glorious infantry Of the Army Of North
ern Virginia. that so often hurled back
in confusion the ~splendidly equipped
legions Of the North" The uneelfsh
devotion Of the private soldier in the war
between the States was a prominent
theme in Mr.. LAMBS discourse concern
ing his colleague and friend, and in
celebrating this theme the speaker re-
called some of his own experiences in
the military service Of the South, and
spoke feelingly Of the many unmarked
graves over which the winds would sing
a sad requiem and no loving hand would
plant a single flower.
Immediately following this poetic pas
sage In his speech Mr.. LAMB oommittedi
the error which it is our purpose to cor
rect. We quote his language from the
Congressional Record, as follows:
"A soldier Of the Second Virginia Cavalry In
pathetic verse has epltomiEed this subject, and a
lady In Loudoun county, Virginia, has put the words
TO music. Often around the campnres 1 have
heard soldiers sing;
"t"All quiet along the Potomac" they say.
Except here and there e stray picket
Is shot. as he walks on his beat TO and fro.
BY a rheman hid In the thicket.
ats nothing-a private or two now and then
VIII not count IN the news OF the battle;
Not an onncer ~ost-onl one Of the men
Moaning out, all alone, the death rattle.
.'A All quiet along the Potomac 90 might
Where the soldiers lie peacefully dreaming;
Their tents, In the rays OF the cieas autumn moon
Or In the light of their campnres. cleaning.
"a tremulous sigh as a gentle night wind
Through the forest leaves softly is creeping,
While the stars up above with their %glittering eyes
Keep guard DER the army while sleeping.
There Ia only the sound OF thelope sentry's tread.
As he tramps from the rock to the fountain.
And thinks OF the two on the low trupdle bed
Far away In the cot on the mountain.
" : His musket tails back, and his face darn and grim.
Grows gentle with memories tender.
As he mu,ters Q prayer for the children asleep,
For their Ys'Asr-mas Hssvrn defend A'r'
.:Ths moon seems 70 snins a. eIlEa,ly e then.