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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (June 25, 1911)
A LAYED TITE SUNDAY" OREGONTAX, PORTLAND, JUNE S3. 1911. Iart Played By Aus ic I n Ci vrL-Xxtetf-f 1 How Drum, Fife and Bugle Led Great Armies to the Battle Line and National and Folk Songs Sung in Concert In spired the Troops on Both Sides to Deeds of Valor The Drummer Boy of Marblehead Who Led the Twenty-Third Massachusetts at the Battle of Roanoke Island The Frenchman Who Bugled With Pistol and Saber at the Bat tle of Springfield The Song That Kearney's Men Sang at Williamsburg An Instance When Music Came Near Bringing Disaster The Captured Piano That Cheered a Confederate Camp. BT DR. FRANCIS T. MILLER. D .CRINO th C1ll Wr thounJ of military bnd and drum corps and ten of tiiouaandi of buglers and drommrr boya led th armlca to batlla nndcr th lnplrtlon of mule North and South nearly erery rutlmrnt de pended largely upon Its band to arousa the spirit ei"tts fEsMlns; men. Tbe martial strains rose from KM regiments under the Stars and Strips and from nearly half that number la the Confederate Army. The STO cavalry regiments of tho North. In the first ays of war. were each provided with a band, but later only one was allowed to a division; and thero was almost aa equal number In the South. The " S ar tillery regiments each bad a band, which added Its Inspiring melody to ttaa fageant of battle, and many of tha hips of tho carles also were equipped .with bands; so It Is probable that there, were nearly 1000 la the two armies. It is tha custom la warfare for tha mualclana to work with tha hospital corps after they have led tha army to tha field, leaving their Instruments with the wagoa tralna. But tha regi mental drummer always Is to be found In his place la tha Una. no matter how desperate tha battle. Tha drummer la tha Civil War wera zaere boys, and a number of them were too small to carry a rifle. Little fel lows between tho ages of I and 13 years proved their heroism as they beat their drums on tho firing line. Little Albert Munson. 11 years old. tha soa of a me chanic of Marblehead. Haas., was one of tha most Interesting child musicians of the war. lie was enrolled aa a drum mer In the Twenty-third Massachusetts, to which his father was attached. Tha regiment was sent with the Burnslde expedition, and one of Its earliest' encounters was tha battle at Roanoke Island. In 1SS2. A battery was stationed la tha Confederate works which swept the path of tha Federals. The Twenty-third Massachusetts volun teered to take It. -Forward, then. double-jalckr was the order, and tha troops rushed away, bowing their heads before tha storm of lead. In tha very front rank tha little irummer charged beside, his father, beating "Tankee Doodle" as he ran. Ills father fell, and still tha boy moved on. One of his drumsticks was shot from Ills hand. He picked up a revolver which had dropped from a slain sol dier's grasp and used it for a Stick, pounding desperately la tha dla of mus ketry: t "Tankee Doodle, keep It up, Yankee Doodle Dandy! Mind the music and the step And with the r Tha troopa awept over tha battery. Tha Confederates were hurled back. The drummer boy wavered and fell Into tha arms of his Colonel. Soldiers clus tered about him. As tha Colonel tenderly raised tha tfrummer boy's head, tha eyes opened, and. looking eagerly at those about fclm, he smiled weakly. "Watch beat quick, tell me?" ho g-asped. A big Irish Sergeant was bending over tha lUUe fellow, his eyes filled with tears. -We beat 'am Intlrely. me boy,- he whispered . The little fellow raised himself. For m moment the fire of battle flashed In his eyes. -Why don't yoa go after 'em" ha rrted. pointing to the retreating foe. -Dnn't mind me 111 catch up." Tha lire faded from bis eyes; his head was resting oa the shoulder of the Colonel. -I'm a little cold." he whispered, "but running will warm me." Tha drumstick fell from his limp fingers and the little drummer who had led his regiment into battle was dead. French Bugler at Springfield. It was a bugler who Inspired tha volunteers and rushed Into the thick of the fray at the battle of 6piingfleld. Mo oa an October day In 11(1. Tha bands had been leading Fremont's men through tha hills of Missouri and among tha musicians was a little Frenchman, who was the bugler for Fremont's body guard. On this day. however, when tha troopers were battling furiously. Za gonyl. tha Hungarian Major who was flgbtlng under tha American flag, no ticed that tha French burler appeared to be very nervous, looking first to ward his leader, and then toward tha battling troops, lie would rid a short - I1 Or THE 70TXTSS.OZ.OttIIKrXKT&'Xf b& , I ftrr-. am ' f - v -i - '':. ';s? tvl..- . v ' !.- .1 ihk ear '" "" 1 J distance toward the field and then ride back. He raised the bugle to his lips to sound the charge as the soldiers were , rushing upon the foe. but It seemed to lack lis old-time power. Za gonyl looked on in bewllJermenft Step ping to the bugler, he ordered the call sounded. The Frenchman started to lift bla horn as Zagonyl'a attention was turned In another direction where the battle was raging. Then, suddenly, tho Major realized that tho call he had ordered was not being sounded. Looking to find the cause, he saw the bugler speeding away toward the battle front. In one hand ha carried a pistol and In the other a saber. Zu gonyl was astounded. A short time later he saw the bugler in the front ranks of his men. In the din of the conflict, slashing right and left with hla saber. Several times during tha battle the Major noticed the bugler, always in the thickest of the fight, and always wield ing his saber furiously. But even the valor of the little Frenchman could not make tha Hungarian warrior forget that the trumpeter had dlobeyed orders. The battle ended with nightfall. The guard assembled at the plaza in Spring field victorious. Zagonyl sat astride his horse reviewing the rrmnants of the trooops as thejr returned from the field. There among them rode the little bugler. The lines were formed In front of the commander and the Frenchman took hla position with the soldiers. The Hungarian warrior was filled with wrath, "Bring that Frenchman here!" he de manded. The bugler rode before the men. -In the .midst of the battle you dis obeyed tny orders." roared Major Za gonyL -You are unworthy to be a member of the guard. I dlsmles you." The rebuke stung the proud French bugler. Tears welled into bis eyes, snd ha tried Ineffectually to apeak In hla defense. Then, grasping the bugle that hung over his shoulder, ha extended it toward his commander- Major Za gonyl looked at It. The mouthpiece had been shot away: there waa not a note left In It. "I I could not bugle wis sa bugle." stammered the Frenchman, "so I bugle wis se pistol and se aabor." A shout went up from tha men. The Hungarian officer's angry face lighted be smiled. "Get back to your post." be ordered, as the truth dawned upon him. "You are tha greatest bugler that ever stood on a bsttla line. Men, this man Is aa honor to the guard." Sons; Sane at Williamsburg General Thll Kearny bad great faith In the power of music over the troops going Into battle and his sol diers often marched on to tha field alnglng soma lively martial air. When going onto tha field at Williamsburg, on that May day In 1C after a long and trying march through .mud and rain, during the last several miles they passed a continuous Una of wounded being borne from the front. Kearny understood the depression which was gradually overcoming his men. "Bring on the bands!" ordered tha general who had fought with the French In Africa and bad been deco rated with the Legion of Honor. -Let us have soma music" Several bands A r n-ilf i-l ; :I ' -rl 4'; ir-?JM-p4 1 ' mM ..4 lilt! , i An WJW . V'AUb-1-. ..;rfT?--i!K IS'k rwejsaeaearejasasw unu -zmtmt aKiiSL. j-tw '"OAvrrfRirt rz.tCKtrt& (R - were hurriedly brought to the head of the column. "dive us the Star Spangled Banner," called Kearny, waving his one arm, the other having been lost In the war with Mexico. A thrill passed through the lines. The troops were roused from their depresiilon. A cheer ronr out along the hills. The soldiers took up the refrain: O r. can you cm by the dawn's early light. What mo prondlr we helled at the tl llsht's lt slramlns? Wboee broad strlpea and bright stars, through the perilous nsht. O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming! And the rocket's red glare, the bombs burst ing In air. Gave proof through the night that our flag was ctill there: O say. docs that star-spangled banner yet wave - O'er ihe land of the free and the home of the braver The chorus echoed across tho plains thousands of voices taking up the in spiring lines; stronger and stronger it grew until it was one mighty paean of battle: Then conquer we must, for our causa It la Just. And this be our motto: "In God Is our trust." And th star-spangled banner In triumph shall wave O'er the land o( the free and the home of the brave. The battle-scarred Kearny lifted his hat. -Boys." he cried, "sing it like that and we'll sweep them from that field before night." The last' refrain was echoing from tha lines as the fighting hosts reached the battleground. There waa a thun derous cheer. With a rush the troops swept Into position. The song died away In the tumult of battle and Will iamsburg was taken: Music Led Almost to Disaster. The music of the military bands was not always a signal of victory It many times was a dirge of disaster. While tho Federal Army was making Its at tack against the heights of Fredericks burg In 1863 only the quick wit of an engineer saved hundreds of men from death almost caused by one of the bands of Burnside's troops. A pontoon bridge had been thrown across the stream. Like all ordinary pontoons It was composed of a line of boats fastened together with planks thrown across them. The end boats were firmly anchored to the shore by strong ropes. In crossing these bridges the soldiers were always ordered to march In "route step," which meant without regard for keeping In step or tlm- On this December morning, when the troops started to cross, tho air was cold and penetrating. An officer con ceived the plan of Infusing new spirit Into the troops by placing a band be alde the line of march. One of tne regimental bands took Its position close to the bridge and started a rousing time. The effect was electrical. Tne plodding soldiers straightened up and almost unconsciously swung Into step with the music. In a moment nearly all the soldrers on the bridge were in perfect time, marching almost as one man. At each step the bridge swayed beneath the atraln at Us moorings. The ropes that held It In place slowly began to yield. An engineer waa standing nearby la conversation with an officer. Suddenly, lie looked toward the bridge nnd saw the regular tread of the troops. In stantly, he comprehended the peri", of the bridge being carried away with its human Ireight of thousands of men. Without a word he rushed toward it and among the men. "Route step, you idiots, route Btep!" he cried. Then running on he ap proached the band. "Stop, that infernal noise!" he or dered in a manner that left no doubt as to what he meant. The music stopped; the route step was resumed, and the bridge settled firmly at its anchorage Just In time to prevent Its supports from breaking and casting the soldiers adrift in the swol len stream on tho way to the battle of Fredericksburg. Appealed to Blue and Gray. Not even tho thrilling strains of the most popular marching songs such as Dixie had the pronounced effect of the home songs on the soldiers in the ranks. It was an April night before the battles along the Rapidan River in Virginia in 1S6J. The camp fires of the two great armies of Grant and Lee cast their glimmering reflections upon the waters. Each army could see the myriad fires that gleamed on the op posite" shore . and could occasionally hear the rollicking songs of tha soldiers of the foe. Finally a band on the Federal shore started playing Yankee Doodle. An other, a short distance away, took up the strain and soon several bands were filling the air with the melody. Then from the southern shore. In answer to the serenade, the Confederate bands hurried back the strident tones of Dixie. They played the air several times and then were silent. The FedeYal musicians had been gathering In force on tho great parade ground and Immediately they struck up the "Star-Spangled Banner" and the Southerners defiantly answered with the "Bonnie Blue Flag." Again tho Federals took up the serenade, but this time there was a change in tho music The thrilling, martial notes gave place to the slower, sweeter tones of -Annie Laurie." As the last bars died away the night became quiet. Softly to the ears of tho Army of the North was wafted the plaintive, throb bing air of "My Old Kentucky Home." With a burst of sweet melody the chor us opened, then gradually diminished until it was lost In the stillness of the night. The spirit of the old home songs had pervaded both camps. When tho Southern bands were still the North ern musicians stood in Bilence. No one offered to start another tune. For a time the soldiers sat about their camp fires lost In reverie. T"hen. suddenly, there floated Into the camps of both armies, from tha outposts of the Fed eral lines close to the edge of the river, the faint, clear notes of a cor net. The two armies listened In rapt attention. Gently, It floated to them through tho night: Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam. Be it ever so humble, there s so place like noma! . A charm from the skies seems to hallow us there. r 1 v WStO.KEFT Wbtch, aeelc through the world, is ne'er met with elsewhere. I-fome. home. Sweet home:. There's no lace like home There's no place like home. , There was absolute silence In both camps as the sweet soul-stirrlne notes faintly died from the cornet far away on the lonely picket post. Thero were tears in the eyes of the men of North and South who tomorrow would meet on the battlefield. Again the notes came from the cor net. Some of the Federal musicians took up the strain. Soon all the bands were playing it. Then, on the Southern shore, tho bands of tho Confederates Joined the tune. Hundreds of Instru ments blended in the soft, impressive harmony. Again the bands started to play it. In one of tho regimental camps a strong tenor voice, rang out on the April night: An exile from home, pleasure daisies in vain! Ah! rive me my lowly thatched cottage again ! Instantly a hundred voices Joined. Before the first line had been sung al most an entire army was singing and the strain had been taken up by the army on the opposite side of the river. The refrain, was started. Tens of thou sands of men were sinking. Sweetly and expressively, their voices mingled and echoed for miles along the valley. The first verse was repeated and the second started. Thousands on each of the river banks who did not know the words hummed the old familiar tune until the refrain was reached. Few did not know these words and tho voices of tho blue and gray blended and swelled in a mighty chorus, sing ing with the fervor and tho longing of men who had been long separated from those who were dear to them and pin ing for home. Stuart's Version or Old Melody. It 'was in this same Spring of 1863 that many a song stirred the peaceful valleys of beautiful old Virginia. Gen eral J. E. B. Stuart, the great cavalry leader ,of th8 South,, was a lover of music and was a fine vocalist himself. On the march or on tho field he often led his men In rousing songs that raised their spirits and drove away the weariness and monotony of battle. Fre quently whole regiments would be heard In song, with the voice of their leader ringing loudly above the rest. On the field of Chancellorsville, when the battle was swaying first toward tho Federals, then toward the Confed erates. Stuart was in the thickest of tho fray among tho men of his com mand. With tho shot and shell scream ing about him, he calmly sat on his horse encouraering his men onward by his rousing ballads. One of the favorite songs of the Southerners in tho army was the old negro melody, "Won't You Come Out of the Wilderness?" The clear voice of Stuart rang out on tho battlfleld. but Instead of using the original words ho Improvised new ones, singing "Joe Hooker, won't you come out of the Wil derness?" A roar of laughter passsed through the lines. His men took up the spirit of tho song and their cheers rang through th forest as the cava liers dashed into the conflict singing the refrain of their, leader. There always was music in Stuart's camp. Even during the most trying portions of his campaigns, ho was never too busy with the details and routine of war to pause for a time to join in a song. Band Helped Sheridan Win. Few of the cavalry lealers during; tho war utilized their bands while actually In battle, but General Sheri dan was an exception to this rule and whenever his cavalry was preparing for action the mounted musicians were to be seen riding along In front playing spirited tunes. Sheridan always en deavored to have all the members of Aei t ISP the bands In his cavalry mounted on gray horses and they presented a strik ing picture as they led the horsemen Into action. On that April day, In 1865, at the bat tle of Five Forks, Sheridan, while rid ing along near the battle line, met one of the bands. "Take a position at the Junction of two roads at a point within range of tho Confederate guns and play while the troops are going into action," or dered the leader. The musicians drew ud their horses by the roadside and started the lively air of "Nellie Bly" as the men filed past. Cheer after cheer rose from the ranks and the soldiers went Into the fight with firmer tread as the music of the band reached thel rears. Not heeding the shot and shell that flew about them, the musicians played tune after tune, while, during every lull in the battle, as tho music was heard by the fighting men, the cheers for the band were renewed. "God bless that band!" cried Eheri dan. "It is winning this fight." Captured Piano Cheered Camp. There Is a single instance of a piano furnishing music under the nimble fin gers of a warrior musician on the fir ing line of battle during the Civil War. One July day in 1862 the Federal Army and Navy were attacking tho Confeder ate stronghold on the bluffs of tho Mis sissippi at Vlcksburg a year before Grant laid siege to and captured tha key to the Mississippi. A house ob structed a clear view of tho battle front on the land side of the fortified city and the Confederate commander or dered It destroyed. Tho Southern sol diers, entering the house to remove all valuables, found a beautiful old ma hogany piano. "Boys," said one of the privates, "it would be a shame to burn this. Let's take it to camp." And the light-hearted warriors Joyfully carried telr prize to the camp of the Washington Artillery. Private Andrew G. Swain seated him self before the piano, and his fingers began to run over the keys. The nei(;h boring soldiers looked up in astonish ment when the sweet strains of famil iar home songs began to float through the fortified city of tents. Abandoning their various occupations, they Joined Swain at the piano. Above the desultory fire of the foe could be heard the tinkling of the keys and the swelling notes of an extempor ized male chorus. The strains of home songs, folk songs and camp songs float ed out upon the heat-laden July air. Swain had Just struck into the rollick ing song, "You Shan't Hav Any of My Peanuts," when the scattering fire of skirmishers broke into the thunderous tones of an artillery bombardment. A charge was on! Even the generals of tho divisions and brigades had gathered to listen to the music; but now they hastily depart ed to their commands, ordering their men to fall in. Swain still remained at the piano until the last chord of the song had been finished, when he seized his musket and hurried Into the trenches. In 20 minutes the charge was over. Scores of the Federals had been killed and a host captured. The prison ers were led within tho trenches. A look of amazement overspread their faces when they caught the first notes of music from the piano, where Swain had again seated himself Immediately after the last shot was fired. Under his fingers the strains of "O! Let Us Be Joyful" were floating through tho still smoking trenches. My God, what kind of people are these? They have got pianos on the battlefield, and are singing, "O! Let Us Be Joyful!" cried a soldier from the North. As the prisoners passed the im promptu concert was resumed where it had been disturbed by the Federal charge. When the garrison was aban doned later, the piano was left behind, and fell into possession of tho new Fed : . ' CI-. A vrf- Ar.,' '.S3 UNA V 4 - s 1 eral occupants of Vlcksburg. After the war the piano, was recovered by tho original owner. Editor's Note. Next Sunday the eighth of Mr. Miller's great war stories will appear in these pages. It is en titled, "Charging With the Great Cav alry Leaders in the Civil War." Copyright, 1911. by the, Search-Light Library. The Man-Hunt of Mendocino (Continued from Pago 3.) could tell that shade among a score. And that red Jacket clothed the breast of her son's murderer! She breathed a soundless laugh, her face lighting with Joy. But when she lifted her rifle her arm shook so that its looeo stock rattled in her hand. She crouched in the shadow behind a lower surface of the rock, and tho rifle stole cau tiously Into place, resting' there firmly. "She shut -one eye and glanced along tho barrel through the peep. Her arm hugged the stock lovingly. Thrico the bead went by the peep, and she felt that her hard breathing was marring the sight So sho held her breath, and soon the bead was fairly in front, with Just a little rim of red above it. Her finger that had been fondling tho trig ger oil the while now pressed It quick ly. Thero was a crack and a smoke puff passed away on the breeze. She looked eagerly at tho man in tho red Jacket, but he still sat there, leaning against the rock. So sho quickly threw out the empty cartridge shell, drow her bead and fired again. Still the man in the red shirt sat there, his face staring up at her and mocking her. As carefully and deliberately as before sho fired another shot. Yet there was no movement of the red Jacket. "She put her withered hand to Iier brow and pressed it hard. Then sho rose and stole cautiously down the rooks and through the chaparral, care fully -notching tho figure before her. When sin came down to it sho saw that the head was tilted back a little so that it rested on the rocks. The eyes were wide open. "In the breast of the red Jacket were three bullet holes. "That's all. gentlemen, and hero wa are at Fort Bragg." (Copyright by Short Story Publishing Co.) As to "Martin Chuzzlcwit." Kansas City Star. That "Martin Chuzzlewit" was writ ten at the high water mark of Dickens' story-telling powers the opinion of a writer in the Strand Magazine who re produces some MSS. of the author and corrected proof sheets. There is an in teresting list which records attempts to find a name for the hero. It reads: Martin Chuzzlewlg. Martin Sweezleden. ; Martin Chuzzletoe. Martin Sweezleback. Martin Sweezlewag. None of these names has quite tho deft absurdity of Chuzzlewit. "Sweezle" is somehow an unpleasant syllable, while "Chuzzle" is only funny, and tho "t" of "wit" goes better with the z's than the final "g." But perhaps wa like Chuzzlewit better merely because it Is so familiar. . What She Understands. Washington (D. C.) Star. "Is your husband at the ball game?" "Yes," young Mrs. Torkins replied. "I think the game exerts a beneficial in fluence. He is always talking about a lot of men who are making frantic struggles to get homo)- r V1 i
