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
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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
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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.
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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
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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)-
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