"The Serenade," Poem, undated
The Serenade.
I remember our camp was then on the Teche.
Pitched on the domain of an old secesh.
Where, lacking the woodwork to fix their tents.
The boys went to “gobbling” the old fellows fence.
But that didn’t work quite up to our views.
For the Colonel put Privates resetting the pews
Still that is no part of my tale just now.
Though it fretted the boy and kicked up a row.
There were ladies then living “not far about”
And W- and W— full soon found it out,
And late in the night, their plans having laid.
They concluded they’d give them a gay serenade
So they consulted Dime Beadle, selected their tune.
And started to sing, by the light of the moon.
The night was propitious, and the winds carried far.
The beautiful note of the “Evening Star”.
But the doors were unopened and no light gave a token
Of knowledge within how these Songsters were croaking.
They halted not here, sang “E. Pluribus Unum”
And came away thinking we’re all percunum.
As Adjutant would say they both seemed to feel.
That they’d both been out fishing “and brought in an eel”.
But from visions of favor they soon were recalled
By the stentorian tones of the guards stern “halt”
“Who’s you” called the sentinel “Friends said Capt”
“Well you can’t pass here now, you mind dat”
“I’m Captain of “E” and live inside”
“You cant come in here if you liv till you died.”
The “officer de garde” of their concert aware,
To shut of their wind had projected the snare.
And the stern stable sentinel, to instructions awake
Made the poor fellows stand for one hour and shake
Till the fortunate arrival of the Major at last
Commanded the guard that they should be passed.
X X X X X X X
(Oh sure on the records some note should be made
of the Anderson Camp and the gay serenade.)
Copied from the Era
DATABASE CONTENT
| (2503) | DL0524.038 | 44 | Letters | 186X |
Poem “The Serenade” Associated Reuben Haworth, Jr., 1st New Hampshire Cavalry
Tags: Camp/Lodging, Destruction of Land/Property, Music, Nature, Unionism
People - Records: 1
- (1105) [associated with] ~ Haworth, Reuben Jr.
SOURCES
"The Serenade," Poem, undated, DL0524.038, Nau Collection
