And on the tambourine; And, for rattling of the bones, Oh! his like was never seen. In the Louisiana Lowlands, In the Louisiana Lowlands low." The following is one verse of a song quite popular; at one time, in and out of the army, and much sung throughout the country. The air, and in fact the words almost, have been appropriated by the Sunday-school hymners. "The soldiers are gathering from near and from far, The conflict is raging, 'twill be fearful and long: The songs of the soldier were accommodated to his moods. There were rollicking, saucy waves of temper sweeping over a company or regiment, when some soloist would strike up, and draw out a chorus of tremendous emphasis, if not of dulcet harmonies. And this is what they sang: "When Johnny comes marching home again, Hurrah, hurrah! We'll give him a hearty welcome then, Hurrah, hurrah! The men will cheer, the boys will shout, The ladies they will all turn out, And we'll all get When Johnny comes marching home." Sometimes it was a tender, plaintive note which sounded the key of the general melody. Beautiful, touching, suggestive of associations dearest to the soldier, is that song so familiar and popular during the latter part of the war: — "We're tenting to-night on the old camp-ground: Give us a song to cheer Our weary hearts, a song of home, And friends we love so dear. SONGS FROM PRISON-PENS. Many are the hearts that are weary to-night, Many are the hearts looking for the right, Tenting to-night, tenting to-night, Tenting on the old camp-ground." 311 The atrocities and brutal inhumanities of the Rebels to Union prisoners drew the attention and excited the execration of the entire North. The sympathy awakened in the army for the suffering, perishing comrades in Southern prison-pens intensified the meaning of the song expressive of the soliloquies of the Union victims, and enhanced its popularity in every regiment. We give the last verse and the chorus: "So within the prison-cell we are waiting for the day That shall come to open wide the iron door; And the hollow eye grows bright, and the poor heart almost gay, As we think of seeing home and friends once more. Tramp, tramp, tramp, the boys are marching: Cheer up, comrades, they will come, And beneath the starry flag we shall breathe the air again, There were two other songs which expressed the deep sentiment, the grand enthusiasm, and the sublime purpose of the Union volunteers, beyond all others sung around the loyal camp-fires. The one first referred to was the culminating music of the war, and celebrated the wonderful feat of strategy planned by Grant and executed by Sherman. "Bring the good old bugle, boys! we'll sing another song, Hurrah! hurrah! we bring the jubilee! The climax of musical effort in the history of the Fourteenth was reached on that delightful early-autumn evening in the Valley, when the army, after a brisk day's march in pursuit of Early, bivouacked in an undulating field, flanked with forests, near Charlestown. Rails were plentiful; great bubbling springs supplied pure water in abundance; the men were in excellent trim; the enemy was giving way; and the gleeful conversation about the big piles of crackling rails attested the high spirits of the entire army. The usual culinary operations had been performed, and coffee had been exchanged for chat before the twilight deepened. From around a conspicuous fire on a hillside, there came the clear notes of a favorite soloist. From every regiment in the vicinity the song was re-enforced by the leading vocalists. Like a contagion the melody spread; and, at every camp-fire gathering strength, the volume was swelled and rolled along till the entire army-corps was drawn into the chorus: "Yes, we'll rally round the flag, boys, rally once again, We will rally from the hillside, we'll rally from the plain, The Union forever, hurrah! boys, hurrah! Other pieces followed, and other grand outbursts are not forgotten; but that patriotic vesper hymn, "The Battle-Cry of Freedom," as rendered in the picturesque bivouac of Charlestown, remains pre-eminent among all the heroic chants and choral triumphs of Sheridan's army. While the battle of Cedar Creek practically ended military operations in the Valley, the tension of war was kept up for some time. Early returned to Fisher's Hill within a week, having gathered force enough to make some show and bluster; -but Sheridan never considered him worth much attention, save that for more than a month the army was actively vigilant, the men being well employed in picketing, reconnoissances, etc. THE SOLDIER AND THE BALLOT. 313 November 12 Early was on our front in full force, while both sides did considerable manoeuvring without bringing on more than a skirmish conflict. October 25 Lieut. L. W. Wright assumed command of Company A. November 8 the Fourteenth voted for president of the United States; the Union candidate being President Lincoln, while those who denounced the war as a failure supported Gen. George B. McClellan. The New-Hampshire soldiers' vote was, Lincoln, two thousand and sixty-six; McClellan, six hundred and ninety. In the Fourteenth it was four to one in favor of Lincoln. The wonderful success of Sheridan's Valley campaign was an important factor in deciding the presidential election. Soon after the middle of November the troops began preparing winter-quarters; but nothing elaborate was attempted, as the men did not expect to remain in the old Cedar-Creek position during the winter. The army of Sheridan had decked every mound about Cedar Creek with the imperishable laurel of a dazzling glory, and the famous position had served its end; the men did not care to remain unless Early was to repeat his pranks from Fisher's Hill. During the first part of December the Sixth Corps left the Valley for Petersburg. Soon after, the Eighth Corps returned to Western Virginia; while the Nineteenth Corps daily expected orders to join Gen. Grant, but it was destined never to do so. On the 22d a cavalry reconnoissance brought back the news that Early was finally out of the Valley. Our work was done, but we did not know it. The very last of December the Nineteenth Corps moved back from Cedar Creek, through Winchester, to a position near Stephenson's Depot, where excellent quarters were built in "Camp Sheridan." The practice of standing to arms each morning was maintained up to, and considerably beyond, this time. A heavy snow-storm greeted the troops at the very entrance to the new camp, and there was an exceedingly unpleasant state of things for a while. Company A now had still another commander; Lieut. L. W. Wright becoming adjutant December 6, and Capt. Blanchard taking command of the company. At the same time Adj. C. D. Wright became colonel, and assumed command of the regiment December 29. COL. C. D. WRIGHT. Carroll D. Wright was born in Dunbarton, July 25, 1840; his father, Rev. N. R. Wright, being a minister in the Universalist Church. From his birth until the breaking-out of the war, his father preached successively in Hooksett, Washington, Reading (Mass.), Alstead, Swanzey, and Franklin (Mass.). Carroll was educated in Washington, Alstead, and Chester (Vt.) Academies, and in 1860 became a law-student under the direction of Wheeler & Faulkner, in Keene. At the time of his enlistment, September 13, 1862, he was a law-student in the office of Tolman Willey, Esq., Boston, Mass., residing in the adjoining city of Cambridge. Mr. Wright was elected second lieutenant of Company C, and entered the service as such. February 28, 1863, Lieut. Wright was made A.A.C. of subsistence, on the brigade-staff. The service of Lieut. Wright in Washington is partially given in the proper place. June 27, 1865, he was assigned as A.D.C. on the staff of Gen. Martindale, in Washington. Soon after, he was transferred to the provost-marshal's office, where he had charge of the patrols and the guards at bridges and ferries. November 7 he returned to the regiment, and was made acting-adjutant; and on the 7th of the next month received his adjutant's commission. June 28, 1864, while the Fourteenth was at Morganzia, La., Adjt. Wright was again taken from the regiment, and made A.A.A.G. of the brigade. He continued in this position throughout the Valley campaign, discharging his duties with marked fidelity and conspicuous ability. He rendered important service on the sanguinary field of the Opequan. December 28, 1864, he was mustered as colonel of the Fourteenth, his commission being signed by Gov. Gilmore, December 6. When appointed colonel of the Fourteenth, Col. Wright had but partially recovered from a severe attack of typho |