L. P. Brockett, The camp, the battlefield, and the hospital: or, lights and shadows of the great rebellion

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[141] in the indulgence of sly humor at his expense; but he never permits them to disturb his equanimity. Several battle anecdotes of him are well authenticated. Not long ago. General Negley merrily accused him of using heterodox expletives in the ardor of conflict.

“Is it a fact, colonel,” inquired the general, “that you told the boys to ‘ give 'em hell’ ?”

“How?” replied the colonel, reproachfully: “that's some more of the boys' mischief. I told them to give the rebels ‘ Hail Columbia;’ and they have perverted my language.”

The parson, however, had a sly twinkle in the corner of his eye, which left his hearers in considerable doubt.

Our Western circuit preachers are known as stentors. Where others are emphatic, they roar in the fervor of exhortation, especially when they come in with their huge “Amen.” This fact must be borne in mind to appreciate the story. The colonel's mind was saturated with piety and fight. He had already had one bout with — the rebels, and given them “Hail Columbia.” They were renewing the attack. The colonel braced himself for the shock. Seeing his line in fine order, he thought he would exhort them briefly. The rebels were coming swiftly. Glancing first at the foe, then at the lads, he said, quietly, “Now, my boys, fight for your country and your God,” and, raising his voice to thunder-tones, he exclaimed, in the same breath, “aim low!” Says one of his gallant fellows, “I thought for an instant it was a frenzied ejaculation from the profoundest depths of the ‘ Amen corner.’ ” Any day now you may hear the lads of the Seventy-fourth roaring, “Fight for your country and your God-aim low!”