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Andrew F. Davis papers, January-October 1863

13_1863-03-16-Page 03

are read to evry Regt in the Corps when on Dress Parade So that it is quite an honor to the one that is lucky and our boys Shows a disposition to keep the Laurels now they have won them. The health is most excellent and not a man in the Regimental Hospital. Yesterday evening the Spirits of the boys ware raised by one Mr Locke who styles himself the Song writer of the Army and is from Portland, Maine therefore a genuine Yankee. He composes songs on different subjects connected with the Army and then goes to a Regt. mounts a Stump and commences singing them, and he being a good singer and the songs well composed he soon has the whole Regt gathered around him and soon has them roaring with laughter by listening to some Comic tale (in Song) of some Reb. Gen. Peter Butternutt etc. and then he will change the theme to the loved ones at home or the comrades who fill a soldiers grave on the battlefield and soon the ones who a few minutes since were convulsed with laughter will turn away and wipe a tear. Then some anecdote well told by him soon brings back the laugh again. He has all his songs printed and the music set to them and after amusing them for an hour or so he will then propose to sell them 16 postage Stamps and 10 songs for one dollar and you may be sure he drives a good trade and I know of no one whose presence is more charmingly greeted by the Regt at large (the Paymaster excepted) than the Song Singer. 
There is no indication of a forward movement from here soon and I do not think we will leave this place for two or three weeks and maybe not for as many months. We are Still at work on fortifications and have got them so far completed that it will make a Strong place even now although the works are not more than one half finished as they are layed out. Our Brigade does not not work in the trenches lately as we are on the front and put in our share of duty in Picketing which we all like better than digging

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are read to evry Regt in the Corps when on Dress Parade So that it is quite an honor to the one that is lucky and our boys Shows a disposition to keep the Laurels now they have won them. The health is most excellent and not a man in the Regimental Hospital. Yesterday evening the Spirits of the boys ware raised by one Mr Locke who styles himself the Song writer of the Army and is from Portland, Maine therefore a genuine Yankee. He composes songs on different subjects connected with the Army and then goes to a Regt. mounts a Stump and commences singing them, and he being a good singer and the songs well composed he soon has the whole Regt gathered around him and soon has them roaring with laughter by listening to some Comic tale (in Song) of some Reb. Gen. Peter Butternutt etc. and then he will change the theme to the loved ones at home or the comrades who fill a soldiers grave on the battlefield and soon the ones who a few minutes since were convulsed with laughter will turn away and wipe a tear. Then some anecdote well told by him soon brings back the laugh again. He has all his songs printed and the music set to them and after amusing them for an hour or so he will then propose to sell them 16 postage Stamps and 10 songs for one dollar and you may be sure he drives a good trade and I know of no one whose presence is more charmingly greeted by the Regt at large (the Paymaster excepted) than the Song Singer. There is no indication of a forward movement from here soon and I do not think we will leave this place for two or three weeks and maybe not for as many months. We are Still at work on fortifications and have got them so far completed that it will make a Strong place even now although the works are not more than one half finished as they are layed out. Our Brigade does not not work in the trenches lately as we are on the front and put in our share of duty in Picketing which we all like better than digging