PS "^^^^ THE ^ *f? ittmmu:: & SHENANDOAH fi. jVliLiTARY Drama in 6 Acts, G-EO. W. HEATH. DOVER, N. H. H. H. GOODWIN, JOB PRINTER. 1871. €^ -^ Rook .Hx\3 T H z: i mm SHENANDOAH ^ Military Drama in 6 ^tcTs, GEO. W. HEATH. ^^RV OF COHi^^-^,,^^ DOVER, N. H. H. H. GOODWIN, JOB PRINTER. 1871. -^S^"^^ ^'V^'' Entered according to Act of Congress, In the year 1S71, by Geo. W. Heath, in the office of the Li])rarian of Congress, at Washington. THE DRUMMER BOY, ACT I. Scene I.— Front Street. Senators Toombs, Wigfall and Stevens, discovered. Toombs. But sir the steps we are taking are fraught with danger to the country. Mark my words, a long and bloody war may be the consequence. Wigfall. There is, gentlemen, no alternative. It is the unanimous vote of the convention, and unless we pro- ceed accordingly, it will bring a lasting dishonor upon the South, and we shall be bullied by those northern menials more than ever. Toombs. If, through the seceding of the southern states, a war is brought on, who, I ask, is to answer for the lives that must be sacrificed? I never have believed in resorting to such extreme measures for party aggran- disement. It is detestable in the sight of Heaven. Wigfall. I do not apprehend anything of the kind. What can the North do ? they have no munitions of war left, their arsenals are all empty, their military power is so disabled they cannot fight if they are so disposed. Toombs. Believe me, gentlemen, there are men in the north who will not submit to the loss of a single state from the Union. Mgrk me, my words are prophetic. The pro- 4 THE DRUMMER BOY ceedings of that convention have lit a battle flame that will enshroud our land in a terrible war, and Heaven only knows where it may end. Stevens. Then there is only one alternative. To meet our foes upon the line drawn by the Charleston Conven- tion, and declare our rights by the bayonet. We have gone too far to retrace a single step without dishonor. Toombs. You are right, sir, it is too late. "We have embarked in this scheme and must follow it to the end. Wig fall. Beauregard has already received orders to have the forts at the entrance of the harbor evacuated, un- less the officers and men shall act in behalf of the confed- eracy. {Bell strikes 3 outside, L.) But come, it is the hour appointed for the meeting of the council at the State House. {All exit L. 1st E.) Scene H. Parlor Bach. Judge, Mrs. Judge, Johnny a7id Harry Wallingford, and DeLorm, discovered, seated. Judge Wallingford. I hope what you say, sir, may never come to pass. To bring a war upon our peaceful, prosperous land, would be a terrible calamity. I think the South are too wise as a people to be led into such an error by scheming politicians. De Lorm. You are right, sir, it would, as you say, be terrible, but at the same time, it looks to me inevitable. For the election of Lincoln has so exasperated the whole South, that they will not hesitate to do anything that shall secure their honor. Judge W. Why shouk^ they dislike Mr. Lincoln ? He has the reputation of being a good and an honest man. DeLorm. That may all be, but never-the-less, his polit- cal ideas are in direct antagonism to the institutions of the South, and he will meet with none but enemies there. Judge W. I have every reason to believe he will govern OF THE SHENANDOAH. O our country for its welfare, asking the support of all loy- al men, and demanding obedience from would-be traitors. (Eiiter Vete with paper, IstL. e.) Pete. Here is de mail, Massa. Judge W. Have my carriage ready at once. Fete. Yes, Massa. (Exit 1st L. E. Judge W. Let us see what the news is to-day. What's this ! The convention held at Charleston on Thursday, has declared the Southern -states, or most of them, with- drawn from the Union, and established a government of their own, choosing for their President, Jefferson Davis, of Mississippi. Great excitement in Washington and Bal- timore. The city of Charleston full of troops. The whole South in arms. Oh ! this is terrible, terrible. Harry. There will, if these reports prove true, soon be warm work for you gentlemen that wear the uniform. Perhaps I can be of some service to my country in her struggle for Liberty. Can you give me a chance in your regiment? DeLorm. When that hour arrives it will find me in the Southern army ; should you desire to accompany me there, I will do all I can to get you a commission. Harry. What ! surely you do not mean to flinch from the defense of our country. You would not raise your arm, that has ever been found ready for her, against the flag you have sworn to protect. DeLorm. Sir, the South is my home. I was born there. I was reared to love and respect all of her institutions. Her principles are mine, and I shall fight for her cause. Harry. I am surprised to hear you speak thus. Dur- ing these many years of our friendship, I have always, till now, found you true and steadfast for the right, and I am indeed pained to hear you, while wearing the uniform of an American officer, speak treason. 6 THE DRUMMER BOY DeLorm. They are my sentiments, and I shall act by them. Harry. Then, sir, you are no longer a friend of mine Judge W. I pray you, let this subject pass. (31d friends should not fall out at parting. DeLorm. This, then, is your pretended friendship. Harry. James DeLorm, you have been one of my dearest friends; you have ever been welcome to this, our home, but 'tis over now, for, h^d my own brother done, what you have sworn to do, 1 would cast him from my love and esteem, though it broke my heart in so doing. Henceforth we are strangers, for I will call no one a friend,who would basely betray his country and his honor. D&Lorm. And this is your northern hospitality. Be- cause my sympathies, like yours, cling to my home, you denounce me as a traitor to my country. So be it, you fight for your flag, and I will for mine, and we shall meet again. {Enter May Wallingford, 2d R. e.) May W. Why, what has happened? What is the meaning of this dispute ? Harry. It means, my dear wife, that this man, whom we have ever regarded as a dear friend, ever welcomed to our home, who has shared with us our joys and sorrows, is a traitor to his country. And now, wliile a shade of war is gathering about us, he declares his intention to forsake our glorious flag, and unite with the rebel cause, and I have told him that henceforth we are strangers. May W. Harry, you have done right, lam proud to find that you let not friendship stand between you and duty. Mr. DeLorm, painful as it is to break the friend- ship that has so long existed between us, I must join with my husband in denouncing your course, for we love our country too well to have any association with traitors. DeLorm. Mr. Wallingford, you have basely insulted OF THE SHENANDOAH. 7 me, but my time will yet come. I will be revenged. Good day, my friends. {Exit 2d L. E.) May W. Harry, I need not ask you what you propose to do in this, our country's trial. I know you will go forth in her defence, but I fear that man, should you ever meet. You know his threat and he will do his utmost to fulfill it. Harry. Yes, darling, my country needs me, and I shall go ! but fear not, this ona man's threat vanishes, when we think of the one made by the entire South against our national honor. We will think of him as he deserves, and place our trust there. Scene III. Street Front. Enter Teddy, r. 1st e., Singing. Teddy. Well here I am looking for a situation. I heard there was a row kicking up here, so I come over to get my beautiful shelaly into it. What better employ- ment could a respectable Irishman get into than twirling his stick against the heads of them that deserve ? Be gorra, I'm not the one to hold back when I'm wanted for a bit of a scrimmage. Now then, where will I find the boss, I don't know ? to set me at it. I'll go down this way and see if I can't find a recruiting office. Sure they must want lots of just such as me, and they'll find 'em to. {Exit L. 1st e., Singing.) Scene IV. Plain Chamber in 3, Beauregard and De- LoRM discovered. Beauregard. Do you think Anderson can hold out much longer ? there was some sharp firing against the walls of Sumpter to-day. DeLorm. Sir, I saw from the heights overlooking the fort, that some of their guns have been dismounted, be- sides a large portion of the wall fronting the city has 8 THE DRUMMER BOY given way. They must soon surrender, or the fort will be a total ruin and its inmates all slain. Beauregard. You go immediately with a flag of truce, and demand the surrender of the fort. But, if he sees proper to fight it out, bring the heaviest guns to bear up- on the weakest portion of the walls. I think that will bring him to terms. On your return, report to me. DeLorm. I will do so, sir. {Exit Beauregard 2d l. e. DeLorm 2d r. e.) Scene V. Fort Sumpter in 5. Major Anderson ^i5- covered. Anderson. I pray Heaven that ere daylight I may have assistance. The government must know by this time the position I am in. I can hold out but a few hours longer. My guns are nearly all dismounted, and the walls themselves are in ruins. Oh ! what can I do if they do not send me aid. {Enter Serg't. Hastings r. U. E.) Sergt. Bastings. Major, there is a boat approaching the shore with a flag of truce. Anderson. Let them land and conduct the officer in command to me. {Exit Sergt. R. u. E.) Perhaps they regret the rash step they have taken, or, it may be, they come to demand of me the surrender of the fort; but not while there is life enough in me to deny their right to de- mand it, shall that flag be lowered from its proud position. {Enter Sergt. Hastings and DeLorm, r. u. e. Exit Sergt. r. u. e. DeLorm. Are you, sir, the commander of this fort ? Anderson. 1 have that honor, sir. DeLorm. I am ordered by Gen. Beauregard to off'er you terms of surrender in the name of the Confederate Government. Anderson. Tell your commander that I was placed here OF THE SHENANDOAH. 9 by the United States Government, to command this fort, and that is the only authority I shall recognize, while I hold any position under it. I shall defend this place so long as there is left one stone upon another. DeLorm. But, sir, 'tis useless; you struggle in vain. At daylight, we shall bring our heaviest guns to bear up- on the fort, and ere the sun shall mark the hour of noon, naught will remain but a pile of blackened ruins. You have no right, sir, to sacrifice brave men in so helpless a position. Anderson. You are right, sir, I have no right to sacri- fice them, but my orders are to hold the fort. I never yet have disobeyed an order, but for humanity's sake, I may have to surrender. This much, I will do, I 'will consult my men. I shall be guided by them, and should we decide to surrender, I will fire a signal of one gun. {Exit DeLorm r. u e.) Oh ! have I lived to see that proud emblem lowered in dishonor ? humiliating as it is to do so, my duty to my men compels me. This wasting of precious lives in this unequal contest, is entirely use- less. What! ho! Sergt. ! {Enter Sergt. H. r.'u. e.) You will muster the men here immediately. {Exit Sergt. H. R. u. E.) This is a terrible ordeal for me, to decide between my duty to my country, and humanity for my men. May heaven direct me right. {Enter Sergt. H. and Men r. u. e.) Soldiers, a flag of truce has just left here from the enemy. Beauregard demands our surren- der. What shall we do ? lower the old flag, or make these blackened vv^alls our funeral pile? Sergt. H. We will do as you command us, placing our trust in Heaven. Anderson.. To defy the enemy is certain death, and I do not think our country will require us to waste our lives in so useless an effort. Let the signal be given. {Slow music.) Let the flag be lowered. {Soldiers march 10 THE DRUMMER BOY around and form in half circle.) And the day shall yet come when we will raise it again on these walls without a single stain upoi> its folds. {Soldiers kneel.) lableau. Death or Liberty. Slow Drop. ACT II. Scene I. Landscape. Back. Capt. Howard discov- ered, writing. Enter Harry, 2d l. e. Harry. Ah, good morning, Captain. How is your company ? full ? Capt. H. Not if you want to go, Harry. Harry. Well, I have decided to lend my aid in my country's defence, and I will put my name down. Capt. H. All right, Harry, you are just the man I want. Harry. I shall be very happy, Capt., if I can be of any service to you. When does your regiment go to the front ? Capt. H. We are expecting orders every moment ; hold yourself in readiness to go at any time. Harry I am ready to go at any moment. {Enter Johnny, 2d l. e.) Johnny. Say, Harry, I want to enlist. Harry. You enlist. Why, Johnny, you're too young.^^ What could you do ? Johnny. Why, can't I drum ? Say, Capt., don't you want a drummer ? Capt. H. Yes, Johnny, I want a drummer, but I fear your mother would hardly part with you. Johnny. Well, I must go at any rate. Harry. Well, come Johnny, we'll go down and see what your mother thinks about it. Capt. I will report OF THE SHENANDOAH. 11 in an hour ready for duty, and should mother consent to let Johnny go, I will take him along with me. Capt H. All right, Harry. (Exit Harry and Johnny, 2d l. e. Enter Teddy, 2d R. E. Teddy. Is the recruiting officer in, T don't know. Capt. H. I am the recruiting officer. What do you want ? Teddy. Do you want to hire any good steady men for the army. Capt. H. Our regiment is very near full. Do you want to enlist ? Teddy. How much do you pay a month, sir ? Capt. H. Fourteen dollars. Teddy. And the eating and the drinking? Capt H. Yes, the men's rations are found. Teddy. Found ! Where do they find 'em, sir ? Capt. H. They are furnished by the government. Teddy. Do you pay every month, sir ? Capt. H. It is customary to pay every two months in the army. Teddy. All right, sir, I'll go. Put my name down. Capt. II. What is your name ? Teddy. Sure, every one at home knows I'm Teddy O'Rourke, of County Clare. I'm a mason's tender by education, but I think I'm better qualified for a soldier, for you know an Irishman is always ready for a scrim- mage. Capt. H. Well, go up to the Colonel's tent, and he will swear you in. Teddy. Swear me I no, sir, he wont. I never swore in my life, at all, at all. Capt. H. I have reference to your enlisting. The Col- onel will take your name at the headquarters of the reg-« iment, and assign you to such company as he sees fit. 12 THE DRUMMER BOY Teddy. Well, I'll go and shake the fist of Biddy good bye, and leave her my blessing and an order for my pay, and then I'm wid ye. {Exit 2d R. E.) {Enter Ike Plumly, l. u. e. with awkward squad drill, After drill, face to Capt. Howard.) Ike Plumly. There, Capt., how do you think they drill? Capt. H. They do very well. But you may take them to their barracks now, and give them a rest. {Exit Ike with squad, L. u. E.) Here, Pete. {Enter Pete, 2d e. l.) Pete. Yes, Massa. Capt. 11. Here Pete, take these documents to the Colo- nel, and then see that everything at my quarters is snug- ly packed, for we shall have to march soon. {Exit 2d L. E. Pete. Golly, now dere'U be de debbil to pay, just as sure as I'se a nigger. We's going to march down Souf, and let dera folks down dere know dat dey can't hab eve- rything dere own way any longer. I told 'em long ago I'se coming down and pay 'em all I owes 'em, and now de time has^ come. Oh ! I feel so good ; just as good as white man new. {Song and dance introduced, then exit 2d l. e.) Scene II. Street, Front. Enter Ike Plumley, 1st r. e. Ike. Well, I'm getting along pretty well any-how ; been iti the service just two days, and got promoted to a corp- oral. That's just because I used to practice soldiering when I was small. I had a company when I was at school and I was Captain, and perhaps before I come home, I'll be Captain again. But I wonder where in the world Pat- tie Peaslee is. I must look her up, and tell her I'm go- ing, for she don't know it yet. I expect there'll be some tall talking when I tell her, for she sets an all-fired sight by me, but there, I'll go down and tell her, and have it OF THE SHENANDOAH. 13 over with. She'll like me all the better when I get back again, and then we'll get hitched up and settle down to taking care of the little Plumleys. {Exit 1st L. E.) Scene III. Parlor, Back. Judge W., Mrs. W., May, Johnny and Harry discovered. May. Oh! Harry, it seems as if we were parting for- ever. Harry. Nay, darling, look not upon the dark side, but upon the bright, and let us place our trust in "Him who doeth all things well." There is a dark cloud hanging over our country now, but let us hope that it will soon be dispelled, and the bright sunshine come again. Mrs. Judge W. Harry, into your charge I place our darling boy. Watch over him and guard him from dan- ger and evil. If harm should come to him it would break my heart. Harry. Mother, I will guard over him faithfully from evil temptations, but where his duty calls him, even though it lead him into danger, he must ever be found. And now, your blessing. (Harry and Johnny kneel. Music, 'i bars.) And now, goodbye. I hope -you will come down and see our regiment off. Good bye, mother. Good bye. May. (Bus.) Johnny. Good bye, father. Good bye, mother, May. Oh, Harry, that man's threat haunts me now. I fear him, and I pray you may never meet on the field. Harry. For your sake, I. hope we may never meet, but should chance bring us together, I will try and rid our country of one of her basest enemies. But think no more of him, darling. Turn your attention to the wants of those who are now leaving their homes to defend their country's flag. There will be work for you all. The sick and wounded must be cared for, and that duty, in a great measure, we must leave to the women of our land, know- 14 THE DRUMMER BOY ing it will be faithfully attended to. So cheer up again, and remember your duties. (Closed in.) Scene IV. Street, Front. ^?z^er Pattie Peaslee, 1st R E. Pattle. Goodness, gracious ! what on earth is this •world coming to ? I never had any faith in that southern critter that come up here visiting the Wallingfords. I I knew there'd be a rumpus, and now they've had it. I hear there is going to be a war between the North and the South, and he's going to join the South, and Harry and Johnny Wallingford have enlisted on the other side. Well, I never see such doings in all my life. And then there's that tarnal Ike Plumley, they tell me he's gone off and enlisted too. Here he's been promising and promis- ing, for the last ten years, to marry me, and now he's gone off to get shot. These men aint to be trusted any- how. I'll go down to the camp and see if I can't find him ; here Pve been knitting his stockings for him and mending his clothes ever since he was a boy knee high to a toad, and this is the way he shows his gratitude. Pll never place my trust in another male critter the longest day of my natural existence. {Exit 1st L. E.) Scene V. Landscape^ Back. Enter Capt. Howard with soldiers, L. u. e., drill, and forin dress parade. Enter l. Wallingford Family and Villagers. May Wallingford with Hag. May. Soldiers, in behalf of the ladies of your town, I present you this flag, knowing that you will guard its hon- or faithfully, and defend it, if need be, with your lives, and when you see it waving above the smoke and din of battle, know that you have the prayers of those who pre- sent to you this sacred emblem of our country. Hoping that you may safely return to the dear ones you part OF THE SHENANDOAH. 15 with to-day, with the bright rainbow of peace shining ov- er our land, I now bid you, God speed. Capt. H. Ladies, we accept this flag as a sacred me- mento from the fair hands that have presented it. We pledge you to guard it with our lives, and when we look upon its folds waving in the sunlight of heaven, it will make strong our hearts for conflict. We pledge you that no blot of shame shall tarnish its purity while the stout arms of those, to whose keeping you have given it, have life to guard it. And, should we survive to bear it back to our native hills again, its folds may be tattered and torn, like ourselves, but it shall be as pure and unsullied, as when you presented it to us. Color bearer, advance. . {Color hearer advances, takes colors and returns to place Capt. H. marches soldiers off-L. u. e. Villagers closed in. Scene VI. Wood Front. Enter Teddy, 1st r. e. Teddij, What'll I do I don't know ? the regiment has gone ofl" and left me behind. That's because Biddy kept me billing and cooing so long. Faith that same Biddy loves me from the far end of her heart. Be gorra, it makes me feel stufl" full right here to go ofl' and leave her, but 1 must go and fight for my country and fourteen dol- lars a month. Who knows but what I'll be a Major Gen- eral before I come back again. Well, I must be off and see if I can't catch the boat for City Point, and get down to the regiment. Oh, Biddy, sure my heart is sad at parting with you. {Exit 1st L. E. singing.) Scene VII. Street Front. Enter Col. Ellsworth, 1st R. E. Corp. Brownell, 1st l. e. Brownell. Colonel, I am ordered by the commander of the Post to inform you that there is a rebel flag flying from the flag-staff of the Marshall House, and that you are to have it immediately taken down. 16 THE DRUMMER BOY Ellsworth. His orders shall be promptly obeyed. Come with me. {Both exit 1st l. e.) Scene VIII. Plain Chaniber, middle. Ellsworth dis- covered taking doivn rebel flag ; puts foot on it. Enter Jackson, r. shoots him. Brownell enters R. shoots Jackson. After he falls, runs bayonet throvgh him. Form picture. {Closed in.) Scene IX. Wood Front. Enter Qen. Johnston and DeLorm, 1st L. E. DeLorm. I have received this information from one of my scouts that has been in Washington. He tells me that they have but a very small garrison, and the city is badly fortified. Gen. Johnston. If it were possible to make a flank movement to the west as far as Harper's Ferry, then through Pennsylvania, and by forced marches fall upon Washington before they could get reinforcements, the Capitol of the North Avould be ours What think you of the plan ? DeLorm. I think it a good one, sir. Gen. Johnston. Now then, you send a courier with the utmost dispatch to Jackson, telling him to meet me to- morrow, at noon, at Winchester. In the meantime, I will communicate with Lee, who will send me a reinforce- ment of infantry, to meet my advance fifteen miles south of Martinsburg. See to it that these orders are promptly executed. {Exit 1st R. E.) DeLorm, I will do so. Thus far we have the best of these cursed Yankees. I wonder if Harry Wallingford is at the front. I hope so and that we shall meet. I should like to get him once in my power, I'd make him pay dear- ly for the insult which he gave me before his wife. Hullo, who have we here? Pete, as I live. (E'nie?" Pete, 1st L. E.) Hullo, Pete, is this you ? OF THE SHENANDOAH. 17 Pete. Yes, Massa DeLorm. Golly, I'se glad to see you. DeLorm. What are you doing down here ? Pete. You see, Massa, I's got tired of dem Yanks up dere, so I'se come down to the Souf again to find ole Massa. DeLorm. That's right. How are the Wallingfords ? Pete. Dey's hearty, Massa. DeLorm. Where is Harry ? in the Northern army, I suppose. Pete. Yes, Massa. He's gone and 'listed. DeLorm. What regiment is he in ? Pete. Don't know, Massa, but I guess it's the — th. DeLorm. Well, Pete, our camp is but a few miles from here. Come down some time and see us. {Exit IstR. E.) Pete. Yes, ober dis way. Golly, I liked to run into a hornet's nest, sure. I guess I must be on de wrong road. Don't believe I'll go this way any furder. Didn't I fool him dat time. Catch a possum asleep when you get de best of ole Pete, sure. I guess I'll get out ob dis. Dere may be some one here dat' 11 lay a claim on dis ole con- traband. {Exit 1st L. E. Scene X. Parlor Back. Ellsworth lying in state. Song, " Rest, Spirit, Rest." Near the end of song , lableau, "The Immortal Crown." Slow Drop. ACT III. Scene I. Landscape Back. Union Camp. Capt. Howard and soldiers asleep. Harry writing on drum. Harry. Poor fellows, how sound they sleep after their long, weary march. Many of them ere to-morrow, at this time, may sleep their last, long sleep. Many a mother 18 THE DRUMMER BOY will listen in vain for the footsteps of her boy. Who can tell, which of us now here full of life and hope, will, on the morrow, be stricken down by the cruel hand of death. But such is war. Poor Johnny too, he was nearly faint with hunger and fatigue when we arrived here to-night. Poor boy. I have often wished he had staid at home. He is too young for this rough life. I hope, for mother's sake, he will hold out and live to go home to her. In her last letter to me,she says, "Take good care of my baby boy, Harry. I expect he misses his mother's care." He does indeed mother, miss your care, for who can fill a mother's place in her care for her child. I will answer her letter now, for who can tell when another opportunity will be given me. Dear Mother, — It is night here, and my comrades are all asleep around me. We had a march of twenty- seven miles to-day, and it was a hard task for them. Johnny is well and in the best of spirits. • Poor boy, he was tired when we got here, but he is sleeping soundly now. Mother, I would not cause you any useless trouble on our account, but that you may be prepared for any thing that may happen to either Johnny or I, I must tell you that we shall fight a great battle to-morrow, unless Lee retreats. His army now lies in front, and within hailing distance of us, but if, after the battle is over, I am yet spared to you, I will immediately write you. There, I can write no more to-night, for I must sleep what little time I hate, so that I may be prepared for the morrow. Give our love to Father and May. I will write to her soon. Yours always, ' Harry. There, now I will join my comrades in the land of dreams, and may a merciful Providence ever watch over us and guide us aright, and whatever may be our fate on the morrow, teach us with all thankfulness of heart to OF THE SHENANDOAH. 19 say, " Thy will, not ours, be done." {Ooes to sleep on drum.) Song, " Dreaming of Home and Mother." At last chorus, Tableau, " Soldiers Dream of Home." Gun fired after Tableau. Enter Sergt. Hastings, r. Sergt. H. The pickets are driven in ; the enemy ate upon us. Long Roll. Battle. At the end of battle. Tableau, Victory. Closed in.with Front Wood. Scene H. Wood Front. Enter Pete, 1st l. e. Pete. I'se been looking all ober dis yer place for Massa Wallingford. Can't find him no vvhar. Golly, dat fellow is more trouble to me den as if he was my own brudder ; if I didn't take care of him I wonder who would. {Enter Ike, 1st R. E. with bag of forage, pig, chickens, &c.) Hullo, Ike, I tought you was in de fight and got killed. Ike. No, just my luck, I miss these fights every time. Just as soon as I go out to get something for the invalids of the army, they up and have a fight. I heard the guns firing and hurried with all my might, but the darned old mule I rode was slower than Uncle Doolittle's oxen. Did they fight much ? Was there anybody hurt ? Any of our folks, I mean. Fete. Hurt ? there was more than forty million killed. Dey's bringing 'em in by wagon loads every minute. Ike. Just my luck. I'll never go and look after any more chickens for invalids while I'm in the army. Pete. I must go up to the regiment and see if Massa Harry has come back yet. Come up, Ike, and see how many of the boys are left. {Exit 1st l. e.) Ike. Just my luck. {Brinks from bottle.) {Enter Vattib 1st R. e.) Pattie. Goodness, gracious ! Ike Plumley, is that you ? In the words of my favorite friend, Wm. Shakespeare, is that you I see before me ? 20 THE DRUMMER BOY Ike* Pattie, is that you? {They embrace.) Just my luck. Shade of my future destiny, is that you ? Where did you come from ? What are you doing here amidst the strife and carnage ? Pattie. I have come to soothe the wounded and the weary. I'm in a hospital. Oh! I've had such awful dreams about you, I couldn't rest until I come 'down. I thought sure you must be sick or killed. Ike. No, I'm not sick or killed. Just my luck. But I've had many a narrow escape from both. Pattie. Let's go up and see if we can find the Walling- fords, and see if the rest of the boys are safe. O dear, I'm all of a flutter. Ike. Just my luck. {Exit both, 1st L. E.) Scene III. Moon. Landscape Back. Sisters of Char- ity administering to the wounded on the battlefield. Slow Music. Scene IV. Wood Front. Union Council. Maj. Gen, and staff, and Capt. Howard Enter 1st R. e. Maj. Gen. Gen'l, by this map, the nearest route lies by the town of Martinsburg. We will have the third corps proceed by this road. The pickets tell me there are none of the enemy on this road. You may order the march immediately. {Exit Brig. Gen. 1st R. E.) Colonel let your cavalry reinforce Gen. Dahlgren. The General has orders to reconnoitre the enemy's right. {Exit Col., L. 1st E.) Major, see that the pickets are doubled on the pike south of Hagerstown, and if you see any signs of the enemy, report to me at once. {Exit Major 1st R. E.) Capt. Howard, I want a man of nerve and brain to enter the lines of the enemy and ascertain the number of their reinforcements, and all particulars that will be of any benefit to us. Capt. H. There is but one I can call to mind at this OF THE SHENANDOAH. 21 moment, to entrust on such a mission. He is a Serg't. in my company, by the name of Wallingford. He is brave and a man who would undertake such a duty with success, I should think. Maj. Gen. Send him to me. {Exit Capf. H. 1st l. e.) If I can get the right man to send on this mission, there is no doubt but the information he would bring back would, in a great measure, save the useless exposure of forty thousand men. {Enter Harry 1st l. e.) Harry. General, my Capt. informs me that you wished to speak with me. Maj. Gen. Your name, and to what regiment do you belong ? Harry. Harry Wallingford, Co.. — , — th Regt., — Vol- unteers. Maj. Gen. I have a dangerous mission that some one must go upon, that of a Spy. Your Capt. has recom- mended you'. Are you willing to undertake so hazardous a duty ? Harry. I am at thp disposal of my country. I shall do my duty in any position to which I am assigned. I will go and do my best. Maj. Gen. I know this mission to be fraught with much danger, but should you return, you shall have a commis- sion. These are your instructions ; you are to leave the lines to-night, and it must be given out to your regiment that you have deserted, in order to ensure the success of the project. The quartermaster will furnish you with any thing you may need. You are to enter the rebel lines, gain all the infoi'toation you think will be of any benefit to our movements. On your return, report to me at once. Harry. I have but one request to make. If anything should occur to prevent my return, will you tell my regi- 22 THE DRUMMER BOY ment the true history of this duty. I entered this service for my country's good, and have never disobeyed an or- der from any officer yet, and I would not have my name go down to posterity branded as a deserter. Maj. Gen. It shall, by special order, be read to the en- tire division to which your regiment belongs. • Harry. Enough, sir, I am satisfied. When shall I de- part ? Maj. Oen. As soon as night sets in. Here is the coun- tersign through the picket lines of our army. Harry. 1 will at once prepare. {Exit 1st L. e. Maj. Oen. exits 1st R. e.) Scene V. Street Front. Enter Teddy, 1st R. e. with two rebel prisoners. Teddy. Go long wid ye. What do you keep stopping for? Do you think to get away from me? Halt! Front ! Be gorra, I guess you don't know me, so just let me tell ye this much, if you try to get away any more, I'll punch you wid this darning needle of Uncle Sam's till daylight shines clean through you. Have you got a match ? give it to me. {Lights pipe.) I'll confiscate this as contraband goods. ' There now, I want to talk to you a little bit. Just you look right over there. Do you gee that pooty flag over there ? That's the nice piece of buntin you've been trying to disgrace, bad luck to ye ; but I've got you now, and I'll take you to camp and have you tried for spies ; then what'll your widders say ? Oh, if Biddy O'Rourke was to see you now, it would be worse luck for you. She'd mash your head wid a roling pin just as quick as she would a boiled potatoe. But I can't stand here any longer talking wid ye, so just turn your- selves round that way and start yourselves, and I'll fol- low you, and mind now, don't you try to run, if ye do, may the divil help you, I wont. {Exit 1st l. e.) OF THE SHENANDOAH. 23 Scene VI. Landscape Bach. Set Bocks, Set Bridge. Bebel Camp. DeLorm and soldiers discovered. Harry comes on rocks. DeLorm. I cannot write to-night for my heart is sad. I feel sometimes as if our cause was lost ; that all our fighting has been in vain. When I look around me and see our thinned ranks and know how many brave men have sacrificed their lives, and all for naught, it makes my very heart ache. Often do I sit in camp and think of my once bright southern home. There with my father, my mother, and brothers, it seemed almost a heaven. But the fate of war has ruined all. Only yesterday I heard of my mother's death. She died far away, in that once bright Southern home, with none of that happy family there to soothe her dying pillow. My father and two brothers have sacrificed their lives fighting for this noble cause, and should my country require my life, I will give it willingly, for what is life to me now ? All fame and power will soon be laid. Low in the cold and silent shade, But, where immortal spirits reign, Thei-e, you and I, mother, shall meet again. And then that they should call me a traitor to my coun- try. Alas, I may be a traitor to my country and I may be a traitor to my God, but to my mother in Heaven, Oh, how can I be a traitor to her ? for it was my dear mother that first taught my infant lips to say, The South is my home, and it was she that said, should you ever be called upon to defend her rights, defend them with your life, and Heaven will bless you ; and even now, I seem to see my mother in heaven, and hear her say, You are right, go forth, do your duty, and your reward shall be a crown of glory. {Enter Harry, r. 3d e. loith basket of Apples.) 24 THE DRUMMER BOY Sarry. Say, Capt. don't you want to buy some apples? only cent apiece. BeLorm. No, I think not. See here, do you live about here ? Harry. Yes, I live down here by the creek, and I thought I'd come up and see if I couldn't sell your boys some apples ; don't care, do you ? DeLorm. No, sell them all you can. But have you ' Been any Yanks in this vicinity lately ? Harry. Yes, Capt. I saw some here only two days ago. They were scouting around, trying to find out where our soldiers were. They tried to pump me. 'Twantno use ; that spring was dry. But I found out all about them. You see they've got forty thousand men, and they are on the way to one of the gaps to cross the mountains, and going to Fredericksburg. They don't know you are so near them, I reckon. DeLorm. Well, let them go ; we shant trouble them at present, if that is their route. We have one hundred thousand men, and we are going straight across Mary- land into Pennsylvania, thence across to Washington. That forty thousand of theirs will get taken care of as soon as they get to the gap, for Lee is there with three times their force, and Moseby is working so as to get in the rear of them ; so you see they are well provided for. Harry. I am glad of that, Capt., for you see I was afraid. But I guess I'll get back soon as I can, and do up my chores, for it's getting along towards night. Good day, Capt. DeLorm. Good day. Harry. Now then, to get this information to its proper destination. I do not want to go back yet myself, for there is more work for me here, but they must have warning, or they are lost ! and I know of no other way OF THE SHENANDOAH. 25 than to go myself. DeLorm little knows to whose keep- ing he has confided the secret of his movements. DeLorm. What are you muttering to yourself about ? Harry. I was just reckoning up how much I have made to-day, that's all. I've done a pretty good day's work. Good day. {Exit 2d R. E.) Sergt. Bray. Say, Colonel, that man is not what he pretends to be. He don't live around here and sell ap- ples for a living. Did you see those rings on his hands? and did you notice how he said he had done a good day's work ? DeLorm to Harry who is up on set rocks. See here, my man, come back a moment. {Enter Harry 2d r. e.) Harry. What is it now, Capt. ? do you want some apples ? DeLorm. It strikes me I have seen you before. {Pulls off Harry's wig. Papers fall out. DeLorm picks them up.) Harry Wallingford ! {Music, chord.) Well met, sir, this is a pretty guise to be in, that of a Spy. But I should expect no more from one that would so basely in- sult his friends. But it is my turn now. What have you to say for yourself? What were you doing here ? Harry. My duty. DeLorm. Yes, that of a spy. These documents are of much value to the northern army ; but I'll take good care that they never get there. They, sir, are your death- warrant. {Enter Pete, r. u. e. Goes up to Harry.) Harry. Do not recognize me for your life. DeLorm. Here, Sergt., take these papers to head- quarters, and report the capture of the prisoner. {Exit Sergt. 2d R. e ) Harry. Pete, follow that man, and get those papers, if you have to kill him, and take them to our headquarters 26 THE DRUMMER BOY immediately. The lives of forty thousand men will be sacrificed if you do not succeed. {Exit Pete, 2d R. E.) DeLorm. Ha, ha, my gay Harry Wallingford. I think now that your proud wife that spurned me from her house would kneel at my feet, and beg for the life of her hus- band. You will be tried by a drum-head court martial, and be shot at daylight to-morrow. I shall send the news to your home, telling them that your life was in my keep- ing, that I could have saved you, but duty compelled me to the sacrifice. Then I'll picture to them how like a coward you died, begging for your life with a pale cheek and trembling limbs. l)o you know that I have looked forward to this hour, prayed for it, when I should meet you face to face, as we meet now. I would give one-half the life yet in store for me for this single hour of revenge. Harry. James DeLorm, when I placed my name on the sacred roll, and swore to protect the flag you would tram- ple beneath your feet, I gave my life to the disposal of my country, and placed my trust in God. Standing here as I do, with the sentence on your lips that shall decide my fate, I do not tremble at your threats. I do not ask, with faltering lips, for you to spare my life. My country required my services here, and I came willingly, well knowing the danger of my mission. Should your sen- tence be executed, I shall die with the consciousness of having done my duty. I do not fear you, but despise and pity you. Do your worst. Shoot me, hang me, torture me in any way your fiendish nature can devise, and when the time comes, you shall see how a loyal soldier can die, fighting for a cause that is sacred to him. DeLorm. Take him to the guard-house. I shall hold you responsible for his safety. {Exit Harry with guard 1st L. E. Cix>ss bridge from l. to R. Guard remaitis on bridge.) OF THE SHENANDOAH. 27 Scene VII. Wood Front. Enter Pete, 1st R. e. run- ning. Fete. Golly, I'se got deni precious documents. If dat fellow's head aint harder than a niggers, I hurt it some. I'm afraid poor Massa Harry's gone dis time, sure. He's been once too much. He's been in de secesh camp now over six months, spying for our side. He nearly got cotched three times afore, but got away some how, but now dey's got him sure. If I could only go back and find out where he is, and get some ob de odder nigs to help me. No, dat wont do. I must carry dese papers to de headquarters. No, dat wont do, for den it will be too late to help Massa Harry. I'll never go and leave him to die, without trying to save him. {Noise outside, L.) Oh, Lord, wat's dat ? Who comes dere ? {Enter Ike, 1st l. e.) Ike. Just my luck. Why, Pete, I'm glad to see you. I've kinder got oflf my reckoning. Where are we ? Fete. In de secesh lines, Massa Plum, sure. Ike. What ! you don't say so. Just my luck. Fete. Do you know dat de rebs have got Massa Harl'y, and going to shoot him for a Spy ? Jke. No. Just his luck. What did he want to desert for then ? Fete. He didn't desert. Dat was only bosh, for you see here, he had dese plans and papers on him when dey took him. Ike. By jingo, if them aint ])lans of the reb's forts and armies. Did they find these on him ? Pete. Yes, dey did, Massa Plum. . Ike. Then his cake is dough, sure. Just his luck. Didn't I tell 'em up to camp that Harry hadn't deserted ? I have known him too long to believe a word of it. Fete. I'm going to try and get him out, if I have to kill three or four seceshers to do it. 28 THE DRUMMER BOY Ike. Do you know this country about here ? Pete. Yes, Massa Plum, every inch of it. Now let's go up on de hill dere, and dere is an ole nig libs dere all by hisself. We can stay dere till night, den go down Cross the bridge, where I spects dey got Massa Harry in de guard house. Dere wont be more den one sentinel dere, I don't think, and we can throw him overboard, and let Harry out. What do you say ? Ike. We mustn't let Harry die without an effort to save him, and if we stay here, we shall get gobbled up. Just my luck. But I say, Pete, suppose we get a bullet in our hides ? Pete. Never mind, Massa Plum, 'twont hurt only a minute. Ike. Say, Pete, do you know where any turkeys roost round here ? Pete. No, the Reb's are too thick here to have turkeys plenty. Come. Ike. Just my luck. {Both exit 1st l. e.) Scene VIH. Landscape Back. Set Bocks. Set Bridge. Enter Pete and Ike from l. on bridge. Cross to R. and let Harry out of guard house. Pete. Massa Harry, come quick, and we'll get away from dis. Harry. Steady, Pete, the sentinel is on the watch on the other side of the guard house. {Sentinel enters^ aims at Harnj.) Back, if you value your Hfe, back. I stand here now, free, with arras about me, and I shall fight my way clear or die. The first one that comes shall be the first to fall. (Harry and sentinel both fire. Harry is wounded, sentinel killed. Picture. Slow Drop. OP THE SHENANDOAH. ACT IV. Scene I. Stockade. Landscape Back. Prisoners stand- ing and lying about stage. James Martin, Hakry and Johnny on. Johnny. Harry, have you any bread ? I'm so hungry. Harry. No, Johnny, I have none. I gave you the last I had this morning. James Martin. Harry, I am dying, starving. I have tried to hold out, hoping they would exchange us. I am faint and weary. Harry, if you should live to reach home, give this to Nellie, and tell her we shall meet, there. Tell my mother not to mourn for me, for I died in a noble cause ; died for our glorious old flag. I wish I could see it once more, before, before I go, but it cannot be. It is too late, now. When you see the regiment, bid the boys good bye for me. Good bye, Harry, — God — bless — you, Harry. My country, upon thine altar, I lay another of- fering for liberty. Oh ! why do they let us stay here and starve ? why do they do not exchange us'and place us in the field again, with a good sword in our grasp, and let us die there, fighting like men. Not one of us here in this foul prison but what would die willingly on the field, but to be penned up here and starved, well knowing our country needs us, it is indeed hard. Our hope of rescue is all that holds us from joining our dead comrade here, where the strife of war never comes. Poor fellow, you are sleeping your last sleep, you have fought your last battle. His poor old mother's heart will break when she knows that he is dead. Behel Sentinel. There is another dead Yank inside. {Enter two rebels, 2d R. e. with stretcher. Carry Jas. Martin o^2dR. e.) Harry. Comrades, I can hold out but little longer, if scenes like these are repeated. It makes my blood boil 80 THE DRUMMER BOY to see -with what fiendish cruelty our lost ones are cared for. My brain is nearly crazed from the many scenes like this, we have witnessed here. Johiny. Harry, I am nearly choked for the want of Bome water. I have a great mind to go over the dead line and get some. Harry. No, no, Johnny, not for the world. You know it was only yesterday they shot poor Jim for doing so. Johnny. Well, we may as well get shot and end it, as stay here and starve. Harry. Keep up good courage. It is most time for our rations. True, 'tis little they give us, and poor at that, but if we can keep life in us for a short time, we shall get exchanged, I know we shall. Johnny. We have small hope and little faith. Harry. Let us hope still and have faith in Him. {Enter DeLorm 2d R. E, tvith basket of brown bread.) DeLorm. Here you rag muffins j how do you like the looks of that ? Nice corn meal and water ; that's what keeps you all so fat. {All beg for bread.) Back ! wait till I get ready to give it to you. Harry. Shame upon you to taunt these poor, hungry men so; it shows you have the nature of a fiend. Is there not one spark of pity left in your soul ? DeLorm. Pity ! no, not for you nor this Yankee trash you've got with you. Do you think I would have given up my commission in the field, and come here to this prison, if I had* not read your name in the official list? No. You escaped me once, but you cannot now. Inch by inch, I'll have your life and that brat you've got with you. I'll starve you until your bones protrude through your flesh, and then I'll torture you with the rack, until nature exhausts herself and you die ; then I'll leave you for the buzzards to fight over. You do not look much now like the gay Harry Wallingford you used to be. The OF THE SHENANDOAH. 31 fair maidens in Pleasantville would hardly know you now. Harry. Your taunting words and cruel threats fall up- on my ear without effect. I forgive you and hope heaven may. {All clamour for bread. Johnny goes to basket and steals bread, and runs back. DeLorm shoots him. He falls in Harry's arms.) DeLorm. Take. that, you Yankee brat. I'll learn you to disobey the rules of the prison. Some of the rest of you will get served the same way by-and-by. Harry. Johnny, speak to me, one word. Have you no word to send to mother? Speak, ere it is too late. Oh, how cold these little hands are growing that so oft have nestled in my own. DeLorm. Let the rest of you take warning from him. I'll serve you all the same before I'm done with you. And as for you, did I not enjoy your torture more than I should your death, I'd send you after him now. Harry. You are a brave man to talk thus to men help- less as you know us to be. If you have any of the cour- age you boast of so much, show it ; there's my heart; fire if you dare. You have not the nerve to do it. You can kill boys, unarmed, but now, as I have before done, I de- fy you. You dare not fire. DeLorm. Oh, ho, I've got something better in store for you, yet. I'm not done with you. I don't want you to die till I've put you to the torture. I meant to keep you here some time before that, but as you defy me, J'll go and pre- pare it for you now, and we'll see if a loyal soldier will not flinch from death. {Exit 2d R. E.) Harry. Comrades, hear me. A few moments ago, I forgave that man his jeerifig taunts, and in my inmost soul prayed heaven would forgive him, too ; but here, by the side of my dead brother, with my dead and dying com- rades around me, I swear never to know the balmy power 32 THE DRUMMER BOY of sleep, never to assuage the pangs of hunger, never to have but one thought, or wish, and that shall be for ven - geance on the assassin of my brother. Poor boy, can I not warm him back to life again? Oh, it was cruel to kill you thus when your troubles were almost over, but we'll join you soon. {Newspaper thrown on.) We shall meet in tliat land, w^here spring is eternal, Where sorrow ne'er cometh, no parting or pain. Where the flowers ne'er fade, in that clime always vernal. We shall meet, and our parting be never again. Sergt. Hastings. Harry, come and see the paper the boys have got. They've just had one thrown in. Harry. Save some of your bread for Johnny. He's tired out, poor boy, with his long marches, and is sleep- ing now. He'll wake soon, and then he'll be so hungry. Sergt. Hastings. Poor fellow, he's gone crazy. Harry. Hush ! do not make so much noise, or you'll disturb him. He sleeps soundly now, and when he wakes, we are going home from this terrible place. I dreamed so last night, and when Johnny wakes, Pll tell him of the dream. I'll tell you, comrades, now. I thought I heard the mowers song in the fields and saw the happy children playing beneath the tall, shady trees in old New England, and I heard the church bells ring as they used to in the good old time when we all there, and I saw my dear moth- er there, standing in the doorway, waiting for Johnny and I. I thought every one was joyful, for the war was over, and they were waiting to receive us. Dear mother, we'll meet you soon, we'll meet you soon. Hark ! they are coming now, I can hear them in the distance. Do you not hear them ? And see, there they are, see, 'tis our Old Flag coming again. I told you it would come. I knew it would. See, the enemy oppose them. {Guns Jived R.) Look, they are scattered, the day is ours. Hear OF THE SHENANDOAH. 33 the Steady tramp, tramp, tramp, (Music) of the Northern army. Comrades, our prayers are answered. (Enter Capt. H. and soldiers on parapet.) We are saved, we are saved. (Capt. H. comes down Ladder. Enter DeLorm, r.) DeLorm. Fate is against us, but your time has come. (DeLorm runs at Harry. Capt. H. gets between them. DeLorm. nms him through and goes a^ Harry, who checks him with pistol taken from Capt. Ws belt. Soldiers all aim at DeLorm.) Barry. Hold men, do not fire. He is mine. James DeLorm, you have murdered my brother, and here our brave Capt. lies, fallen by your hand. I have sworn to avenge them. Your time has come. (Shoots DeLorm.) See, comrades, my oath of vengeance has been fulfilled. Behold the Rebel's Doom ! Picture. Slow Drop. ACT V. Scene I. Landscape Back. Enter Capt. Harb-yWai.- LINGFORD with soldiers l. u. e. Form dress parade. Villagers discovered. Judge W. Veterans, it is both a pleasant and a painful duty to greet ym on your return from the scenes of bat- tle, to the quiet and peaceful avocations of a citizen's life. In.behalf of the Republic, at whose call you went forth, whose government you have maintained, and whose very existence you have preserved, I bid you welcome ; for your friends and your families, in whose behalf you have fought, that you might continue to them, and transmit to your posterity, the blessings of a free Republic, Welcome, thrice welcome to your homes. But many who witness, your return, bear aching hearts ; they see your ranks 34 THE DRUMMER BOY thinned by the casualties of war. They look In vain for the manly forms who went forth with you, but will never more return to them. In this hour of joy and welcome, let us cherish the memory of the fallen, and sympathise with those who mourn. You have deserved well of your country. You have preserved it from the mad ambition of traitors, and long may you live to enjoy its prosperity, and longer still than that '* Let us have peace." {Tableau, Peace.) Harry. In behalf of the brave men under my command, who have, by a merciful Providence, been spared to re- turn to you, I thank you for this, your kind reception of us. When we departed from here a little over four year's ago, you presented us with that flag, asking us to defend it with our lives. We promised to do so. Wherever it has been since that day, it has been our proudest duty to follow it, and no traitor's hand has ever polluted it by its touch. We bear it back to you faded and torn, but you, that have followed our fortunes, know, that whatever du- ty was given to the — th regiment, — Volunteers, was faithfully performed. Permit me again to thank you for your kind reception, and we sincerely hope that we shall never more be called upon to defend our country from traitorous hands, but that a lasting peace will ever more be ours. (Harry marches soldiers off l u. e. Villa" gers closed in.) ScEJfE II. Kitchen in 3. Enter Pattie, Ike, Teddy, and Pete, Ist r. e. Pattie. I never saw such goings on in all my life. There's old Mr. Holcomb has gone into fits almost, be- cause his boy has come home, and he's gone and killed his old cow. He calls it his fatted calf, but it's the oldest calf I ever saw. Now why can't folks be sensible, like you and I, Ike. Now I just as soon have this gingerbread as all the cows they've got, hadn't you ? OF THE SHENANDOAH. 35 Ike. Well, I don't know but what I had. But come, don't let us be piggish about this, because it's a small sheet. Teddy and Pete want some, too. Patiie. Of course they do. We'll divide with them, of course. {Divides cake.) Teddy. Tliank you, marm. Be gorra, it's a gentleman you are, sure, and may you be happy all the rest of your life. And Ike, may you live long to enjoy that same blessing with her. But I must leave you now, for Biddy is waiting for me. Good bye to ye all. {Exit 2d R. E.) Paftie, Ike, and Pete, together. Good bye, Teddy. Pete. Say, Massa Plum, do you know where any tiir* keys roost round here ? 1 feel as if I'd like to clutch one just for old times' sake. Ike. No, Pete, that won't do, now we are at home here. But if you will come here to dinner to-morrow, you shall have a good one, well cooked, for Pattie knows how to cook 'em. Pete. All right, by golly, I'll come. Pattie. That's right ; and now, Ike, our folks are out on the common, having a jubilee. Let's go out and join them, and tell them that Ike Plumley and Pattie Peaslee that was, have been joined in matrimony. Ike. Just my luck. Well, come along. Come, Pete, come with us. Pete. All right, Massa Plum. I come right along wid your {All exit 2d L. E.).;\ Scene III. Parlor Back. Judge W. and Mrs. W. dis- covered. Enter Harry 2d r. e. Jicdge W. Welcome home, my son. You have served your'country well and faithfully. Harry. I have done my duty and ^am satisfied. Mrs. Judge W. Harry, I give you a mother's welcome. Painful as our separation has been, I am more than rec- ompensed by your safe return. 36 THE DRUMMER BOY Ilarry. Mother, amid the many scenes through which I have passed, your image has been constantly before me. And now, on my return, it is indeed a great joy to find you so well. {Enter May l. 2d e.) May. My dear husband, I am prouder of you to-day than ever. O, how I have prayed for this happy hour. These long years have been dark and dreary, but the cloud has gone, and as you said at parting, The bright sunshine has come again. Harry. To us it is a happy hour, but when our thinned ranks came marching home, many a poor mother looked in vain for her darling boy. She was told that he sleeps in an unknown grave, where the Southern flowers bloom bright to-day. This is a sad hour to them. But they must look for consolation there, where our fallen com- rades have already received their laurel crown. Mother, our circle is broken. Poor Johnny has gone on before. This drum brings his memory fresh before us. . Mrs. Judge W. Yes, and my heart is full to overflow- ing. I was thinking how he laid his little head upon my lap, and I cut from his white brow a silken curl. I re- member well how eager he was to go, and how proud he was of his drum. O, I shall always think of that day when I see his drum and vacant chair. {May sings "Vacant Chair") Harry. Yes, mother, we shall all miss him. And all over our land, mothers will miss their sons, children will miss their fathers, and wives their husbands ; but may we all so live, that we shall meet them there. {Tableau, Johnny in Heaven.) Harry. ^ .. YfeWe fought our battles o'er again, and yet no blood's been shed ; It may-be won the smiles trom some, from others tears, in- stead. OF THE SHENANDOAH. Our object and our aim to please, If Ave have tailed in tliis. Our Drummer Boy has proved to he a inost decided miss. But by your smiles and by your cheers, we know not all in vain Has been our task; some other night youll wish to come again. And bring tli^ past up in review; the times wlien souls were tried. When for the Union blood was shed, and heroes fought and died. And thus shall freedom's altars burn with an undying fire. And in our hearts each sleeping bi"ave shall have a glorious pyre." Drop Curtain. ACT VI. Landscape Back. Grand Army of the Republic dec- orating Soldiers' Graves. {Music, dirge through the act.) Please liandle tins hook carefully, and return to niauagor. I LBAgOS fK? ^A -U LIBRARY OF CONGRESS