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PHASES OF THE CIVIL WAR Chapter 5
That first Fair day in 1861 was a most beautiful day and exceedingly pleasant weather. But for that matter it was always lovely weather at Jamestown Fair time. It became proverbial for its certainty. The week before, or the week after, or both, were sure to be one of downpours from beginning to end. This was disastrous to the County fair, and what with so many prominent farmers and stockmen all over the county attached to the new Jamestown enterprise, outspoken in their favoritism, freely according their influence, and unsparing in purpose and energy to achieve its success, there could be no other result than to put the county establishment out of commission. Today Captain Ballard's company is on public exhibition, as we may say, and will go though the evolutions in drill with which its members have become quite familiar during the past summer. They are surely a lot of fine looking young men; too fine to become victims of future slaughter. But apart from associating the company with tragic events ahead, the sight was new to many, and presented a pleasing and animated scene. There is a fascination about the roll and ruff, the flam and tap of the drum; of orders given in short, sharp command; of marching, uniformed men, planting their feet firmly in quick, steady, cadenced step; of their filing, facing, wheeling movements, with due precision and in measured tread. It all arouses, awakens, and appeals to a subtle inner something-mayhap our dormant savagery-that goes untouched by the pulseless incidents of humdrum life. The occasion was a gala one. The boys would soon be off for the war, and their maneuvers attracted the rapt attention of all. Then suddenly the humming monotony of fair-day noises was pierced by the strident shriek of a woman's voice! Then another-and another-and still another!- with the seeming addendum of the "gift of continuance." And in the intervals of out cry could be heard the low sullen murmur and gritting of anger under pressure. In an instant the fixed gaze of the great crowd was withdrawn from the martial pageant before it, and directed toward the points whence came the distressing feminine sounds. The same voices of subdued anger and vengeance and pent-up wrath escaping was audible on all sides in the amphitheater, at its ends, behind it, and in other parts of the grounds. There was certainly something doing of an offensive and defensive character, a "drive" we might call it in modern military parlance. And the men in the crowd, although they piled the bystanders with questions, showed no disposition to interpose. Might not the voluntary stupor of inaction on their part have indicated a high degree of patriotic and quiescent discretion in an exciting crisis? But then it was a woman's affair, and why risk the danger of meddling? To the patient and not too rashly curious, much could be learned by the use of open ears, in the way of floating advice, suggestion, counsel, reproof, etc., as were revealed during the beiligerencies of the day. For instance: "Hand me that butternut, or I'll take it;" "Can't you say; I'll show you." "Better take your butternuts down South;" you might sell'em there: only get hard knocks for 'em up here." "You can fix up your hair again when you get home. But it looks awful butternuttish just now." "What are you going to do with your part of the country after the Union Boys save it for you?" "See those boys out in the ring with Captain Ballard? How many of them do you expect to kill off with your butternut display and Southern sympathy?" "You need more practice in loving your country, and less in sending it to the dogs for Party's sake." "In time to come do you think your children will pop up and call you blessed for making faces at your country when it was in sore distress?" "Captain Ballard's boys will meet the Johnnies face to face and both will shoot to kill; and it is left for us women for the present to scout in the rear and nip this butternut foolery in the bud." "Ethan Allen went at Ft. Ticonderoga to take it, and when he got his hands on it, he held it. We follow his tactics not those of the blunderers at Bull Run." These are only specimens of words that have filtered down through the meshes of memory from the long ago. There were many more of them, but these will suffice to show the spirit and sentiment of the times, particularly in connection with the Jamestown Fair. When the crowd had satiated their curiosity touching the nature of the commotion, the most of them resumed their seats to watch the maneuvers. And in a little while thereafter occurred the funniest incident of the day. Captain Ballard had his company in single rank faced to the front, advancing, company front, from the far side of the enclosure toward the rows of seats occupied by the populace. The command was "Forward! Quick Time! March!" A moment later the command to "double quick" was given, followed by a scatterment from the seats of some women and the rapid movement of others about the grounds. It was a false alarm self started, and favored by a coincidence. In view of what had occurred on the grounds among the women, and as Captain Ballard with his company was apparently charging to the scene of disturbance, it was noised about that he was coming with his force to finish the job. But this was a mistake, merely a coincidence. Yet the butternut crowd took fright and their pins were dropped about in numerous places on the grounds, and were not conspicuous as an insignia during the rest of the Fair. "I told you yesterday that I thought no one would wear them for long. I had none to throw away or to be snatched. I preferred to be a snatcher." It was the voice of Prettyface, who could not resist the impulse to remind the late leading lady, who came puffing up much excited, that she had ignored the hint given her. "But how did you know?" inquired the late leading lady. "Well, you know these are war times. It is necessary to use eyes and ears on all occasions, but only sometimes the tongue," replied Prettyface with a quizzical smile. "Yet that does not answer my question," retorted the late leading lady, petulantly; "I asked how you knew?" "But the engagement today was more decisive than the Bull Run fight of several weeks ago, which delighted you so," parried Prettyface; "yes, much more decisive." "What do I care for that? If you won't tell, you don't have to," said the late leader, sulkily. "O, I'll ease curiosity, if that will afford you any comfort, and will be done briefly. It is very simple indeed, and was about this way: I happened to know that Miss Allen would be at the Jamestown Fair today for a purpose, do you understand, for a purpose! And wasn't she here?" And Prettyface smiled again as she stooped and picked up a butternut from among the scattered spoils.
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