224
Old Johnston Thought It Rather Hard
The first stanza seems to be an allusive account of the Battle ol
Shiloh, in April 1862. On the eve of the battle there was public
demand that Albert Sidney Johnston be removed from command of
the Confederate army opposing General Grant. President Davis
stood by him, however, and Johnston then planned to join his corps
to Beauregard's (cf. "ride over Beauregard," in the song) and
attack Grant before Generals Buell and Mitchel could join him.
At the end of the first day of battle, ApMl 6, when victory seemed
certain for the Confederates, Johnston was killed. The arrival of
Buell and Mitchel that night compelled the Confederates to retreat.
The second stanza may, more doubtfully, be related to events in
Virginia during the spring of the same year, when an ironclad
named the Galena took part in operations up the James River
against Richmond, and the Monitor and the Virginia (Merrimac),
both "monsters" and "Naval Wonders," fought their duel in Hamp-
ton Roads. (See W. Tindall, p. 135, cited in headnote to 'The
Cumberland,')
No title. From Julian P. Boyd, then of Alliance, Pamlico county, from
James Tingle, a pupil ; undated, but c. 1927-28.
1 Old Johnston thought it rather hard
To ride over Beauregard ;
Old Johnston proved the deuce of a battle,
And it's clear beyond the doubt
That he didn't like the rout,
And the second time he thought he'd try another.
2 Oh, the Great Galena came.
With his portals all aflame,
And the monster, the famous Naval Wonder,
And the guns they drew his blulT,
And gave him speedily enough
Of the very loudest sort of Rebel Thunder.