Page updated 08/12/2004.
.The following dialogue took place between Lieutenant A. C. C——d, late of the United States Texan army, and Pat Fletcher, one of the privates of the Second Cavalry, at Carlisle, then near Fort Bliss; —
Officer.—Well, Pat, ain't you going to follow the General (Twiggs)?
Pat.—If Gineral Scott ordhers us to folly him, sir, begor, Toby (Pat's horse) can gallop as well as the best of 'em.
Officer.—I mean, won't you leave the abolition army, and join the free South?
Pat. — Begor, I never enlisted in th' abolition army, and never will. I agreed to sarve Uncle Sam for five year, and the divil a pin mark was made in the contract, with my consint, ever since. When my time is up, if the army isn't the same as it is now, I won't join it agin.
Officer.—Pat, the "Second" (Cavalry) was eighteen months old when you and I joined. The man who raised our gallant regiment is now the Southern President, the man who so lately commanded it, is now a Southern General. Can you remain in it, when they are gone?
Pat.—Well, you see, the fact of the matther is, Lieut. C., I ain't much of a scholar; I can't argue the question with you; but what would my mother say, if I desarted my colors? Oh, the divil a give-in I’ll ever give in, now, and that's the ind of it, I tried to run away once, a few weeks after enlistin', but a man wouldn't be missed thin. It's quite different now, Lieutenant, and I'm going not to disgrace naither iv my countries.
Officer.—Do you know that you will have to fire on green Irish colors, in the Southern ranks?
Pat.—And won't you have to fire on them colors, (pointing to the flag at Fort Bliss,) that yerself and five of us licked nineteen rangers under? Sure, it isn't a greater shame for an Irish-man to fire on Irish colors, than for an American to fire on American colors. An' th' oath 'll be on my side, you know, Lieutenant.
Officer.—Confound the man that relies on Paddies, I say.
Pat,—The same compliments to desarters, your honor.
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Page updated 08/12/2004.