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Martial Music, War of the Rebellion: The Invalid C LbNA #43523

Owner:Connfederate
Plant date:Sep 21, 2008
Location:
City:Columbia
County:Tolland
State:Connecticut
Boxes:1
Found by: Nairon
Last found:Aug 20, 2022
Status:FFFFFFFFFFFOFF
Last edited:Oct 16, 2015
Martial Music, The War of the Rebellion:
The Invalid Corps

(One in an occasionally expanding series…)


Humor In Uniform
(or, of Stragglers and Shirkers)

“The Invalid Corps”
Words and Music by: Frank Wilder, 1863

I wanted much to go to war,
And went to be examined;
The surgeon looked me o'er and o'er,
My back and chest he hammered.
Said he, You're not the man for me,
Your lungs are much affected,
And likewise both your eyes are cock'd,
And otherwise defected.


Chorus:
So, now I'm with the invalids,
And cannot go and fight, sir!
The doctor told me so, you know,
Of course it must be right, sir!

While I was there a host of chaps
For reasons were exempted,
Old "pursy", he was laid aside,
To pass he had attempted.
The doctor said, I do not like
Your corporosity, sir!
You'll "breed a famine" in the camp
Wherever you might be, sir!
Chorus

There came a fellow, mighty tall,
A "knock-kneed overgrowner",
The Doctor said, I ain't got time
To take and look you over.
Next came along a little chap,
Who was 'bout two foot nothing,
The Doctor said, You'd better go
And tell your marm you're coming!
Chorus

Some had the ticerdolerreou,
Some what they call "brown critters",
And some were "lank and lazy" too,
Some were too "fond of bitters".
Some had "cork legs" and some "one eye",
With backs deformed and crooked,
I'll bet you'd laugh'd til you had cried,
To see how "cute" they looked.
Chorus
From Musica International: http://www.musicanet.org/robokopp/usa/invalid.htm
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“After a string of Federal battle defeats, in 1863 the Union Army had a large number of men suffering from injuries caused by battle wounds or illnesses. Instead of simply discharging these men and drafting replacements, it was decided to create the Invalid Corps to use them in limited duty assignments. They were assigned as prison guards, garrison troops, guards for prisoners coming back from the front, escorts for draftees going up to their units, hospital attendants and guards, cooks, clerks and many other non-battle, non-combatant duties. These assignments relieved other fully capable men for front-line duty. Later re-named the Veterans Reserve Corps, over 60,000 men saw honorable service while finishing out their tour of enlistment in the Union Army.”
From: The Reenactors of The American Civil War, Ninth Regiment Invalid Corps: http://www.racw.org/Union/9thInvalid.htm

“If you couldn’t get a substitute or pay the fee, your only chance of staying out of the army was to fail the medical. This humorous song is about a conscript who hopes to be rejected. He is examined by the medical officer, gets his “4F” and sings about his experience.”
From: “A History of the Civil War in Song, Singing Soldiers” by Paul Glass, Grosset & Dunlap 1964; p. 142.
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Follow the link (cut and paste) to listen to “The Invalid Corps” as performed by the 97th Regimental String Band:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQgoQRmnd7o
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BYOInk: there is no stamp pad, bring black ink.

Letterbox Difficulty Rating: 2.5
Difficulty Rating = 2.0
Terrain Rating = 3.0
Thanx to Silent Doug; see: www.letterboxing.info/rating/

All directions are magnetic and a pace equals two (2) steps.
____________________________________________________________

From US Rte. 6 in Andover, find Lake Rd. Park along Lake Rd. near the yellow posts guarding the entrance to the Hop River Rail Trail. Head East and soon you will pass through a lighted tunnel by which Rte. 6 passes overhead.

After emerging from the tunnel, continue East on the rail trail. If you have not found "Martial Music, War for Southern Independence: All Quiet Along the Potomac Tonight" (20.May 2015: the picket has gone AWOL), and “Martial Music, War of the Rebellion: Marching Through Georgia” you will want to bring the clues for these 'boxes, too.

After finding The Picket Guard (Missing: 20.May 2015), and Marching Through Georgia, continue East on the rail trail, crossing over Parker Bridge Rd, passing a 15 mile post on the left. As you pass over a seasonal brook that passes under the trail (it was dry on the day the ‘box was planted), look ahead. You will see the road passes across a viaduct. When you come to the raised road where the trail passes over a low area, stop.
From the boulder on the right side of the road, just before the sides of the trail fall away on both sides, look back over your right shoulder, and go to the nearest old fence post. Note: there is some remnants of the wire fence line in the area, watch your steps! From the fence post find the nearest stump, you will find "Old Pursey" reclining between the stump, and under the root of the twin hemlock and an old scrap of railroad tie.

Please stamp in away from the hiding place, and carefully avoid making or at least try to conceal social trails to the letterbox--especially in mud or snow! Kindly reseal the Lock-n-Lock type box, and re-hide the letterbox exactly where it was placed, covering it well and contact the placer if you find any problems.
Thank you, Connfederate