SCENE II--The War

Several boys with drums march in front of tents, which have been arranged on the stage. They sing, beating drums softly during chorus, and march around the tents.

_Tune_: MARCHING THROUGH GEORGIA

toward the battlefield, O, see the army come. Rat-a-tat, a-rat-a-tat, So loudly beats the drum, While we are singing of Lincoln.

_Chorus_: Hurrah! hurrah! who'll be a Volunteer? Hurrah! hurrah! O what have we to fear? Join the chorus every one, the army marches on, While we are singing of Lincoln.

Marching on to victory, O, hear the drums beat low, Marching on to victory, Now see the army go. Wave the bonnie stars and stripes, Up high where all may see, While we are singing of Lincoln.

_Chorus_: Hurrah! hurrah! etc.

(Drummer Boys _retire to tents. Enter_ Soldier Boys, _carrying guns. They are led by a_ Captain, _who gives the commands in the following drill_:)

Boys march by 2's, 4's or 6's and line up for drill.

Drill

Salute! Gun held in right hand, top resting on shoulder, raise left hand to forehead.

Present, arms! Hold gun in front with right hand, grasp with left hand.

Order, arms! Large end of gun on floor, gun held by right hand, left hand at side.

Shoulder, arms! Guns on right shoulder.

Port, arms! Grasp gun in center, with right hand, hold diagonally across chest.

Extend, arms right! Hold with both hands, right arm extended, left hand resting on chest.

Extend, arms left! Same with left arm extended, etc.

Aim! Rest gun on shoulder, raised with both hands.

About, face! Face around.

Forward, march! March about tents, while tune of TRAMP, TRAMP, TRAMP, THE BOYS ARE MARCHING, is softly played. Retire in or back of tents.

(_A sentinel_, Scott, _comes out to keep guard, walks up and down many times, and finally leans up against one of the tents and falls asleep. He is discovered by the_ Captain, _who comes on stage_.)

Captain (_comes forward_):

What ho! the guard is asleep! What, then, if the enemy come, Creeping stealthily over the hill With never the sound of drum? By surprise our camp they'd take. Sleeping guard, awake! awake!

(Scott _awakes and salutes_ Captain.)

Captain:

For this offense you shall be tried, 'Twas indeed a sad mistake. Who shall guard the camp tonight, If no guard here is awake?

Soldiers (_come forward_):

'Tis wearisome the watch to keep, Alas! alas! he fell asleep!

(Scott _is led off by_ Soldiers _to be tried by court-martial_.)

Old Soldier (_enters_):

Scott is a bonnie soldier boy: He's honest, brave and true; He is worthy still to bear The Red and White and Blue. Alas! alas! he will come home, Sentenced soon to die, Beloved by all his comrades, now With bowed heads they march by.

(_Re-enter_ All, _singing one verse of_ JUST BEFORE THE BATTLE, MOTHER.)

Captain (_to_ Scott):

There is but one who can save you now; From a cabin home he came, He is our honored President, And Lincoln is his name! Then to our honored President, For pardon we will go, We will march if there be hope No more with heads bowed low.

(_Exit_ All.)

(Boys, _in make-up of negroes enter. They sing the following song, and imitate banjo playing while singing the chorus._)

THE SUNNY SOUTHLAND[G]

'Way down in the sunny Southland, Lives the little black boy, you know, His mother sings a lullaby, To the tune of the old banjo.

_Chorus_: Plunkety-plunk, plunkety-plunk, Down in the cotton-field we go. Plunkety-plunk, plunkety-plunk, Plunkety-plunk, plunk-plunk, banjo.

'Way down in the sunny Southland, Where the sky is so bright and blue, The black boy on the banjo strings Likes to play the same tune to you.

_Chorus_: Plunkety-plunk, etc.

'Way down in the sunny Southland You will hear this sweet lullaby, The wee black boy must go to sleep, For the Sandman is passing by.

_Chorus_: Plunkety-plunk, etc.

Soldiers (_return, shouting_):

Hurrah! Scott is pardoned.

(_They repeat the last four lines of their first song and march off._)

[G] Music for this will be found under Songs in another part of this book.