A New Source of Niter.
The following is an extract from the Selma (Alabama) Sentinel, October 1st, 1863:
“The Ladies of Selma are respectfully requested to preserve their chamber-lye collected about their premises for the purpose of making niter. Wagons, with barrels will sent around for it by the subscriber.
Agent Niter and Mining Bureau, C. S. A.”
Whereupon the following impromptu was shortly afterwards circulated:
John Harrolson! John Harrolson!
You are a funny creature—
You’ve given to this cruel war
A new and curious feature.
You’d have us think while every man
Is bound to be a fighter,
The women (bless the pretty dears!)
Should be put to making niter!
John Harrolson! John Harrolson!
Where did you get the notion
To send your barrels round the town
To gather up the lotion?
We thought the girls had work enough
In making shirts and kissing,
But now you’d put the pretty dears
To patriotic pissing!
John Harrolson! John Harrolson!
Could you not invent a neater
And somewhat less immodest mode
Of making your salpeter?
The thing’s so very queer, you know,
Gunpowder-like and cranky—
That when a lady lifts her shift
She shoots “a bloody Yankee!”
