'Six brass guns, they be,' he says.

We captured 'em from the enemy an' I'm put in command.
Gents, I've witnessed some successes personal, but I never sees the day when I'm as satisfied an' as contentedly proud as when I finds myse'f in command of them six brass guns.

I was like a lover to every one of 'em.
"'I'm that headlong to get action--we're in middle Loosiana at the time--that I hauls a couple of 'em over by the Mississippi an' goes prowlin' 'round ontil I pulls on trouble with a little Yankee gun boat.
It lasts two hours, an' I shore sinks that naval outfit an' piles the old Mississippi on top of 'em.

I'm so puffed up with this yere exploit that a pigeon looks all sunk in an' consumptif beside me.
"'Thar's one feacher of this dooel with the little gun boat which displeases me, however.

Old Butler's got Noo Orleans at the time, an' among other things he's editin' the papers.