History is such a hoot. From an interesting blog called Civil War Power Tour (don't ask; just go read Confederates in the Attic by Tony Horwitz to understand the name) we find that the phenomena of Chest-Beating War Fans who do their part for the Glorious Cause on that vital battlefield called the Home Front rather than waste their tremendous talents on the battlefield dates back to a much earlier time. This is by Oliver Wendell Holmes, and he called the Yellow Elephant The Sweet Little Man:

Dedicated to the Stay-at-Home Rangers.

Now while our soldiers are fighting our battles,
Each at his post to do all that he can,
Down among Rebels and contraband chattels,
What are you doing, my sweet little man?

All the brave boys under canvas are sleeping;
All of them pressing to march with the van,
Far from the home where their sweethearts are weeping;
What are you waiting for, sweet little man?

You with the terrible warlike moustaches,
Fit for a colonel or chief of a clan,
You with the waist made for sword-belts and sashes,
Where are your shoulder-straps, sweet little man?  Read more…