Short stories, American; United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Fiction
“Haven’t, eh! Let’s see what is in your haversack. Leg o’ mutton, eh!
Killed some person’s sheep,” said the colonel. Omar was sent to the
guard house as usual, and the foraged property to the colonel’s cook.
The regimental mess, consisting of most of the field and staff
officers, had fresh meat for supper and breakfast. During the latter
meal the colonel happened to look out from under the tent fly that was
in use as a mess-room, and noticed Omar, who was under guard cleaning
up around headquarters, eyeing him very closely. The colonel remarked:
“Well, prisoner, what is it?”
“Nothing, colonel,” replied Omar, “except I was just wondering how you
liked your breakfast of _fried dog_.”
Consternation seized the party at the table. With an exclamation or
expletive, every one of them sprang to his feet, and from under the
tent fled.
Omar ran for his life, and at once, as per preconcerted agreement,
over half the men in the regiment commenced barking and howling like
dogs--big dogs, little dogs, hoarse and fine, bass and soprano,
fortissimo and mezzo-soprano, dogs ’round the corner and dogs under
the house--in short, there was the “dog”-onedest kind of a racket made
until the colonel grasped his sword, and, foaming with rage, rushed for
the men’s tents; but they were too old to be caught.
For a long time, though, they would “regulate” the colonel if he
showed signs of being excessive by barking, but at their peril, for he
would certainly have killed a _barker_ if discovered.
After that breakfast the regimental mess strictly abstained from eating
any second-hand foraged meat.
THE NOBLE ACT OF A HERO.
Louis Abear, says the Detroit _Free Press_, was a private in Company
H, Fifth Michigan Cavalry, and made a good soldier. At the battle of
Trevillian Station he was taken prisoner, and before his release he was
confined in five different prison-pens and two jails.
While he was in Millen Prison, an exchange of sixty prisoners was to be
made. The officer of the day told off sixty names at the door of the
pen, but for some reason, probably because he was too ill, or perhaps
dead, one man did not come forth. At that moment Louis, who had been
sent out after fuel, under guard of course, came through the gates
pushing a wheelbarrow loaded with wood.
“Here, Louis, here’s a chance for you. We want sixty men to go North
and are short one. Jump into the ranks here!” exclaimed the officer.
“To be exchanged?” asked Louis, trembling more than he did when under
fire.
“Yes. Be quick.”
“Then take Hank. He’s sick, and will die if he remains here,” and Louis
darted into the hospital ward. Hank had a pair of pantaloons and shoes,
but no coat or hat. Louis pulled off his, put them on Hank, and brought
him out, weak and tottering. As Hank filed out the gate and once more
breathed the air of freedom, Louis, hatless and coatless, took hold of
the handles of his wheelbarrow and started for another load of wood.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account