True Democrat. (Paulding, Miss.) 1845-18??, 1847-08-18
GOOD FOR BUFFALO.
BY JOHN BROWN.

In one Of the companies of the LIST regiment
Of U. s. Dragons, there once happened to be
thrown recruit whose fond parents, bearing
the name of Jackson, had given him the Chris
tan name OF Andrew name, in this case,
extremely NAL GpprOpOS. This fellow was
drilled with others, and drilled alone, but the
task of instruction seemed nearly a hopeless
one Dismounted, if ordered to start with the
left foot he invariably put forth the right. and
it was more than limited that he could not tell
the one from the other.
"And, curse himl" said the sergeant, one day
out Of patience, she don't know his legs, and
has not sense enough to mark theml"
la the mounted drill he was the same AT
a command 80 the right" he was just as like
" to turn to the wrong as 10 the right side. AS
to mounting horse according to the manual,
! he saw no use whatever in that; and provided
he could climb up by the cantel Of the saddle,
was perfectly satisfied.
La truth, Jackson was very stupid. He could
hardly be taught to keep his arms and accou-
trements in order, and could never execute the
first movement of the sabre exercise without
the most ludcrous blunders, and if mounted,
danger of cutting off his horses head or ears.
Altogether after he had been two years in
service, he was put down by every body as alb
souley good for nolhing'-a worthless ap.
pendaee to the corps for he had even been tried
on various kinds OF extra duty, and failed in all.
The captain had marked Jackson he reSar.
ded him as an anomaly-not exactly an IDIOT,
vet seeming so very near one that the dividing
Iue was hardly perceplibIe He can never be
fit for anything, thought the captain, and he
melated the discharge Of the impracticable
dolt, as a nuisance TO the service"
A strict drill officer, the captain required
every man to do his duty. When Jackson
was on drill, the captains order to march gen
orally ran as follows
Column. forward Corporal West. gtre
that man a kick 10 start him-marchl"
Corporal West, accustomed to this duty,
usually by kick properly dealt, had given
Jackson an impetus forward, by the time the
command march, fell from the captain.
Jackson had, as time flew, been three years
in the company, when march to the prairies
was ordered. la the range ofIhat animal near
the Arkansas, it became an object with the
command to procure supply OF buffalo meat,
and every day details of men were made for
that purpose.
The captain himself, on one occasion, thirs-
ting for sport, went out with the hunters They
had been out some three or four hours, when
Jackson, his horse nearly at full speed, and his
carbine unslung, was dashing past the captain
towards herd buffalo at some distance across
the plain.
"Stop, sir, stopl' commanded the captain.
Jackson instantly refined up. So far as he
knew how, he had learned to Obey-Ihe first
lesson of soldier. The captain was inclined
to be religious, but now he was betrayed by
excitement into the use of naughty language
"Whal the devil are you doing here| he de-
handed 6ercely.
Hunting buffalo, sir,
"Hunting buff1loi D-nationi Who told
vou TO hunt buIalol What business have yOa
on the plains2'
"The sergeant detailed me as a hunter, sir"
oThe devil he dlll Well, the sergeanl's
id fool" continued the captain, growing
warmer and worse betrayed. "What can you
dohere2 DO yOu ever expect to kill bHgat0F'
he asked, almost with a sneeE
ave done so, sir, this morning" replied
the soldier, touching his cap.
aWhau You've killed a buialol Take
care. sir-don't lie 10 me-lake sarel The
things impossible"
and have a three months cali TIED to the leg
Of the last one"
us ii possiblel"
ayes, sir aud I'd have killed one Of those
four iusi back in the last hollow, ifyOn hadn't
1ole up and scared them amag"
The captain was more than asionished-he
was thunderstruck The stupid, worthless
soldier, suddenly apPeersd in a new hight
Ills census had psepcd out-he was dsrsioP-
ed
aWell, we'll" replied the captain, $50 a.
head-go ahead-kil ell you can; Tn el"d
Won can 90 II; you're IT for somethiAg-Fve
discovered it by mere accident but every man,
I suppose IS made for ssmsihing--go ahead,
you can earn your rations now, for few DAYS,
At leIa- you're good Tor nothing else; bat
you're GOOD FOR BUFFALO,"