The Soldiers' journal. (Rendezvous of Distribution, Va.) 1864-1865, 1864-05-11
From the Washington National Republican.
A Big Dog Story.


just before the battle of Bull Run, lady of
Georgetown met boy in the street, leading dog
by string, and the boy was crying bitterly
She asked him the cause of his crying He said
his mother had told him to take off the dog and
have him killed, as she would have no dog about
the house. He did not want to kill him, he was
such good dog; but he supposed he should
have to do so, and thought that he should tie a
rope around stone, and throw him into the Po-
tomac. He said he would sell him for five cents
the lady told him she would give him a quarter
He accepted the offer at once, as this would give
him spending money for week. The dog APP
peared to be of several breeds but had
long, shaggy ears, that hung down under his
neck. The lady led him home. He was very
intelligent, and soon became great favorte of
the family. They named him 6 Sailor
A Rhode Island Battery was near there and
the ladies used to carry supplies to the sick sol
diers Sailor would go with them and a gunner
by the name of John Barry took quite liking
to the dog, and when he went on an errand to
Georgetown, Sailor would frequently follow him
back to camp; and finally he concluded a mill
tary life was the best suited to him, and he left
the family altogether, and took up his abode with
John Barry and the battery.
Often when the battery was out practising
when the dense smoke would roll out from the
bottom of the gun, Sailor had been seen to jump
into the smoke and catch mouthful and shake
1t, as though he had something real in his mouth.
But the battery was ordered to the front, and
participated in the second battle of Bull Rum
Let me digress moment just to say that our
wounded and dead had to be removed or buried
under flag of truce; this was humiliating, but
nevertheless true That field was some five miles
long, and perhaps three broad covered thick
with wounded and dead A friend of mine left
my house under the auspices of the Christian
Commission early on Saturday morning for the
battle field, and arrived there that evening, and
worked night and day until the next Thursday
evening, carrying off our wounded from this
battle field. There is no doubt many of our poor
soldiers starved to death others suffered awful
ly from thirst. Thursday evening, just at dark,
they came to an apple tree under which five of
our soldiers had dragged themselves, to protect
them some from the sun by day, and the dews
by night. They had only one ambulance, and
this would carry only four. They must leave
one of these men under this tree, alone this
vast field-and which one should they leave?-
One of them had been wounded in the head by a
piece of shell-it was bad wound; his head was
hy-blown and maggots could be seen plainly,
and as they thought he could not live long, they
left him there alone under that tree. He was
sensible and could talk, and did not like to be
left alone there to die. / have thought if had
been there would have brought him off on my
back if had done it by short stages But they
could not bring him off, and rebel officer rode
up to our pockets the next morning and told
them he was alive then, and could talk. This is
all we know Of him.
John Barry was ON the same battle field. One
of his legs broken, and no one to give him help.
HE suffered all but death one came to his