Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1866-07-05
Capt. ScOtt's bog.

The celebrated Martin Scott was friend
of General Marcy, who in his new book,
Thirty Years of army Life" gives many
interesting anecdotes about him:
Captain Scott was at one time, while sta
toned at Prairie du Chen, in possession of
wonderfully sagacious dog, cross of the
setter and pointer.
The Captain would, for example, while
sitting In his quarters at the fort, with the
dog at his feet, say 'Mark, want you to
60 over to the island and ascertain if there
are any woodcock there, and come back ard
tell me-" The dog would instantly go to
the river, swim to the island, and, if he
had found birds, run up to his master, then
to the gun, wag his tail, and make other
demonstrations of joy, which made it per-
fectly apparent that he had been successful
Scott would then tell the dog to get the
canoe in readiness, and strange as it may
appear, he would take the cushion in his
mouth, carry it to the river bank where the
boat was moored, place it upon the seat, re-;
turn for the paddle, carry that to the canoe,
then go back to Scott, and look up in his
face with an expression which indicated
that all was ready.
The Captain had at this same time anoth-
err dog, which he called Turk. These dogs,
from their first acquaintance, had never
been on friendly terms, and they had many
severely contested encounters, which finally
resulted in Turks gaining and retaining
the mastery. Mark was emphatically
Vanquished dog, and, by his meek and sub
mlssive demeanOr in the presence of his
adversary, admitted as much.
Upon one occasion, Turk had gained pos
session of bonnie bouche, in the form of
beef's bone, which he was quietly ENJOYING
by himself upon the parade ground, when
Mark CHANGED to pass that way, and scented
the choice morsel. The longing. anxious
look which he cast toward the bone, as he
clrcled around at respectable distance,
told how DESTROYS he was to participate in
the feast; but his experience had taught
him that an attempt to contend with his
powerful adversary would only result in his
own discontinue. He therefore prudently
resolved to resort to strategy in order to
accomplish his ends. Accordingly, he ran
furiously outside the stockade inclosure and d
set up tremendous barking, as if some-
thing very extraordinary had occurred;
upon which, as usual, all the dogs in the
fort hurried out of the gates to see what
was the matter, and among them was Turk,
who, in the excitement Of the moment,
abandoned his bone. As soon as this was
done, Mark very quietly slipped back; seized
the prize, and carried it to hiding place,
where he could enjoy it at his leisure
Mark was by no means dog of regular
habits, and would often steal away from
home and pass the night among his canine
companions of the opposite sex. For this
he was invariably punished, his master
compelling him to stand on his hind feet.
&c frso
while the castigation was administered by q
cowhide. In one instance, after having alb
sented himself all night, he returned home
with most detected and penitent air, and,
seeing his master looking very angry at
him, he Immediately went to the wall, placed
himself ia The position he had been required
to assume when he received his previous
punishments, and, at the same time, turned
his head around and looked az Scott, as
much as to say, ." am ready"
In the course Of time Mark waxed in
years, and was no longer able to endure the
work required in hunting, and Capt Scott
took him home to Bennington to pass the
remainder of his days IN quiet retirement.
and here he continued TO make himself use
fal even In his dotage by going to the pas-
ture every night and driving home tie COWS.
Il certainly appeared as if this animal was
endowed with something beyond mere brute
instinct. as he seemed to comprehend all the
relations existing between cause and effect.
Captain Scott was so very fond of his
dogs, that | have known him, upon the
death of favorite one, to walk his room in
great apparent distress of mind during the
entire night, and afterward place the BODY
in coffin. and, with his boy Jack LEADING
his hunting horse draped in black, follow Il
to the grave, and bury it with as much care
and ceremony as if it had been child.