Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1872-09-12
EATING CROW.
An Amusing Account Of the
Origin of the Term. af
CHAPTER 1.

Near the camp of the old Pennsyl-
vania Bucktail Regiment, in Virginia,
early in the war, lived an old aristo-
cratic, exclusive and pompous Virgin
ian, in true baronial style. His mansion,
of very old age, was made of import
ed brick, his chimneys were tall and
the rooms were tall and pleasant. The
chief attraction of the old place, how
ever, was the grounds that surrounded
the mansion. Large trees gave luxuri-
ant shade, and the underbrush in por-.
tions of the grounds afforded shelter for
rabbits and other small game. There
were walks, and orchards, and arbors,
and the whole bore such scene of gen.
eral peacefulness and repose that it was
no wonder the wild Bucktails were
charmed with the prospect, and anxious
to penetrate into a spot which gave such
promise of enjoyment. 'ti 'i~fi' 'il
The Bucktails were not the most at
tractable soldiers. They came from the
stepping-off place-the Wilderness of
Pennsylvania -M'Kean, Potter, Forest
and Tioga counties-and they obtained
their name, which clung to them during
the entire war, through fancy of Col.
Kane, brother of the. Artic explorer,
who became their cemmander. He re-
cruited the regiment in the early days
of 1861 beginning on the day of the
arrival of the news of the fall of Sum-
ter) from the back-woOdsmen, who
were famous marksmen. They were
all deer hunters, and as a designation,
each man was furnished with the tail of
buck by Colonel Kane, and when they
marched from Camp Curtin with the
bucktails in their caps it was novel
sight. Colonel Charles J. Biddle, of
Philadelphia, was made the Colonel,
and Colonel Kane the Lieutenant Col
onel of the regiment-both men noted
for their short attenuated forms. Neith-
er was scarcely more than five feet
high, and their combined weight was
less than two hundred and twenty
pounds.
1t may readily be guessed that these
soldiers had little respect for Virginia
aristocracy, and the tentpoles had hard
ly got settled in the ground before a
noted rider named-well, Smith-shoul-
dered his deer-killer and started out OIL
little expedition. He was Sergeant
of immense size, named ''The Big Ser
geant." He made straight march for
the old Virginian's manor. Now, the
old gentlemen had many pets about the
grounds, and among them tame crow
which he valued very highly. He also
had tame rabbits, doves, etc. The Ser
geant climbed the stone wall, and drop
ped himself and his gun inside of the
grounds. The first thing his eye struck
was the tame crow, who uncOncerned-
ly flew near him, and alighted on limb
and began to cav at him. The Ser
geant put his rifle to his shoulder and
banged away. Mr.. Crow came fluttering
to the ground. The soldier reloaded his
gun, leaned it against the wall, and
went to get his game. ID Ids. -
Instantly there came running from
the house, in high state of excitement,
the old Virginian, and when he saw
that his pet crow had been killed his
rage had no bounds. He rushed for
the Sergeant's gun, and swearing that
he wouldn't have given the crow for
the whole Yankee army, vowed that he
would blow the soldiers brains out.
With this he brought the piece to cock
and glanced along the barrel. The
Sergeant begged for his life, and the
Virginian swore he would take it.
The Virginian finally thought of a
compromise, and with a look half be-
tween amazement and rage told the Ser
geant that he must eat that raw crow.
In vain the other protested; the Vir-
ginian insisted on the price of his ad-
versary's life. So the Sergeant pulled
off feathers and began to gag and eat.
"How do you like crow!' Missed the
Virginian through his teeth.
The only answer the other gave was
to beg to be let off. He was sorry he
had shot the crow; didn't know that ir
was a tame one and he wouldn't do such
! thing again. Finally the old man took
the gun from its aim, and told the Ser
geant he needn't eat any more. His
; heart full of joy, the soldier threw the
crow upon the ground, and said:
"well; kin eat crow, but don t
like it." , .- ..H
The story might stop here if it was
only to show the origin of the phrase,
but the rest of it is the best. iu-
CHAPTER II.
The old Virginian, after surveying
his dead pet for an instant in sorrow
full manner, returned the gun and
started for his mansion. The other
quickly brought his piece to his shoul-
der, and called out: a. tI..#..
Hold on there, mister" l. ..s
~ "What do you wantP" asked the 9th.