The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-09-26
Eating crow---origin of the Term.

lars l,I GdUGflce 1Or inc announcement VI ofoiy
candidate for office.
Eating crow...Origin Of the Term.
CHAPTER !.
Near the camp of the old Pennsylvania
Bucktail Regiment, in Virginia, early in the
war. lived an old, aristocratic, exclusive and
pompous Virginian, in true baronial style.
His mansion, of very old age, was made of i'm
ported brick, his chimneys were tall and mas
siye. and the rooms were tall and pleasant.
The chief attraction of the old place, however,
was the grounds that surrounded the mansion.
Large trees gave luXuriant shade, and the III,
derbrush in portions of the grounds afforded
shelter for rabbits and other small game. ihere
vera walks and orchards and arbors, and the
whole bore such an air OF. general peacefulness
and repose, that it was no wonder the wild
Bucktatls were charmed with the prospect, and
anxious to penetrate into spot which gave
such promise of enjoyment.
The Bucktails were not the most tractable
soldiers They came from the stepping-ot
place-the wilderness of Pennsylvania-Mc.
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 Arctic explorer, who
Became their commander. He recruited the
regiment in the early days of 1861, beginning
on the day of the arrival of the news of the
fall of Sumter from the back-woodsmen, who
were famous marksmen. They were all deer
furnished with the tail of buck by COL Kane,
and when they marched from Carap Curtin
with the bucktails in their caps it was novel
sight. Col. Charles J. Biddley of Philadel-
piiia, was made the Colonel, and Col Kane
the Lieutenant Colonel-both men noted for
their short attenuated forms. Neither was
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 tent-poies had hardly got settled in the
ground before noted raider named-weil,
out on a little expedition. He was Sergeant
of immense size, named the "Big Sergeant"
He made q straight march for the old Vir-
ginians manor. Now, the old gentleman had
q good many pets about the grounds, and
among them tame crow which ne valued
very highly. He also had tame rabbits,
doves. ETC. Yhe Sergeant climbed the stone
wall, and dropped himself and his gun inside
of the grounds The frs. thing his eye struck
was the tame crow, who unconcernedly new
near him, and alighted on limb and began to
cav at him. The Sergeant put his rifle to his
shoulder and banged away. Mr.. Crow came
Auttsrinq to the ground. The soldier reloaded
his gun, leaned it against the wall, and went TO
get his game.
Instantly there came running from the
House, in q high state of excitement, the old
Vifginian, 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 he would blow the
soldiers brains out. With this he brought the
piece to cock. and glanced along the barrel.
fhe Sergeant begged for his life, and the Vlr-
ginian swore he would take It,.
The Virginian finally thought OF compro-
mise. and with look half between amazement
and rsee, told the Sergeant that he must eat
that raw crow LIN vain the other protested (;
lie yirginian insisted on the price of his ad-
rezsarys life So the Sergeant pulled out the
feathers and began TO gag and eat.
HHow do you ike crow ?" Kissed the Virgin
ian through his teeth.
The only answer the other gave was to beg to
be let off, He was sorry he had shot the crow i;
didn't know that it was tame one, and he
wouldn't do such thing again. Finally the
cid man took the gun from his shoulder and
told the Sergeant he needn't eat any more.
His heart full of joy, the soldier threw the
"Well / ken eat crow, but don't like it."
The story might stop here, if it was only to
show the. origin Of the phrase, but the rest of it
is the best.
The old Yngipian, after surveying his dead
net for an instant, in sorrowful manner, re-
taIrned the gun and started for his mansion.
The other quickly brought his piece to his
shoulder and called out:
"Hold on there, Mister"
"What do you want?" asked the other, as ne
turned and beheld bead drawn On him.
ard like to have you eat the rest OF this
crow"
The old man turned and swore and tore
about in frantic manner saying he'd be id
if he would, and that he didn't want any OF
the young mans jokes. The cooking of the
gun. and the assurance on the part of the SOL
Sier that he would surely put ball through
the old mans shoulder unless he complied with
the demand, induced the Virginian to retrace
his steps. "Now," said the Sergeant, 81 want
you to eat the rest of that crow, and no non
sense.'
punch of the rifle on the shoulder of the
old man reused him to q quick sense OF his
position, and picking up the crow, he endeav'
ored to bite it. He grew pale, the Persplratlon
stood upon his face, he trembled like terrier,
his mouth watered, his eyes illed, and it
seemed see a physical impossibility for him to
touch the crow. The Sergeant compelled him
to take bite, and it was the only one ne did
take, for his breakfast came up so rapidly to
protest against crow that the soldier relented
and told him to "git" and never to trouble q
Bucktail again.
Here would seem to be another proper place
to end the story, but there is still another chap
ter.
CHAPTER III.
The next day, the old virginian, ,sm.arting