Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1872-09-21
Eating 0row-0rigin Of The Term.

IN the war, lived an old, aristOcratic, ex-
elusive and pompous Virt inian,in bafonal
style. His mansion, OF very old age,
was made of imported brick, his chin
beys were tall and massive, and the
rooms were large and pleasant. The
chief attraction of the old place, however,
were the grounds that surrounded the
mansion. Large trees gave luxuriant
shade, aud the underbrush in portions Of
the grounds afforded shelter for rabbits
and other small game. There were walks,
orchards and arbors, and the whole bore
such a scene of general peacefulness and
rcpose that it was 10 wonder the wild
Bucktais were charmed with the pros
pect, and anxious TO penetrate into a
spot which gave such promise Of enjoy
ment.
The Bucktails were not the most tract
able soldiers. They came from the step
ping-of place--the wilderness of Penn
ylvania-McKean, 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 Fort Sumter-from
the backw oodsmen, who were famous
marksnen. They were all deer hunters,
aud as a designation each man was fur
nished with the tail of buck bv Col.
Kane, and when they marched from
Camp Curtin with the back,ails in their
caps, it was novel sight. Col. Charles
J. Bddle, of Philadelphia, was made
the Colonel, aud Col. Kane the Lieuten-
ant Colonel Of the regiment-both men
noted for their short, attenuated forms.
Neither was scarcely more than five fee,
high, aud 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-poles had hard
" got settled i'll the ground before a
noteG raider, named-we Smith-shou.-
dered his deer-killcr aud started out on
little expedition. lie was sergeant,
and of immense size, and went by the
name of "The Big Sergeant" He made
a straight march Tor the old Virginian's
manor. Now, the old gentleman had
many pets about the grounds, and among
them II tame crow, which he valued very
highly. He also had tame rabbits, doves,
etc. The sergeant climbed the stone
wall, and dropped himself and his gun
on the inside of the grounds. The first
thing his eye struck was the tame crow.
who uncoIcernedly flew near him and
alighted on a limb and began to cav at
him. The sergeant put his rifle to his
shoulder and banged away, and Mr..
Crow came hu,lering 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 "A high state OF excitement, the
old Virginian, and when lie saw that his
pet crow had been killed his rage had
no bounds. He rushed Ior the sergeant's
gun, and, swearing that he wouldn't
have given the crow for the whole Yam
kee army, vowed that he would blow
the soldiers brains out. With this he
brought the piece 10 cock and glanced
along the barrel. The sergeant begged
for his lite, and the Virginian swore he
would take it.
The Virginian thought of compro-
mise, aud with a look half between
amazement and rage, told the sergeant
that he must eat that raw crow. In vain
the other protested the Virginian in
sisted on the price of his adversary's
life. So the sergeant pulled off the teath-
ers and began to gag and eat -..
The only answer the other gave was
L.. H. L. l. l.
had shot the crow didn't know that il,
was tame one, and he wouldn't do
such thing again. Finally the old man
took his gun from his aim and told the
sergeant he needn't eat any more His
heart full of joy, the soldier threw the
bird upon the ground and said
well, / kin 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 tie best.
CHAPTER II.
| The old Virginian, after surveying his
dead pet tor an instant in sorrowful
manner, returned the gun and started
for his mansion. The other quickly
brought his piece to his shoulder and
called out: Il .' il,
"Hold on there, Mister"
"What do you want ?" asked the other
as he turned aud beheld "bead" drawn
on him.
"rd like to have you eat the rest OF
this crow" s.f..t
The old man fumed and swore, and
tore about in frantic manner, saying he
would be id it he would, aud that he
didn't want any of the young mans
jokes. The cooking of the gun, aud the
assurance on the part OF the soldier that
he would certainly put ball through
the old mans shoulder unless he com
piled with the demand, induced the Vir-
ginian toretrace his steps. q .a'H, -
"Now," said the sergeant, 81 want you
to eat the rest of that crow, aud no nou.
sense" 10. .... -.-U.- Elt'I-
Apunch of the rifle on the shoulder OF
the old man reused him to a quick sense
of his position, and taking up the crow,
he endeavored TO bite it. He grew pale,
the perspiration stood on his face, he
trembled like terrier, his mouth water
ed, his eyes filled, he gagged, and it seem
ed a physical imposiibility for him to
touch the crow. The sergeant, however,
| leomnallad him fotaka a hita aud IL Al, &c