The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-08-23

An Amusing Account Of the Origin Of tho
Term.

In the war, lived an DID, arlstOcratlc,
exclusive and pompous Virginian, in
true baronial style. His mansion, of
very old age, was made of imported
brick, his chimneys were tall and mas
sive, 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 luxurant shade, and the un-
derbrush in portions OF the grounds
afforded shelter for rabbits aid other
small game. There were walks, and
orchards, and arbors, and the whole
bore such scene of general peaceful
ness and repose that it was no wonder
the wild Bucktails 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
steppine.otf place-the wilderness Of
Pennsy Kean, Potter, Forest,
and Tioga counties-and they obtained
their name, which chung to them dur
ing the entire war, through a fancy of
Col. Kane, brother of the Arctic ex-
plorer, 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 backwoodsmen,
who were famous marksmen. They
were all deer hunters, and as a de-
signation each man was furnished
with the tail of buck by Col. Kane,
and when they marched from Camp
| 4 M NIT ha hro Il tai1 hai
it was a novel sight. Col. Chas. j.
Biddle, of Philadelphia, was made the
Colonel, and Col. Kane the Lieutenant
| Colonel, of the regiment-both men
noted for their short, attenuated forms.
Neither 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
hardly got settled in the ground before
noted rider named-well, Smith
shouldered his deer-killer, and started
out on little expedition. He was a
sergeant, and of immense size, and went
by the name of 1.-The Big Sergeant"
He made straight march for the old
Virginian's manor. Now, the old gen.
tleman had many pets about. the
grounds, and among them a tame crow,
which he valued very highly. He also
had tame rabbits, doves, &c. The ser.
geant climbed the stone wall, and
dropped himself and his gun on the in.
side of the grounds. The first thing his
eye struck was the tame crow, who un.
concernedly flew near him, and alghted
on limb, and began TO cav at him.
The sergeant put his rifle to his shout
der and banged away, and Mr.. Crow
came futtering 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 excite
ment, 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 a
cock and glanced along the barrel. The
sergeant begged for his life, and the
Virginian swore he would take it.
The Virginian fnall y thought of a
compromise, and with a look half be.
tween amazement and rage, told the
sergeant that he must eat that raw
crow. In vain the other protested; the
Virginian insisted on the price Of his
adversary's life. So the sergeant pulled
off feathers and began to gag ana eat.
Chow do you like crow?' Kissed the
Virginian through his teeth.
The only answer the other gave was
to beg to be let Oft. He was sorry he
had shot the crow; didn't know that il
was a tame one, and he wouldn't dc
such thing again. Finally the old
man took the gun from its aim and told
the sergeant he needn't eat any more
His heart full of joy, the soldier threw
the bird uron the ground and said
Well, l 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 the best.
CHAPTER IL.
The old Virginian, after surveying his
dead pet for an instant in q sorrowful
manner, returned 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 he turned and beheld bead
drawn on him.
"rd like to have you eat the rest Of
this crow"
The old man fumed and swore, ano
tore about in a frantic manner, saying
he be ID if he would, and that he
didn't want any of the young mans
Jokes. The cooking of the gun, and the
assn ance on the part of the soldier tina
he would certainly pat ball through
the old mans shoulder unless he com
piled with the demand, induced tn
Virginian to retrace his steps.
Now" said the sergeant, | wan
you to eat the rest of that crow, and NJ
, nonsense
A punch of the rifle on the shoulde
= of the old man reused him TO a quicl
sense of his position, and taking up tn
= crow, ne endeavored to bite it. III
2 grew pale, the perspiration stood on hi