The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1873-05-08
THE MILITIA PIG.

j Every survivor Of the command which
-iGov. Shelby led from Kentucky IN the
u war of 1879 has at some time or other
told the we'll authenticated story OF
"the militia pig" The singular cam
paign of the patriot-porker has been
recorded in more than one history OF
the State, but the local press. has re-
Icently revived the story in statements
'|from some of the few remaining wit
nesses of it's truth. They differ only
about tribes, and the undisputed facts
are about as follows:
i The day after the command left their
rendezvous on the march for the seat
Of war, couple Of shoats were OBJ
/ served fighting furiously in a lane.
The column halted, Of course, to see it.
There was some betting and excitement
rs the battle ragged, and a loud cheer
1 greeted the victor when he chased his
antagonist from. the field. When the
march was resumed it was observed
that the conquerer, with foaming chops
| and bristles erect, was accompanying
the command. Pleased with the APP
plause he had received and fond Of
martial company, he soon made it
known that he had volunteered for the
war. When night came he supped
beautifully Of the grain the horses
wasted, found. himself a bed in some
one of the tents and turned in.
The next morning when the bugle
sounded for the march he was found
ready and waiting for the signal. Be-
fore reaching the Ohio River at Cincin-
natl he had discovered that the front
was the best place in the column of
cavalry when the roads were dusty,
and that place in the line he thence
forward insisted on keeping. At the
river he squealed so piteously for
place in the boats that he was hoisted
in and ferried over with the rest. On
he went through Cincinnati, across In.
diana into Illinois, back to Sandusky,
thence to Fort Meigs, thence TO the
river Raisin, to Pigeontown, to Detroit
wherever Shelby's mounted volun.
tcers were ordered the warlike pig at
tended them. These long marches in
the wilderness were attended with many
hardships and privations, but the pig
bore his share without murmur. When
streams were to be ferricd he asked and
obtained a place in the boats, but when
the troops had to swim their horses |
over rivers or wide reaches Of swamps,
he checrfully swan with the horses.
de was the pet Of the camp, and the
soldiers began TO take superstitious
interest in caring for him. They would
not go into camp at night until the pig
was known to be safe and snug. They
were often on: Of meat, and not over
punctilious about picking up chance
roasts on their bayonets. but with that
pig they were willing to share their
last crust, and he won their admiration
Tor his good breeding by never sticking
his nose into their platters or meddling
with their provender till he was invited.
At last Shelby's men were ordered
to invade Canada, and then for the first
time the pig refused to follow. AS the
men entered the transports he showed
no disposition to visit the foreign shore
across the waters of the lake. All at
'empts to take him on board met with
oud squeals and determined resistance
some one called out Put down that
,'g! He's got the Massachusetts, mill
las scruples against crossing the line."
lis friend, Capt. Watkins, interfered
md sent him back to Detroit. When
he army reached that point on its re.
urn from the Canadian battle fields
he pig was waiting at the landing:
lngled out the home-spun hunting shirts
# his own Kentucky boys and was
Don in their midst. From that time
onward he was known as "the Militia
'g." lie continued with the command
ntll it was honorably mustered out at
larysvlllc, Kentucky, when his career
$ public character terminated His
ubsequent history partakes of the OBJ
cur'ty of private life, and there are
wo stories about it. 1t is certain that
ne soldiers voted him a pension; but
counts differ as to whether he spent
'e remainder Of his days in peace and
lenty on the farm Of Capt. Watkins
Shelby county, or on that of Gov
esha. in Harrison.-Mssouri Rep,b.
can.
A.