Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1875-05-01
A HERO.


we'll to the. fearful group in the door
way Of his fathers house walked with
q firm and elastic tread to the station
where he was to take the southwark
bound train and speed to the battle
field.
And he, you will naturally infer, is
our hero; but lest there should be any
mistake upon this point, hasten to
inform you that though he wasand is
hero. he is not the hero of this tale.
This is our hero trotting along by his
side-only dog, but with faithful
heart In his bosom as any soldier who
enlisted at his country's call; while,
for singleness of purpose, the dog
might take precedence of all. For
him there was no thought of fame, ad-
venture or compensation his one mo-
tive was devotion TO his his master.
| do not know to what breed he be-
longed, nor does it matter. On his
own merits let him stand or fall, and
not on those of his and ancestors. In
size he was medium; that is, he would
have been small for a Newfoundland,
and large for poodle. His skin was
variegated, or, as should say, were |
describing a piece of calico. or NOUS
seliine dc tame, il had a white ground
with polka spots. His face bore the
imprint of honesty and good-nature,
and his eye looked into yours with
dauntlessness which gave assurances
that he had never been caught robbing
your larder or worrying your cat.
The young mans name was Karl
Beck; the name of the dog was Trump.
As Karl stepped on board the cars he
was greeted by half dozen men of his
own age, all in the army blue, and all
as merry and smiling as if they were
about to set out on Fourth Of July
excursion, instead of going forth to
hardship, danger, and perhaps death.
''Holio, a new recruit cried one,
gayly, with mock military salute to
Trump.
You ought to have shut him upw
said another. Il don't believe you can
send him back
HE isn't going back" said Karl,
quietly.
What! you're not going to take him
with your"
uSI tudb, cdlQ IAdti.
DO you expect Uncle Sam will find
HIM rations p
He can share mine, and forage for
the resi-" said Karl.
Suppose we adopt him as child of
the regimentY"
Agreed" chimed in all; and
Trump's position being thus satisfac-
torily settled il was never afterward
questioned. Indeed, during the three
months of camp life which followed,
he helped to beguile many a tedious
hour for the young volunteers, and
Jared sumptuously every day, with
very little expense to the Government.
He made no intimacies with the
strange dogs who lowered about the
outskirts Of the camp, nor did he drive
them away so long as they kept to their
own limits; butif one ventured to put
his head inside the barracks he forced
him to hssty and ignominiOus retreat.
And this was the rule he adopted with
oil tramps and hangers-On whatever.
At first the Captain of Karfs com
pany objected to Trump's appearance
at drill, and ordered him confined in
his quarters on pain of death, but ac-
cidentally discovering one day that he
could go through all the exercises quite
as well as his young master could he
countermanded the cruel order, and
henceforth Trump marched forth at
the beat of drum with all the steadI.
ness and sobriety Of a veteran soldier.
But the time came when the idle mo-
notony of earnPliie was to be exchanged
for actual combat. The summons had
come-'TO the front !"
The last thing Karl did before he
marched away was to commit Trump
TO the care of farmer who lived near
the barracks.
BE kind to him. | shall pay for
him when l come back; or, if / never
come, | think father will send for
him." And Karl turned quickly away,
lest the man should see the tear in his
eye and mistake the cause.
1t was the night after the battle.
Faint and wounded, with only the
the dead around him, Karl lay upon
the ground, his life. blood ebbing slow,
ly away. Just so he had been lying
since four o'clock in the afternoon.
when he fell unnoticed, like a single
leaf that falls in the forest in autumn.
Then he was 10 the midst of the din
of battle, but it had gradual retreat
ed, and now he heard no sound but the
signing of the wind and the cry Of the
night-bird.
They're all asleep at home, little
dreaming where | am, so his thoughts
ran " they'll read it all tomorrow.
Karl Beck. missing No, not that.
hope somebody will find me, and let
them know | died honorably.
"Hark a footstep! Can il be that
help is coming, or is it some poor feI-
low, wounded like myself, trying to
crawl away from this dreadful place
"Comrade, are you there p
His voice was weak and falterIng,
but it elected most unexpected re-
Spouse. 1t was the bark of dog, aud
it sent thrill through Karl's frame.
Trump Trump" he called, anxi-
ously, raising himself on his elbow,
but falling back exhausted with the
effort.
Again that short, familiar bark, aud
the faithful Trump came bounding
over wreck and carnage to his master .
side.
After few moments spent in mutu-
al caresses Trump bounded away as
quickly as he had come. leaving his
master more desolate than before. .
"Oh. Trump! Trump! have you left
me to die alone?' he murmured.
No, Trump has done nothing of the
kind, as was evident when he returned
shortly, accompanied by several mem
bers of the Sanitary Commission,
who were doing their good works in
another part of the field and who had
sense enough to comprehend and give
heed to the dogs appeal for help.
They lifted Karl gently to litter
aud bore him to the rude hospital i'm
provished for the occasion.
His wound is not dangerous, but he
would have bled TO death before morn
ing if you had not found him" said
the surgeon.
60 And Karl knew that he was indebt-
ed to Trump for bis life.
No sooner was Karl discharged from
she hospital than his regiment was
again ordered to the front. Deter
mined that the friend to whom he owed
SO much should not be left to suffer in
his absence he committed him TO the
care of a NAN who was going North,
with direetiSRs for forwarding him to
his fathers house.
Six months afterWard he was again
wounded at the battle of Coal Harbor
aad brought up to Washington in the