The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1880-05-13
a Saracious Mare.

The late William Maxwell, OF
this county, owned a mare familiar
ly called "Old Bet" whose fidelity
to her master during the war, as
well rs the remarkable sagacity she
displayed at VARIOUS times during
her life, certainly deserve honorable
mention. The animal was a thor
oughbred and had good blood in
her veins, which accounts, perhaps,
for the spirit and intelligence she
so often exhibited. Her sire was
Capt. Everly's horse, George Ell
lott. he by IMP. Legiathan, and
her descent could be traced in di-
rect line from the famous racing
mare Kitty Fisher. During the
war, the Federal troops captured
every horse old enough for service
on Mr.. MaxwelPs farm, with the
exception of Old Bet. She was so
| fleet of foot and so clever at clear
ing fences of all kinds, that the
blue coats were forced to content
themselves with occasional glimpses
of her heels. On one occasion,
however, they surprised her in a
small lot, inclosed by very high
fence, and it occurred to the prowl.
ing warriors that they had her sure.
But old Bet was quite equal to the
emergency. She gave laundering
snort, shook her head proudly and
with her tail flying defiantly in the
mir claara6 tho faDca Of n loaO and
took to the bushes, leaving her
would be captors to nourish their
chagrin as best they could. After
, this Bet remained away several days
and when she did emerge from her
retreat she observed great caution,
stopping on hill overlooking Mr..
Maxwel's place and looking care
fully around, as if to satisfy herself
there were no Yankees about, be-
fore she ventured home. Shorty
after this event, she brought colt,
and In the meantime three mares,
similarly encountered, were taken
by the federal soldiers, leaving
their colts behind. Old Bet imme-
dlately adopted the little animals
thus abandoned, and knowing that
while thus encountered she would
be more liable to capture, she led
her family, now heavily increased,
early every morning into an almost
impenetrable forest near by, from
which she did not emerge until
night came on, when she appeared
at the farm and received such prov
ender as her appreciative master
was able to give her. This brave
Old mare kept up this life as long as
the yankees remained in the neigh
borhood, and she was always the
first to discover their approach and
TO give warning by returning to her
retreat in the forest. Her death,
VIII ch occurred few months since,
was nworthy of her long and he
roic life, and was brought about by
vicious habits acquired during the
stormy and demoralizing days OF
the war. AS she grew older. her
morals became more and more lax,
and she made regular business OF
leaping over rail fences and depre.
dating on her neighbors' cornfields
at night. This compelled her own.
er. the gentleman into whose hands
she had passed at Mr.. MAXWELL
death, to tie her up, and one woful
night, while struggling to release
herself, Old Bet became entangleG
in the rope and was choKed tC
death. Mr.. Maxwell often remark &c
that he owed this faithful animal a
heavy debt of gratitude, for without
her he would not have had a horse
on his farm at the close of the war
Many of her descendants are now
living, and all show something o
the spirit and sagacity of then
grand old dam.