Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-10-24
What Became Of the Dog.
Z. Q. Colgan IN EoElheFn BiVOuae.


I. Q. colEan in soEthsrn Bivouac.
As the autumnal winds Of 1864 be,
gan to put on the wintry temperature
Of that latitude and sweep into Camp
Douglas prison from out on the lake,
and the hope Of escape or exchange
began TO die away, feeling Of despOn,
dency hitherto unknown seemed to
peryade the entire prison. The expe.
I rience Of the previous winter was still
in the memory Of every prisoner, and
the introduction of variety OF prison
rules, most prominent being the adop-
ton Of retaliatory measures in regard
TO rations, made the future very
gloomy indeed. The rations had been
exceedingly shsrt during the summer,
and many Of the prisoners had become
desperate on the subject. Fried rats
had been regarded as a dainty dish for
several months, but after the barracks
were raised five feet above the ground
to prevent tuDneling. the rats had no
place 10 hide, and sought refuge in the
sewer out OF reach OF the hungry priss
oners. Occasionally they erept eau
tiously out Of the sewer, in search Of
strange adventure, and they seldom
failed 10 find it, for not one ever sue
ceeded in getting back to It's under
ground home. They were closely
watched, and after one left the sewer
il was 40 easy matter to cut of its re-
treat, and then ii was only question
as TO which mess would feast upon it.
The writer retains a vivid recollection
OF breakfast Of fried rats which he
relished very much, but the meat
tasted SC much like squirrel that he
has never been able to eat squirrel
since on account Of the memories the
mastication Of the last named animal
revived.
One raw, windy afternoon when
even rats were hard to obtain, an in
cident occurred which created a con.
siderable stir, not only among the
! prisoners, but among the members Of
the Illinois Legislature. This was
the sudden and mysterious disappear.
ance OF sleek rat and tan dog that
belonged to the Legislature, or rather
to a member of that body. Governor
Oglesby and the members of the Leg
islature were on a visit to Chicago and
Colonel Sweet, who was in command
at Camp Douglas, invited them out to
the prison to show them how well the
prisoners were cared for. and on the
afternoon referred to they filed through
the gate in twos, led by the Governor
and Colonel Sweet. The news Of
their arrival soon spread through the
prison and the Contederates began to
flock to the point OF entrance to take
a peep at them. A member Of Dukes
Second Kentucky cavalry was stroll>
J ing around with his blanket thrown
over his shoulders when the visitors
began to enter, and he stop
ped and squatted down against
the corner post Of a barrack to take a
good look at them as they passed. The
ends Of his blanket reached the
ground on both sides Of him and lay
in folds at his feet. The dog had ac>
companied its master on the tour Of
inspection, and being guest it was
allowed all the privileges necessary to
/ enable an animal of his inquisitive
nature to make thorough inspection.
1t bounded through the gate as if
perfectly at home, and began to scout
! around at will, running first one way
and then another, wherever its
nose led it. In one OF these
promiscuous sallies it ran
right up to where the Confederate
squatted, and, as he had been great
admirer Of canine sagacity in ante
bellum days, his old affection for the
species warmed up as his memory
wandered back to the fox hunts Of
happier times, and he spoke to the dog
in kind tone and it ran up to him
/ and stopped. He stroked it caress-
ingly a few times, and, finding that it
was not only good natured, but fat,
1 he instantly formed bold determine
ton to see how it would taste cooked,
1t seemed to enjoy his caresses, aud
remained with him until the legislative
column had passed, and, finding that
, it was disposed to stay with him, he
= raised his blanket and low cred it over
the dogs body, and, putting his arm
p, affectlonately around the animal, he
(, arose and walked away with the dog
= under his arm, and not a member Of
/ that august body Of legislators knew
that one Of their attendants had been
: kidnapped.
. He hurried to his barrack with his
game, and found the building nearly
empty, the prisoners having gone Out
TO see the visitors, Fortunately tc.
his plans he found that two occupants
Of neighboring hunks, who felt no de.
c sire to see the law makers, had re
s NAMED indoors, and he whispered To
j. one to bring the spit box into the aisle
}. between the hunks, and requested the
IS other to sharpen his knife a, quick as
0 possible. Both did as requested
b though totally ignorant Of their com
a rade's intentions. The dow was per-
fectly docile, and made no resistance
l. while its friendly captor was preparing
y to carry out his desperate resolve. He
h raised the blanket, showed his
Il comrades what he had under it, and
e directing them how TO assist him, he
IS placed the dogs neck across the spit
Y box and while they held it he cut it,
Ie throat and the crimson canine gore
IF gurgled into the receptacle prepared
II to catch it. Kitchen discipline wal
Is very exacting, and it required grea
Ie caution to get it cooked without thu
D, Sergeant's knowledge. There was not
1t however, a hitch in the whole act, an(
Of before the gloom of night had sur
IN rounded the prison that dog had beer
e devoured. Several Legislators anC
10 some Of the guards were certain tina
st the dog had entered the prison, but NJ
Of one saw il, 90 out, and very vigOr
Of GUS search was made for it, but il
le vain. Its head, skin and feet had beer
m thrown in the sewer. The Legislato
20 advertised for it in the Chicago paper
ut and offered large reward for is. TIL,
a guards tried for several days TO get OIL
ie the track Of it, and one Of them inter
le rogated the man who cooked the dog
~ and as the answers were not satislac
So tory the cook received a clubbing, blu
X he never gave up the secret, The MAJ
" whose fertile brain conceived this boil
ID stroke Of policy was greeted by hun
Of dreds Of his old comrades at recon
nc reunion and asked if he had tried do
I'd meat since the war.
II Martha LiVingstOne's Invest
81 ment.
ey New Orleans tLa.) Picayune, Sept. 20.
10 Mrs Martha Livingston, thrift
90 colored woman, was Martha Gree
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