The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-09-28
AT OLD CAMP DOUGLAS
A Rsminiscerc, Ct War Tines

A Rsminiscsrc. Ct War Times
Among the ''yarns" related at the
recent reunion Of John M0rgan's men
q. Lexington. Kentucky. was the fol-
lowing:
Az the auiumnal winds of 1864 began
tn put ON the wntry temperature of
that latitude and sweep into Camp
Douglas prison from out on the lake.
and the hope Of escape or exchanges he
gan to die away, a feeling Of despOn-
aeucy hitherto unknown seemed to per-
wade the entire prison. The experience
Of the previous winter was still in the
memory Of every prisoner. and the in
PRODUCTION Of n variety Of prison rules,
the most prominent being the adoption
of retaliaiOry measures in regard TO ra-
tons, made the future very gloomy in
heed The ratiOns had been exceeding
~ short during the summer and many
of the prisoners had become desperate
on the subject. Fried rats had been re-
garded as 4 dainty dish for several
months. bni after the barracks were
rtise 'f'es f,,r, above the ground. to
prevent tnnnelinX. the rats had no place
to hide and sought refuge in the sewer,
ont of reach of the hungry prisoners.
Occasionally they crcrl cautiously out
OF the sewer in search ri strange adj
venture, and they seldom failed 10
find it. for rot one ever succeeded in
getting back to its underground nome.
They were closely watched. and after
one left the sewer it was IN easy matter
To- cut of its retreat, and then il was
only Il question rs To which mess would
feast upon it. The writer retains Il
vivid recollection of Il breakfast of fried
rats which he rciislied very much. but
the meat tasted so much like squirrel
that he never has been able To eat
squirrel since on account of the memo
rrs the nla,t ;, ;iion of the last named
animal revived. One raw. windy after
noon, when even rats were hard To OBJ
tain. IN incident occurred which crei-
ted considerable stir, not only among
tie prisoners, but among the members
OF the Illinois legislature. This was
the sudden and mysterious disappear
ance of Il sleek and fat rat-an-,an dog
that belonged to the legislature. or ratii-
er to II member at that body. Gov.
O1lesby and the members OF the legis-
la.urc were on Il visit to Chicago, and
Col. Sweet, who was in command 1T
Camp Douglas, invited them out to the
prison to show them how we'll the pris-
0ners were cared for. and on the after
noon referred to they tiled through the
gate in ,wos, led BY the governor and
Col. Sweet. The news OF their arrival
soon spread through the prison and the
confedera;cs began to flock to the point
OF entrance TO take Il peep ut them. A
member of Dukes 2d Kentucky cavalry
was strOlling around with his blanket
thrown over his shoulders when the
visitors began to enter, and he stopped
and sIuattcd down against the corner
post OF barrack to take II good look ut
them rs they passed. The ends of his
blanket reached the ground on both
sides of him and lay in folds ut his feet.
The dog had accompanied its master on
the tour of Inspection, and, being
guest. it was allowed all the privileges
necessary to enable an animal OF its in
quisitive nature 10 make thorough in
specti"n. II bounded through the gate
a. ii perfectly al home, and began to
scout around At will, running first one
way then another, wherever its nose led
il. In one Of these prOmiscuOus sallies
il ran right up TO where the confederate
s,uatled. and. rs he had been 4 great
admirrr of canine sagacity in ante-bel-
Tim days. his old affection for the spe-
ces warmed up rs his memory wander
ell back To the foX-hunts of happier
times, aud he spoke to tie dog in Il kind
tone and il ran up To him and stopped.
lie stroked it caressingly 4 few times,
and. finding that it was not only good
natured. but fat. he instantly formed a
bold determination 10 see how ii would
taste cooked. 1t seemed to enjoy his
carcs>es, and remained with hin until
the Legislative column had pasSe |, and,
finding that il was disposed 10 stay with
him. he raised his blanket and lowered
it over the dogs body, and, putting his
arm aflectionately around the animal.
he arose and walked away with the dog
under his arm, aud not 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 for his
plans, he found that two occupants of
ncighboring hunks, VINO felt no desire
to see the Lawmakers. had remained
indoors. and he whispered to one to
bring the spit-boX into the aisle between
the hunks. and requested the other TO
sharpen his knife rs quickly rs possible.
Both did as requested. though totally
ignorant of their comrades intentions.
The dog was perfectly docile. and made
no resistance while its friendly captor
was preparing to carry out his dcsper-
ate resolve. He raised the blanket.
showed his comrades what he had I'M
der it. and. directing them how to as
sist him, he placed the dogs neck |
across the spt-box, and while they held
it in position he cut its throat, and the
crimson canine gore gurglcd into the
receptacle prepared to catch it. kitch- !
EN- discipline was very exacting and ii
required great caution TO get it cooked
without the sergeant's knowledge.
There was not. however, hitch in the
entire act, and before the gloom of night |
had surrounded the prison that dog had
been devOured. Several Legislators and
some of the guards were certain that
the dog had entered the prison. but no
one saw it go out, and a vigorous search
was made for il. but in vain. Its head,
skin and feet had been thrown into the
sewer. The legislator advertised for it
in the Chicago papers and offered
large reward for it, The guards tried
for several days to get on the track Of
it, and one of them interrOgated the
man who cooked the dog. and rs the
answers were not satisfactory the cook |
received 4 clubbing, but he never gave
up the secret. The fertile brain that |
conceived this bold stroke of policy was
greeted by hundreds of his old COM
rades ut the recent reunion and asked |
If he had tried dog meat since the war.
A Novelty.
"What is that lying on your desk"
asked Gus DE Smith of q young society