The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1883-10-11
No. Al.
A HoG STORY.

through Louisiana by forced
marches; for it is solemn matter
of fact that the first troops that
went out from Texas were in very
much Of a hurry, because they
feared that the war would be over
before they could reach the tented
field. They were afraid that the
Virginians would swindle them out
Of their share of glory in taking
Washington. While the Northern
people were talking about ninety
days war, the Texans thought it
it hardly worth while to start out,
as the war would be over before
they could get chance to strike a
blow. But to the story, which is
best given in the language of the
newspaper man himself:
"Just before dark one afternoon,
we passed a comfortable looking
farmhouse, the owner of which was
busily engaged, with very anxious
expression of countenance and a
long pole, in driving number of
pigs under the house. The i'm.
preston that forced itself upon us,
on observing this conduct was
that he thought the pigs would be
safer and last longer, as far as his
selfish wants were concerned, un-
der his immediate supervision, than
in any place where we could get at
them. One of my comrades who
was trudging along by my side,
Bob Beasley, a proud, high-strung,
sensitive fellow, but as honest,
nevertheless, as the day is long.
was stung to the quick by the ac-
tion Of the farmer; and iarning to
me, Bob said, THAT is an insult to
our sacred cause and to every hon.
est man in the regiment. Let US
resent it. Let us teach this man to
respect US. Let's go back there to-
night and steal one of his darnd
old hogs, to show him that we
won't stand any of his situations" ;"
Il saw that Bob's feelings we're
hurt by the ungenerous conduct of
the rustic and endeavored to calm
him down but in vain. His blood
was up. / agreed to assist him in
wiping out the insult, on condition
that l should have one-half of the
pork. We camped afew miles from
the house, and that night, although
we were very tired, we cheerfully
trudged back to the house where
we had seen the farmer trying to
steal the pigs from US. We quietly
called a council ofwar and agreed up
on a campaign plan, It was thought
best not to make any unnecessary
noise, as 1t might induce the far
mer to come out and still further
irritate US. All we really wanted
was the hog. Bob Beasley was to
crawl through the hole under
the house and drive the hogs
out, because he was more familiar
with the habit of hogs than I was.
was to assume an offensive posi-
ton, with a club, at the outside of
the hole, and as soon as a hog
came out I was to stun him
with a blow, after which he was to
be despatched and carried to camp.
Bob crawled in on all.fours and
pretty soon I heard hog scramb.
ling toward the hole. / drew back
my club; and just as the porker
came through the hole / gave him q
tremendous blow. Bob Beasley
gave grunt for he was the hog,
l had only dislocated his shoulder
instead ofknocking his brains out
The farmer, it seems, had added in.
| suit to injury by removing his hogs
from under the house. He did moi
think they were safe even there.
sBob expressed himself very for
| chilly. He used language to me
which no soldier should use to 8
comrade. He was evidently much
disappointed at not finding the hogs
under the house. In the excite.
ment of the moment l spoke EN-.
phatically in low tone of voice OF
what I thought of the conduct OF
the farmer. I had good notion
to inform the colonel of our regi.
| ment, and have the agriculturist i'm
prisoned as traitor. Ishould Ger.
talnly have denounced his treach'
cry, but I was afraid that if l said
anything about the affair our mo.
tives for trying to kill the hog might
have beeu misconstrued. | volun.
teered to carry Bob Beasley to
camp on my back, which was only
two or three miles off. I would not
have volunteered if Beasley. had
not given me his solemn word of
honor that he would assassinate
me if 1 did not carry him cheer.
fully.
When l got to camp l had &C.
quired permanent curvature Of the
| spine which is one of the offerings
1 cheerfully laid upon the altar of
my country. Our devotion to prin-
ciple was not appreciated by our
comrades who would jeeringly call
out '.How is your hog?'' whenever
we passed along the line. From
that hour I instinctively felt that
the cause of the confederaey was
hopeless" - From .'On a Mexican
Mustang through Texas" by Ed.
itors of Teas Sittiags.
IT is not exactly polite TO refer
to a deceased person as your warm
friend.