Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-12-17
SHOT AND SHELL.
Old Veterans "reminiscences of
the War Of the Re-
bellion. . g.
Embracing Anecdotes Of Actual Expe.
.rience and Colloquial Ac.
.. e QUESTION.
A Dog with Many Mourners.

.. It QUESTION.
A Dog with Many Mourners.
"Poor Old Hickory! His sad fate often
comes to me after all these years. Hic
was only dog-the pet of our company.
So remarked Comrade H. at a recent camp
fire.
"Well, what about him." and the chairs
were drawn closer to hear the pathetic
recital.
"Yon know, boys, that at the outbreak of
the war good deal of sentiment was in
dulged in by the young volunteers, and
many unnecessary adjuncts We're thought
necessary, that later would have been
hooted at. Companies and regiments We're
designated by high sounding names, and
nearly every company had some pet that
was to be carried through the carnage.
Our company was recruited in town,
and we were the pets of the county where
the command was recruited. g..
Nothing was too high for us, SO we took
the name of the Hickory Greys,' and
sadly wanted an eagle. But, eagles being
scarce in our part of the country, after
much consultation we compromised on a
dog. When our wants became known, you
would have laughed to see the number of
CANNES of high and low degree that were
brought for inspection to the camp. Like,
Artemus Ward, whose patriotism would
have sent all of his wife's relatives to the
war, it seemed as though the whole popula-
ton of the county could spare their dogs in
the good cause. -
"They were willingto let loose the dogs
of war; el?" .@,. :: 80,
eyes; their love of country took that way
of expressing itself. -
All being at the same price, we con-
Guided to take the largest one presented,
and obtained q" Newfoundland of pure
blood. He was at once named Hickory,
which speedily degenerated to Hic, and
soon became the pet of each and ALL"
A very proper cognomen, as, if any one
suspected inebriety from your hiccoughs,
you could say you were calling the dog"
put in the Major.
No; we went from a.prohibition State, I"
said H., not put out by the interruption.
sour dog was great acquisition to the
company i'll the way of appetite, anyhow,
and he would eat anything, even hard tack,
after we got to the field -
Through the varied experiences of army
life he remained with US, the friend of every
man in the company, always willing to help
any one dispose of rations, from the Cap
tain to the high private in the rear rank
impartial in his attentions, seeming to real
ize that he was the company dog. 81
"But the change of. base from the Chick
ahominy to the james was severe trial to
dogs as we'll as soldiers, and poor Hic sue
icumbed under the strain. A few days after
we reached Harrison's Landing our favorite
sickened and died. The reason Of his de-
mise no one knew, but his loss was severe
| blow to. the survivors.
All said we must have his skin mounted,
and he was accordingly skinned and the
hide prepared for the taxidermist.
At that time the next regiment to us
] (New Jersey troops) had fine reputation
as foragers, and think they earned it.
| Anyhow, our boys allowed the Jerseymen
DIDN'T leave much for any troops that came
after them, and, as we we're often in their
rear, considerable feeling was evoked in
the matter,
Gas our poor dogs carcass hung up, with
skin, head and feet removed, some wicked
wag remarked:
"sDress it, and them blamed jersey
men II steal it afore mornin'.'
."No sooner said than done. In short
time there was as pretty q carcass of NUT
ton hanging between two stakes as ever you
saw.
"Next day the officers of the Jersey regi-
ment sent their compliments to our officers,
with an invitation to field banquet. OF
course it was accepted.
sWhen the boys arrived they.found ample
preparations for the feast. Tent flies end
to end made a fine Restroom, with long
table of rough boards underneath, while
the bill of fare contained such Injuries as
desiccated (desecrated, the boys called it)
soup, canned fish, baked beans, soft bread
with real butter, timed meats from the
sutler, and commissary whisky. But the
great gun-the piece de resistdnce-of the
spread was roast mutton! +
"The fun was fast and furious. Only
one thing seemed to mar the enjoyment of
the occasion-none of the visitors ate NUT
ton! A most singular coincidence it was
that such number of officers were afflicted
in the same way, some for one reason and
some for another. However, they went in
for sculchaw, and praised the Boston bean,
SO 'all went merry as q marriage bell,' and
the omission was hardly noticed, their
hosts doing full justice to the mutton.
when all were full to repletion, Captain
T. was deputed to reply to the toast, Oul
Guests
Ellis remarks were, as nearly as I can
remember, something as follows: Com
rades, your good cheer has gone far to COM
fort men who were nearly heartbroken.
AS you know, we have gone through 8
series of hard fought battles, and the gaps
in our ranks are many. Some Of the alb.
sent ones will never be with us again on
the march or at the bivouac, while others
lie in far-off hospitals, prey to pain and
fever from wounds or sickness. Some Of
our bravest and best are gone. Death, who
loves shining mark, even took "Old Hic,
our favorite dog. This is the greater afflic-
ton from the fact that we were even denied
the consolation of giving his body decent
sepulture, for some thieving foragers stole
his carcass last night, and -
"But he was not allowed to proceed, and
amid chorus of stomach rending greans
'ours made their retreat in good order"
Hickory must have had many mourn.
ers," remarked the Major.-W. H., IN Chi
cago Ledger.
Morgan as a General.
ayes, Morgan was much greater sol
f1;o, thor, no 10 Oanaro 11v copai1ara6 coif