Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1888-03-16
CURLY'S WAR RECORD.
History of n Dog Which Deserved n Pen
slnn frnm Iincln Snna.


History of n Dog which Deserved PEN
sion from Uncle sam.
Surviving members of General Geo.
T. Crooks "Kanawha" (W. Va Di-
vision Qater General John b. Turch-
in's), First Brigade. Third Division,
Fourteenth Corps, Army of the Cum
berland, will remember Curly"
When President Lincoln called for the
three months volunteers, three COM
panics were formed from the militia
companies of our town. Mrs. John
Shellabarger had too many dogs. so
brought him to our company us re-
cruit, telling us Mrs. S. had said he
was no good on earth for any thing she
knew of; SO he ought to make n good
soldier.
The 10Th of April, 1861. found us In
camp as Company A. Eleventh Ohio,
Curly was n water-spnniel, liver-col-
ored, with few white spots. large,
beautiful brown eyes, wide, intelligent
forehead, with white face, and he scon
won his way to the hearts of all in his
regiment.
When the regiment organized for
three years Curly was included as
brevet comrade of his company. and
went with them to West Virginia,
where he took an active part in the
campaigns of the regiment. He was
always in the advance, and during n
skirmish would run between the lines
barking, as much ms to say the chaps
over there were no friends of his On
August II, 1862, the regiment embarked
on steamers from Camp Piatt, and
were soon heading down the Kanawha
toward the Ohio. Heading up that
stream the men soon jumped to the
conclusion it was to the East General
j. d. Cox was taking us. We had now
been ''sogers" long enough for each
company to own one or more dogs,
and they We're getting to be n
burden; so our "Majah' thought
it good time to unload the
mongrel brood. He had man detail
ed that night to throw every cur over
board and let him swim for his life,
either to free Ohio or the Sacred Sile" "
The detail reported to the Major he
was afraid to throw Company AS dog
Curly overheard, saying if he did, he
was goner sure. SO that much of
the order was revoked and our dog
saved. When the boats got rs far rs
Blennerhasset's Island, the regi-
ment had to disembark, owing to the
bottom of the river being so near to
the surface, and Curly marched to
Parkersburg, w. Va. with us; from
there we had B. & o. stock-car to
Harper's Ferry. He stuck to his COM
mand at second Bull Run, Frederick
City, Sand Mountain and Antictam;
then back to Clarksburg, w. Va; then
we marched overland to Summerville,
w. Va. AT Buchanan Company was
target practicing little, when Curly
ran into the bushes behind the target.
Captain Staley fired about that time,
and caught Curly in the neck, just
about where he wore his badge, which
bore this legend:
"I am Company AS dag. Whose
dog are youP"
Captain Hatfield detailed nurse,
and Curly was placed in n wagon, care
fully nurscd, and soon reported for
duty. He got into n goody number of
scrapes for n member of such mod
est. moral regiment as the Eleventh
Ohio was reputed to be. At Chicka-
mauga Curly elected TO stay on the
field with our wounded, rs he knew
how it was himself Think of the
friendly, plying glance of their mute
comrade MS he passed from one wound-
cd sufferer to another and could rem
der no aid; but he was true, and resist
ed the Establishments of the Confed
who tempted him with morsel of food
to leave his old comrades. When Cen
eral Thomas arranged for the parole
and return of our wounded, Curly
took advantage of the flag of truce and
came in with the unfortunates. Here
his luck went dead against him. 4
Captain of another regiment-the
Tenth Ohio, / believe-saw him and
took quite fancy to him and tied him
up at his tent. The boys of Company
A finding Curly had come in
set out to find him, and soon did So
The Captain claimed the dog and re-
fused 10 part with him. The Colonel
of the Tenth, hearing the rumpus,
came up to learn what it was all about.
julie Ogier. think, spoke for Curly
and only asked that he be let loose,
which the Colonel ordered done, when
the dog rushed among his friends. So
Curly once more took his place at the
campfire and mess-table. Curly was
at Mission Ridge after that. AS the
regiment came home, in 1864. he got
showed off the cars while in motion
some where near Bowling Green. Ky.
One of our regiment was sent back.
and poor Curly WAS found with u leg
broken. He WAS carefully patched up
and returned to Dayton, where he
found u home with his old comrade.