Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1889-08-28
a MIDNIGHT CAPTURE,
How Rash RazOr-Back Tried to Pass a
~ Picket NnG Failed

a MIDNIGHT CAPTURE,
How Rash Razor-lsack Tried to Pass a
rs Picket anti Failed.
Twenty-six years ago last night was
my time to go on guard. You know
how they stand; three mon and COR
poral go out, and it was customary for
them to divide the night into four parts.
and the officer take the first quarter;
but he isn't obliged to stand at all.
r. ave went out that night with no idea
of foraging, as our orders were very
strict against it, old Forrest being
pretty close to US, and the camp was
ready to turn out at a moments notice
The corporal OF the guard was Mack
Hollins-he afterwards became Lieu
tenant-and the relief consisted of
Henry Williams, Tom Irwin and N.Y.
self.
.''About $50 o'clock, as we were sit
ting around the fire accusing the rebels
and wishing the war was over, we
heard a short, sharp grunt and snuf-
fling of the air. Turning around, we
saw. one of those razor-backed, rail-
splitting hogs, like you spoke of, Andy.
It didn't look like it had been fed in
six months, but we were awful hungry
for fresh hog meat. and Tom Irwin and
[ snatched up our guns, and would have
fred, but Mack told US to hold on, we'd
alarm the whole camp. The hog turned
around all of sudden, and ran off into
tho bushes like a train of cars; you
know that sort of pigs can outrun a
race-horse, anyhow. We heard it tear
ing along little ways, and then it
stopped, to listen, suppose.
There said I, you We let it get
away
mo, l haven't replied Mack.
Put your bayonet on the end of your
gun, Bill, and go out to the right about
fifty steps and stand still. Tom, you
fix your bayonet and go to the left
about the same distance. Hen and I
will go around the hog and drive it to-
wards the fire; it will go on one side or
the other, then make a sure stab.'
I'VE got into our positions, and
Mack and Henry went out to drive
in the porker. OF course they Mad
their guns ready. so if they got close
enough they would stick the brute.
Pretty soon l heard a granting and a
crashing of the bushes, and in few
seconds the porker ran out into the
light of the fire, and stood stock still,
head down and evidently listening;
hearing Mack and Henry coming be-
hind, it gave a quick, sharp grunt, and
dashed straight towards me.
81 got a good grip on my gun. and
prepared to drive the bayonet right
through the hog when it got near
enough, but it must have seen me, for
when il got within about fifteen feet OF
me, it :heered and started between my
self ami the fire. It was too far away
not TO let it escape if I could help it, so
/ raised my gun and threw it at the an
imal with all my strength. But it was
running faster than I thought, - or else
I didn't throw the gun quick enough;
for, instead of striking right behind the
fore leg as l intended, the bayonet went
through the back part of the hams.
sunk deep into the earth and pinned it
to the ground.
1.-The hog set up such a squealing as
I never heard before. louder than a
steamboat whistle, and fairly made my
ears ache with its terrible din A few
jumps brought the boys on the spec,
and we all tried to talk at once, but
none of us could be heard.
Il caught hold of the butt end of my
gun, which was shaking like leaf, to
steady it, for. if the hog kept up its
struggles, it would pull the bayonet
out of the ground and run off. Hen
and Tom grabbed it by the ears and
legs to hold it still, and Mack, in his
excitement quite forgetting to use his
bayonet, jerked out little % revolver
he had been carrying to practice with,
placed its muzzle in the hogs ear and
stopped it's squealing forever.
The pistol, being SO close to it's
head, made a pretty loud report, and a
fool in the next picket to our right
heard the sonnd, and, concluding the
rebs were right onto us, fired off his
gun and gave the alarm. We knew we
were in for it then, so we covered ur
the dead hog with bushes and got back
to the fire.
1.-The long-roll sounded, the whole
army turned out and got ready for in
slant battle. It must have been two
hours before the mistake was discover.
ed and the men got back into their
quarters. Nothing was done about il
that night. and we brought our meat
into camp with us next morning. About
twelve o'clock we were summoned be.
fore the Colonel to answer for our
breach of orders; of course we all de.
MED our guilt but the Colonel broke
us off with:
"' know that one of you is guilty,
and if that one doesn't report to me by
five o'clock this afternoon, will be
obliged to punish you ALL
LAS we passed out of the tent, We