The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-08-01
asG,t back IN there and shut the door.

Anc AcltOk AaA gov LIE gun W titst
but Cussy had the drop on him with his spade,
and il bein' powerful dark, the Teller couldn't
tell the difference tween a spade aud a cannon
mt that distance, and, concludin' twas mus
ket, the door went shut ca-slam
"The next second Ben got through the fence
and ] followed suit; but Cussy thought he
didn't have time so he hove the spade at the
door with all his might tit maio monstrous
racket aud run as hard as ne knowed how at
the fence. When he got close enough he jump
ed-Cussy was Ter bic jumper. the blamedest
jumper / ever saw; could jump the Tennessee
River if he wanted TO, but l never heard of
him a-wantin' to-and he cleared that fence as
slick as a whistle, dropped on the other side,
and was runnin along with us in a minute.
Conrse there was a little connection at the
house, but what did we care then.
ave got back TO the picket bout o'clock
and divided mp. We had eight chickens, and
six men to divide 'em between, besides Cap.
Allen-we alwus give him slice ofthe plumber,
SOS that he wouldn't be too hard on US, s'posin'
he caught rs. He'd alwus do his best not to
catch us, and he hardly ever did catch us. and
then we didn't have much of any punishment.
We gave the extra chicken to Sam RUSSELL for
holdin' down the pieket-post while we was off
foragin', and don't you forget it, we had feast.
" That's the end of my yarn, Bill, and now
I'm listeuin' to hear your'n."
A RAID ON PORK.
We'll, Andy" began Bill, "when / asked
you where you were 26 years ago tonight /
was thinking of little experience l had at
that time. Like your own, my story is about
foraging, but at about this time l was bathing
my bruised shoulder with arnica. Twenty-six
years ago last night was my time TO go on
guard You know how they stand: three men
and Corporal go out. and it was customary for
them 20 divide the night into four parts and
the officer take the first quarter; but he isn't
obliged to stand at all.
ave went out that night with no idea of
foragng, as our orders were very strict against
il, old Forrest being pretty close TO us, and the
camp was ready TO turn out at moments no.
tice. The Corporal of the Guard was Mack
Hollins-he afterwards became n Lieutenant
and the relief consisted Of Henry Williams
Tom Irwin and myself.
About $50 o'clock, as we were sitting
around the fire accusing the rebels and wish
ing the war was over, we heard a short, sharp
grunt and snufling of the air. Turning
around, we saw one of those razor backed, rail-
splitting hogs. like you spoke of Andy. Ii
didn't look like il had been fed in six months,
but We were awful hungry for fresh hog meat
and Tom Irwin aud i snatched mp our guns,
and would have fred, but Mack told us to hold
on, we'd alarm the whole camp. The hog turn
ed around all Of n sudden, and ran OFF into the
bushes like train of cars; you know that sort
u pigs NaA OulIui "a EdEt-uofHtf huy hbM- hS
heard it tearing along little ways, and then
il stopped, to listen, suppose.
There, said j, you've let il get away.
90 No ] haven't, replied Mack. Put your
bayonet on the end OF your gun. Bill, and go
out TO the right about 80 steps and stand still.
Tom, you tx your bayonet and 60 to the left
about the same distance. Hen aud ] will go
around the hog and drive 1t towards 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 bad their guns ready, SO If they got
close enough they would stick the brute
Pretty soon heard a gruuting and 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 behind. it
gave quick, sharp grunt aud dashed straight
towards me.
" got good grip on my gun, and prepared
70 drive she bayonct right through the hog
when IL got near enough, but IL must have seen
me, for when il gOt within about Is feet OF me,
il sheered aud started between myself and the
FIRE. It was too far away TO stick, and, Of
course was resolved not 20 let it escape IL /
could help II, 50 ! raised my gun aud threw IL
az the animal with ali my strength. But IL
was running faster than ! thought. or else l
didn't throw the gun quick enough; for, in
instead Of striking right behind the fore leg as
INTENDED, the bayonet went through the back
part OF the hams, sunk deep into the earth and
/ pinned il 10 the ground.
The hog set up such r squealing as / never
heard before. louder than steamboat whistle,
and fairly made my ears ache with its terrible
| din. a few jumps brought the boys on the
spot, and we all tried 20 talk at once, but none
Of MS could be heard.
81 caught hold Of the butt end OF my gun,
which VAS shaking like leaf, to steady IL, for.
| IL the hog kept up its struggles. il would pull
| the bayonet out of the ground and run of.
/ Hen and Tom grabbed it by the ears aud legs
4 70 hold 1t still and Mack, in his excitement
quite forgetting 10 use his bayouet, jerked out
a little % revolver he had been Carrying 10
| practice with. placed its mnzzle In the hogs
esr. and stopped its squealing forever.
The pistol, being so close to its head, made
a pretty loud report, and fool In the next
/ picket TO our right heard the sound. and, con.
Guiding the Febs were right onto us. fired OF
his gun and gave the alarm. We knew we
were IN for 10 then, 50 we covered mp the dead
| hog with bushes and got back TO the fire.
"The long-roll sounded, the whole army
turned out and got ready for instant battle. II
must have been two hours before the mistake
was discovered 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 IL o'clock we were
summoned before the Colonel TO answer for ouI
breach Of orders; Of course we all denied oul
guilt, but the Colonel broke US of with:
know that one Of you in guilty, and II
that one doesn't report 10 me by o'clock thi,
afternoon, will be obliged to punish you ALL
AS We passed out Of his tent we saw another
body Of men, which we surmised was the other
picket, coming slowly towards headquarters
We four talked the matter over and decided
that, as We were equally guilty, and one mar
could suffer for the whole party. we would draw
straws to see who should report to the Colonel
] drew the unlucky straw, aud ut s o'clock pre-
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