The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1889-04-13

No, never ate any dog, observed
Capt Marsh Miller in reply to a ques-
tion touching articles of diet be had
tackled during his career as a soldier.
~But | aud my whole company got
the name Of being dog-eaters once, and
it stuck to Us until we disbanded, he
added in the confidential tone he
assumes when he is prepared to unshlp
a reminisence.
The way of it, he continued, ~was
this. had been ordered to take
squad Of men-all framed scouts and
Indian iighters-and skirmish around
in the woods back of ST. Joseph, La,
and watch the enemy.
I'VE had nothing to eat except hard
tack and sow belly, and an occasional
piece of beef, when we could catch
COW or steer that looked like il was
tired of life, so when some of the boys
brought in young kid one day there
was general rejoicing.
~The Kid wasn't in very good order
in fact glass-eyed man could count
his ribs fifty yards away, but we were
not particular. Goat was goat, and
anything beat the regular rations.
I'VE skinned the kid and borrowed
one of these old-iashioned ovens to
bake ii in, and were licking our chops
in fond contemplation of the coming
feast, when up rode Col. Harris, whose
regimen. was camped about ten miles
away. lie had ten men with him aud
they all looked hungry.
"'IAght, colonel, and take dinner
says !.
severe going down the road a
piece, but Wen be back inside of fifteen
minutes and 90 YOU, said he, and he
eyed the oven like he could cat every
thing in It.
"All right, said |, and Harris and
gang rode off.
"'Cappcn you have played HI now,'
said one of the boys after Harris had
gone, them fellcrs'll come back here
an they bcin' company wen have tc
take back seat an they'll eat all the
Kid
"'No they won't, said |, and mean,
II, for | had plan.
zone Of the boys had shot a yellow
dog that morning and the carcass LAY
in ravine pretty close to the camp,
sent man down TO where the anlma
was and had him to cut off the fee
and bring them to me.
81 threw 'em down pretty close I,
the oven and laid for Harris and hi
, crowd. Pretty soon they camo back
t looking hungrier than ever.
0 II invited 'cm to sit down on a 10,
} where they could look right at IN
I dogs feet, and after looking awhile,
, got up and raised the lid Of the oven.
"l'he kid was just done enough L
look rcd, and If | hadn't known bette
| might have taktn II for dog myself
"Whcre are the fcetT ! asked TN
cook, looking all around and swearin,
like Texas trooper because what
called the best part of the meat hat
been thrown away
"1'hcn saw the dogs feet, and
went on worse than ever. black
guarded the cook and everybody Ii
the army from jeff Davis down. be-
cause the feet had been left of. Ol
course Harris and his men noticed the
dogs paws aud caught on, or thought
they did.
al don't believe we can stay TO din.
ner, Miller said Harris in a moment OF
two, 'we haven't got time
"Oh yes you have replied, ant
picking up one of the paws turned :,
the cook and told him to skin Il and
barbecue IL for Col. Harris.
"Well, sir, thought Harris would
faint lie turned red in tho face
squirmed like girl with flea under
her corset, and finally stammered some.
thing about being indisposed and
urgent duties which demanded his
immediate presence at his camp, and
walked over TO where his horse was
tied.
"llis men followed, and, in spite OF
our entreaties, every one Of the suckers
rode Off and left us to cat dinner
alone.
$50 we had the kid all TO ourselves
and 1t was good eating, too, but VIC
paid for IL afterwards. Harris men
told every one they saw that Marsh
Miller and his crowd ate dog, and
everybody believed il.
"And that's the way got the repu.
tation ofknowing the taste of canine
roast.v
WElTuru ruuu BuIIrTIv