Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-08-14
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
a MIDNIGHT CAPTURE.
The Long Roll Was Sounded and .he Poor
Porker Died.

Porker Died.
.'Twenty-siX years ago last night"
said a veteran the other evening was
my time to 60 on guard. You know how
they stand; three men and a corporal 90
out, and II was customary for them 70
divide the night into four parts, the Of
Gcer takes the first quarter; but he isn't
Obliged 70 stand al all
.'We went out that night with no idea
Of foraging, as our orders were very
strict against If, old Forrest being prot
" close to us, and die camp was ready
TO turn ont at a moments notice. Tho
corporal Of tile guard was Mack Hollis
heafterwards became Lieutenant-and
the relief consisted Of Henry Williams
Tom Irwin and myself
About $3.50 o'clock, as We were sitting
around the fire accusing ne rebels and
wishing the war was over, wc heard a
short, sharp grunt and snulllng Of the
air Turning around, we saw one of
those razor backed. raIl-splitting hogs
like you spoke Of, Andy 1t didn't look
like Il tad been fed ia 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 a sudden and ran into the
bushes like a train Of cars; you know
that sort OF pigs can outrun race horse,
anyhow. We heard it tearing along
little ways, and then 1t stopped, To
listen, suppose.
There, said l, you've let it get
away
No haven't, replied Mack Put
your bayonet on the end OF your gun,
Bill, and 90 out to the right about fifty
steps and stand still Tom, you fix your
bayonet and 20 to the left about the
same distance. Hen and will 60 around
the hog and drive it towards the fire; it
will 90 on one side or the other, then
mako a sure stab.
We got into our positions. and Mack
and Henry went out to drive In the
porker OF course they had their guns
ready, SO if they got close enough they
would stick the brute Pretty soon
heard granting. 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 evident
ly listening; hearing Mack and Henry
coming from behind it gave a quick
sharp grunt and dashed straight toward
me
II got good gripon my gun. and pre-
pared TO drive my bayonet right through
the hog when il got near enough, but il
must have seen me for when it got with
in about fifteen feet of mo it sheered
and started between myself and the fire !
1t was too far away TO stick, and. OF
course. was resolved not to let it !
escape if | could help il, 50 | raised my
gun and threw 4 at the animal with all !
my strength But it was running faster |
than ! thought, or else | did not throw |
the gun quick enough, for instead OF
striking right behind the fore legs !
as ! intended the bayonet went
through the back part Of the hams,
sunk deep into the earth and pinned it
to the ground.
Tho hog set up such a squealng as I
never heard before louder than steam |
boat whistle, and fairly made my ears
ache With It's terrible din 4 few jumps |
brought the boys on the spot, and we all /
tried 10 talk at once, but none Of u3
could be heard
II caught hold Of the butt end IL my
gun, which was shaking like a leaf to
steady it, for, If the hog kept up his |
struggles, it would pull the blyonet out
OF the ground and run oil Hen and Tom
grabbed 1t by the legs ana ears to hold il
still and Mack IN his excitement quite
forgetting to use his bayoaet, ierlled out
a little twenty-five revolver he had been
carrying to practice with placed its
muzlle in the hogs ear and stopped It's
squealing forever
The pistol. being s. close to its head,
made a pretty loud report, and a fool In
the next picket % the right heard the
sound, and concluding that the rebs
were right onto us, fired of his gun and
gave the alarm We knew we we're in
for it then, So sc covered up the dead
hog with bushes and got back 10 the
fire
THE lonL ron sounded, the whole
army turned out and got ready for in
slant battle. II must have been two
hours before the mistake was discovered
and the men got back into their quar-
ters. Nothing was done about it 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
of with:
i 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
''As we passed out Of the tent We saw
another body Of men, which We surmised
was the other picket, coming slowly to-
ward headquarters. We four talked the
matter over and decided that, as We we're
equally guilty and one man could suffer
for the whole party. we would draw lots
to see who would report TO the Colonel.
drew the unlucky straw, and at five
O'Clock presented myself At hpaduHar-