Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-06
Bill eChewed III is Ear" and the Rebels


Several veterans of the war OF the rebellion
were telling of their experiences in Rondout
recently, says the New York Times, and one OF
them got this OFF:
.Our regiment was in camp at Rarper's
Ferry, and one DAY q comrade and secured
permission to pay visit to farm house some
distance away, where we knew there was poul-
try. We rode horses and had some money in
our pockets to purchase what chickens and
turkeys We desired, for on this occasion we had
made up our minds 20 forego foraging, but later
on circumstances arose that quickly made us for
get our good resolution. A short distance from
the farm house was grass field into which We
turned our horses to Craze at will We then pro-
ceeded to the residence on foot and met the
farmer on old-fashioned porch that ran the
whole front Of the quaint farm house. i told
him we had come to barter for some chickens
and turkeys. This proposition seemed to fire
his southern blood he swore he d rather see
every fowl on his pre- misses rot before he would
sell them to any - Yankee for one hundred
times their weight In gold. That settled is
with us. Our northern blood had reached -
high boiling point that of the old south
erner. We could not stand such an insult and
went straightway to the barn, where hne lot
of fowls were pecking grain.
''It did not take us long TO tie the legs Of Q
goodly number of chickens and turkeys. As
Il ~
proud gobbler / looked up, aud 10 my dismay
saw coming up the lane u small company OF
rebel cavalry. i took in the situation at q
glance. knew We had not time to reach our
horses, and to escape on foot was impossible.
In the barn yard were two sleek mules. Throw
ing my string OF poultry over the back Of one
and jumping astride the animal shouted to
Bill-that was the first name of my comrade-
to follow my example. He did 30, and took
the lead for the camp. The mule was on had
faEa hn4o fam sn,,.t her
Great thunder! He's baked, Jim.
81 looked around, and sure enough the mule
had baked. The Johnnies we're close at hand
and / shouted back: Crawl on his neck, Bill,
and chew his ear
bill lost no time in irving the experiment.
He got the end Of one Of the animals long
ears into his mouth and began operations. The
mule gave q squeal like that Of q stuck pig and
rushed after its mate, which was riding on,
for dear life Suddenly saw something koom
ND and rush past me. II was Bill and his mule.
Bills teeth were imbedded in the animals ear
and blood trickled down the side OF its head.
Bill was all bumped up on the back OF his mad
steed and presented a most ludicrous sight
The turkeys tapped their wings and the chick
ems made q terrible clatter, which only served
to make the mule go faster. heard the John
mics behind rs laugh. They fired at M, but Ne
we're NOT hit / am sure they could not have
hit Bill, for be was being carried along a. great
Through the picket line Of our regiment
and on through the camp went Bills mule, the
poultry bobbing up and down at every jump.
As soon AZ knew we were out of reach Of the
enemy gathered all my lung power and
shouted:
Let 60 the mules ear Bill. we're safe'
"Bill heard me and let 20. He finally soe.
ceeded in stopping the mule, whose sides ventin
and out like a big bellowA An examination
showed that Bill had cheved over half the
mules ear Of. Bill allowed il vas the toughest
bit Of meat he had ever tackled, but that night
he got square on roast turkey and chicken. We
lost two Of the best horses IN our camp"