Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-07-18
Charging a Regiment.

Nea- New Kent Court House, Vfr-
ginia, General DeTrobriand's brigade
encamped in a field, in which was an
ill-tempered bull. At first the animal
seemed to pay no attention to what was
going on, but after the arms had been
stacked and the men had scattered in
all directions in search of wood and
water, he began to be excited by the
unusual stir. AS he began paving the
ground and believing, the dogs Of the
regiment set up a chorus of barking
and Immediately started in the direc-
ton of the bull. He charged reso-
lutely upon the first five or six of them,
and the men fastened from all sides to
enjoy the spectacle.
The moment the bull saw hat he
had enemies more worthy of his notice.
he fell upon the nearest. The men,
who had no arms except their c~anteens
and tin cups, took to the heels with
all haste, and their companions, seeing
that the sport was becoming serious,
made for the. fence, in the midst of
cries and laughter, the noise of which
came nearer and nearer.
Blinded by rage, worried by the
dogs, the bull in a few bounds was at
the front of the regiment. The Lieu
tenant Colonel was there at that mo-
ment, giving orders, when twenty
voices at once called to him, Look
out!" He turned his head; the animal
was almost upon him, foaming at the
mouth, fire in his eye, with horns
lowered.
With one bound the Lieutenant
jumped to one side, his foot slipped and
he fell in a furrow. Happily for
him the brute was under such head
way that he could not stop nor. even
turn before striking our stacks of arms
with his lowered head. He knocked
over two or three of them, threw him
self on the line of the Sixty.second.
overturning everything in his passage,
and again turned upon us in the midst
of a general rout.
On our right was the Seventh Mas
sachusetts. One of their wagons had
stopped near the road, and behind the
wagon was chained a fine Newfound-
land dog, the pet Of the regiment. The
courageous dog made frantic efforts to
get loose, and a general cry went up:
"Unchain the dog!"
The dog was loosed. He bounded
across the road and rushed upon the
enemy whom no one knew how to fight.
A few men, indeed, had seized their
guns, but they could not use them for
fear of killing some Of their comrades.
AS to playing the role of picador with
the bayonet, it was so dangerous that
no n was willing to try it.
When the Newfoundland entered the
list everything was changed. For a
moment the dog and the bull stopped
in front of each other, while q circle
of warriors was formed around them.
Then followed a series of maneuvers
for position till all at once the dog made
a feint, turned sharply back, sprang at
the head of the bull, and remained
fastened to his cara weight of not less
than sixty or eighty pounds.
The bull first tried to free himself by
tossing the dog into the air. Next he
tried to crush him under his feet. But
the dog saved himself with great ad
dress, and her the bull, mad with pair
and rage, began to u at o venture
believing tearfully and carrying tn,
: huge dog fastened like a vice to his ear
q At this instant the Commissary Sci
geant Of the regiment, a butcher b.
trade, came Up. He armed himsel
, with q Ratchet, and one vigorous bio,
upon the backbone Of the bull put al
, end to the contest.