Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-25
A FOUR FOOTED WARRIOR.
The Brave Dog Who Went With the
Brigade Into Battle.

From the Atlantic Monthly.
The deepening danger grew tragically in
tense, for there was nothing to be done
except to stay and confront it. At last, to
the manifest relief of the long. long line
the orders were to advance, and as We
stepped forward somewhat blithely, we
noticed, moving directly in front of us,
little more rapidly than ourselves, a small
body of glittering cavalry escorting a
group of gorgeously appointed staff officers
We also noticed that they had most en-
thusiastic companion. large dog, with
shaggy jet black curly hair and most musi-
cal voice. followed the cavalcade closely,
barking generously. as though he felt his
duty to be akin to that of the bugler
His superb waving tail moved high in air
in rhythmic cadence with the marching men
who were behind him. rather than in time
to the Gathering hoofs and chaos of sound
which preceded him. The awful peril of
our own situation did not prevent us from
wondering how the noble beast had man.
aged to get there, and what would be his
fate if he remained. We could not learn
even, whether he belonged to any of those
who were actors in the fearful drama before
us; but presumably this was the case for
there was that in his movements betoken-
ing dog who felt himself to be at home
rather than the vagrant canine who had
run away whittier ne had no business to 60
Still On and on, as the brigade advanced
went the delighted dog, occasionally rails
ing his head yet higher, as if for the pur-
pose of throwing his voice farther, while
his ever-swaying tail responded to the ca
denced step of the dear dogs fellow coun-
trymen. How he loved the scene, / have
often been charmed with the delight shown
by dogs when there is dancing or other
frolc going on; their emotional nature
fairly reveling in movement of any kind
The least sociable dog is always ready for
a run or a romp with the least congenial
companion, and there is no being to whom
the infection of gayety is so generously
contagious.
All through the desolate two hours &C.
cupied by this engagement, the first of
the war. our friend still pursued his de-
lighted tactics-an example of glowing fear
lessness. why" exclaimed soldier hes
better than a brass band to keep our spirits
up! We were all young then, the group
surveying that ecstatic deg, and much
nearer to college and classic phra seology
than most of us have ever been since and
SO when recent graduate cried: well
done. Gaudia Certamlnis"' the refrain was
taken up by all who could translate il and
by great many who could not, and Gaudia
Certaminis the dog remained throughout
his martial career.
Later on, as one by one the various reci
a
deemed impracticable, we could see our
handsome friend holding his ground among
the very last, until in the deepening twi-
light he was observed striding majesti-
caIly after his cavalry escort, as we now
called it, on their way to the rear. All
then that swaying tail, which an hour
before had moved in joyous unison with
the Soldiery, had fallen to a discont tented
level as the poor dog bewilderedly retraced
his footsteps, following whatever master
among the gnttering staff might lay claim
to his powess and his fidelity
All the succeeding right we were kent
awake by the fierce whistle of trains beare
ing what We only too well knew were re-
Inducements from Richmond When at
last, at daybreak, we stood on that vast
plateau, where we were to see bv far the
greatest battle yet fought on This CON
tinent, we instinctively looked for our four
footed comrade, Gaudia for sornehoU NO
were well assured that he must be with us.
taking his share of peril, as beseerned a
noble knight.
At dark of that day of monstrous calau-
ity the warning hosts had separated. and
TOT some reason which will never be known,
the leglons of the north were in full re-
treat, having been victorious all through
the day. Terrified teamsters homesiclx
miltiamen, panic-stricken mules and stray
elers OF every sort had started the STAN
pede at the rear long before the fighting
IN our front had ceased The German re-
serves stationed at Centeryille five miles
behind us. We're in full retreat an hour
previous to the last charge of the seventy
ninth highlanders. AS our discouraged
despairing soldiery staggered in retreat
toward the stone bridges, walking as
though wading through seas of clotted
plood, one OF the last scenes that fell upon
our disturbed vision, on passing through
Centerville, was that of our dear Gaudia
returning from the field with a small red
rlll OF blood trickling from his neck. He
PROBABLY did not live to go much farther,
and, associated as he was in our minds
with the army when advancing, 1t seemed
to us well If he did not live to witness that
retreat which brought mourning into nearly
in ha ln