The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-01-08
A BOYS WAR STORY
How a Dog Saved a Regiment.

dream. How fortunate that the boys
Of IT, day have 10 such terrible sights
to Nitnessl The dream OF childhood
was disturbed bl the shock Of battle, by
the booming Of heavy guns and by The
runners OF blood AID carnage and OF
families rent asunder aud OF homes de-
slroyed.
Until Sherman marched through
Georgia our quiet place on the edge Of
the great Ok, fnokee swamp in south
eru Georgia was unvisited by Federal
troops. | had not up to that time even
seen Il blue coat aud rumors of the war
were conveyed to us only through the
accounts in stray weekly papers. To
me It seemed far away then. As a boy
| dreamily listened to the excited talk
of the planters, aud wondered why they
took 80 much interest in The affair.
But when matters grew worse and
my brother enlisted in the Confederate
army with several other young men of
the neigh borhood, realized that the
war was not so far away as | had
supposed. They marched north ward
toward Savannah anid the tears and
prayers OF every one. But their bright
uniforms and shining buttons and
swords particularly attracted my youth
ful attention. For days after d canned
of being a soldier and Of marching TO
war to the tune of the drum and fife.
In the dense shades Of the great swamp
l fought imaginary foes, and even en-
listed several of the little negroes of the
plantation into the service, and led
them bravely to battle.
With boys idea of excitement and
adventure, | was SOON disappointed in
not bearing the boom of cannon and
the roar of battle. From the converse
ton Of my parents, bad learned that
the war WAS close to our doors, and
every time walked down to the swamp
| expected TO see Notwithstanding men
in great, blue coats, ready to shoot me.
One hot August day [ was in the
swamp, as usual, fishing for southern
trout. The heat was almost sitting and
the welcome shade of the forest made
me tired and sleepy. The fish in the
muddy waters seemed to gasp with the
heat also, and the bait that dangled
close to their noses was untouched.
A beautiful sandhll crane stood on one
leg in tie sluggish water about 100
feet away, dreamily watching me out
of ops eve, and not far from the same
spot a Florida ibis was cleansing it's
gaudy pumage with the water and
cooling its feversh body at the same
time. NV two darby compauions were
asleep. Near me, with head neetling
on the soft, moist sod, was Banks, my
faithful hunting-dog. 1t was an ideal,
peaceful scene, as l look back at it
through the vista of many years, and it
seemed pity to have it disturbed.
l opened my eyes as the noise of ap-
proachi ing footsteps reached my ears.
Twenty yards from US rough, narrow
road had been cut through the forest
swamp, leading from the upland cotton
farms to a branch of the st. Mary's
river. A boat ran up the river at the
head where the road met it, and many
of the farmers and planters secured
their supplies in this way. In wet
weather the road WAS impossible on
account of the high water, but in dry
weather it formed fair sort of back
woods thoroughfare.
Banks prcked up his ears in min
ute at the sound, and then jumped to
his feet with snarl. Peeping through
the bushes, | waited and listened. The
sound of horses hoofs pounding the
muddy road-bed was now apparent to
me. When they turned bend in the
road saw five horsemen dressed in
bright blue uniforms, with carbines slung
over their shoulders, and bright ssbers
dangling at their siies. In an instant
the truth flashed across my mind that
the Federal soldiers had appeared.
Here were five of them riding right
toward me. But they were not such
Notwithstanding men as / had antici-
pated In fact, thought they looked
as handsome and attractive as my
brot her and his comrades, and was in
doubt as to whether | should prefer &c
wear Confederate or Federal uniform.
My two companions were now awake
and they were trembling with fear
Their eyes were as big as saucers, and
though my voice trembled little,
tried to assume great courage.
"Keep quiet, Banks, keep quiet
whispered, patting my hunting-dog
whose snarls were getting too loud.
"Dere is more Of dem. De wood
am tulip one of my darky companion;
whispertd in frightened voice.
made no reply. but followed the
dire ction of his finger. Sure enough
there were several others coming dowr
The road. Then these were followed
by others, all riding jauntily along OF
, their hot, jaded horses.
Where are they going?' | asket
myself,
This question seemed to be answered
by the next move. The leader of tn
column, which ! soon found to be
lng one, was now standing still in tn
middle OF the road and giving orders
The men dismoupted and led thei
horses into the shades of the swamp
Others came up aud took their places
and these were assigned positions far
Their along in the swamp.
To me all this was strange and mean
ingless. Why the men should concea
themselves in the thick, wet swamp,
was unable to guess. I had read o
army discipline and tactics, but neve
remembered seeing anything like this
1t was my Oldest body-guard that CAV