The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-10-09
A BANTAM IN TIM ARMY.
Only Roostcr In GcOrgia That Has =
Tombstone over Its Grave.

Atlanta, Ca. September 16.--Major Tom
Williams owned the only rooster that has
been honored in Georgia by having tomb
stone over his grave.
While we were camped near Cuipeper
In telling the story, II became acquainted
with family named Dowdy. Just before
the battle of Culpeper paid a visit to the
farm and found the ladies in q panic pre-
pairing to fee They set before me such
scant fare as they had left. and after
had eaten hasty luncheon Miss Mary
Dowdy called to me and led the way to
the back yard.
There is the last Of our stock Of poul-
try said she, pointing to little bantam
cock that was strutting about the yard Il
haven't the heart to kill him because he
Is pet. II you want him you can take
him and do az you like with him.
During the campaign OF 1863 he often
sat on my shoulder through the long, weary
marches and hurried retreats. and shared
my rations with him. One night we had
reached the flank OF the enemy's camp by
a forced march and lay down TO sleep on
our arms, expecting to be reused at the
break OF day for a sudden charge, had
started off with General perched upon my
musket barrel, and a sudden change In
the order OF march had separated us from
the wagons so placed the rooster on the
limb OF a sapling above my head while
lay down TO snatch few minutes sleep
preparatory to the surprise planned ut
dayhreak
General did not utter a single cluck In
protest, although he must have been very
hungry from long fasting, hut quietly
squatted on the branch while flung my
self on the grass and leaves and was soon
fast asleep. I was so weary that slept
profoundly until was suddenly aroused
by an unearthly screech In my ear. Raising
my head, took In the whole situation at
Il glance.
General had dropped down from his
perch and uttered shrll crow right In
my ear which had awakened me, and as
opened my eyes I saw the flash OF guns as
our pickets fred and in an instant fell
back upon us where we lay The Yankees
| had turned the tables on us and discover
ing our presence, the surprising force be-
| came the surprised. and in ten minutes
| there was the most unearthly racket going
on In that pine thicket that you can Inn
agine.
Right and left OF my position the boys
came out OF cover and advanced with yells
and cheers, moving cautiously and firing
| ms they moved. II had become sufficiently
light for me to find my few belongings,
and ! soon recovered my hat and haver-
sack, which ! had forgotten 10 pick up In
the hurry OF the first surprise, and Just
at that time l was saluted with a loud
crow Just above my head. and looking UP
! saw General perched upon his limb he
| having flown back there when the firing
| began, and with his head held on one side
he was siding along the swaying branch
! Growing and clucklng as big as IL he had
taken part In the fight.
! In spite OF the banging OF the guns and
whistling of bullets General stuck bravely
| to his perch and never fiuttered during
tie entire engagement when ! told the
| story in camp that night General was the
/ toast Of the evening, and he was treated
! to all sorts Of tidhits from the haversacks
! OF my comrades In recognition Of his gal
lantry on the field OF action.
"One morning. however, General played
the camp detective in most alarming
manner which came near proving dis
! astrous to a fellow soldier OF another ness
All foragDg had been strictly forbidden
and no man was allowed to ioavc the ranks
under tho heaviest penalty OF military dis
cipline There WAS a feliow by the name OF
Jim Nessmith, who occupied n tent not
far from that of the captain OF our COM
pany. About o'clock the order WIS passed
along the lines for us TO prepare TO march.
We had not been allowed to kindle our
breakfast consisted of bits of hard tack and
such other scraps OF food as had been left
| in our haverEacks
General was perchcd on the limb OF a
bush near me while | sat munching my
| hard tack. and all of a sudden he raised
| himself on his perch and crowed Justify.
OF course no cock In hearing could resist
replying 10 such a challenge, and from
within the tent occupied by Jim Ncssmith
came the mufficd crew OF all old rooster
| jim made grab at the bag and succeeded
| in choking him off, but the noise had
| reached the cars Of some Of the others and
| the captain became appraised OF the fact
| that Jim had been foraging. A hasty ex-
| animation OF his tent disclosed the body
of the big rooster choked to death by Jim
| in his anxiety 10 put stop to his untimely
| growing.
Jim was ordered under arrest pending
| an investigation, but Just about that time
the order came to advance and we moved
| forward and by sunrise we were fighting,
and the unfortunate officer who had or
dered Jim to be placed under arrest was
borne from the field a corpse after the
| fight was over. The affair was forgotten
| amid the stirring scenes that followed
Seeing that the end was near,I found an
opportunity to send General to the rear,
| ard placing him In cage, started him on
the long journey to the home OF nephew
in Georgia He had not been long on the
| farm before he began TO pine and droop,
and the family thought that he was dis
consulate on account OF being separated
from bis comrades. This might have been
all fancy. but he lived only short time.
! and when he died my nephew and tho
| boys Of the neighhorhood gave him reg
ular military funeral.
81 suppose that hts is the only grave OF
rooster In Georgia. The tiny stones that
mark his last resting place car be seen on
the old homestead near Dalton today. On
| the headstone is rudcly carved the name
/ General with the date Of his death and
the names OF some OF the most important
epgags ments through which he passed
during our comradeehip among the battle
fields OF Virginia"
| A College Dedicated.
| Peoria, H., October S.--Thls afternoon