The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-05-29
TAPS" THE BATTERY DOG.
How He Put Railroads Time Table Out
of Joint

How He Put Railroads Time Table Gu
of Joint
Taps was only dog but he held tn
important office of mascot in one of tn
artillery batteries that rendezvoused ii
the south during the recent war. H
originally belonged to the colonel o
the regiment, but when he left to TAX
charge of volunteer corps he pre-
sented the dog-a fine setter-to thu
men of his battery, all Of whom had {
strong affection for him. Taps wa.
well disciplined. He attended all tn,
drills, was generally to be seen in line
a few yards away at guard mount anC
at dress parade he often stodd directly
behind the commanding officer and
when the long line of officers marched
up, halted and saluted, he would wae
his tail-the only salute he could give
calmly accepting the courtesy with the
colonel.
At night he accompanied the bugleI
who sounded taps and then visited the
various sentries on the grand rounds
making his headquarters with the Off
Ger of the guard; and his name, Taps
was given him for this persistence and
for the reason that he was always out
after taps. In the western country, In
another department, he had once arous-
! ed, by his whining, the suspicious OF the
sentry that something was wrong. The
guard could see nothing. but Taps was
( insistent doing everything to induce
him to go forward, whining and bark
ing in a very low, growing tone. The
sentry finally called for the corporal of
the guard and 1t was discovered that
an uprising of the Indians was in prog
ress and that few of the Indians We're
concealed in the neighboring bush, pre-.
pared it was believed, to steal upon
the guard late at night. For this and
many other reasons Taps was beloved
by every trooper and, in the terse Ian
guage of the men, nothing was too
good for him"
Finally orders came for the regiment
to move from the camp and go to the
coast. The word had been given to the
engineer, the guns and caissons were
piled on the fiat cars and the long train
was just moving out when some one
pulled the bell-rope and the train came
to standstill.
who pulled that bell-rope?' asked an
excited conductor, running up.
I'VE did, answered several troopers
who came out of a car.
What did you do it for?' continued
the man.
"Why, Taps is not aboard"
"Taps-who is Taps?" said the indge
mat conductor.
"Why, the battery dog"
do you mean to say that you stopped
the train for dog? Go ahead" he
shouted to the engineer.
''All right go ahead" retorted the
spokesman of the troopers. Get off,
boys, and let her go; but we don't go
until Taps reports, and at that the men
were pouring out of the train, gathering
about the conductor.
whats all this about?" asked the
captain, coming up, the men separating
on either side.
why, just this, sir" said the con-
ductor; 1--WE are scheduled to start out
at a certain time and your men have
the train for cur that has been
left"
What, Taps?' said the officer.
. - y eS, SIT, Sa1u tTOOper, SdlullHS.
"The dog is not aboard and we couldn't
desert him."
"All right, Mallory: only you should
have reported to me and | would have
the conductor to delay"
Delay whole train for dog when
the steamer is wating." exclaimed the
latter
"She will have to wait for Taps" re-
Joined the officer, who then gave some |
Instructions to the men, who We're soon |
over the country in every d-
rection, whistlng and calling for Taps. |
They covered the entire bush in the |
thinking that he might have
oeen injured; visited the camp and the
title town. but no Taps could be found
and it was almost night when the last
stragglers came in.
The men We're standing around the
,hafing and irate engineer, when the
captain called for the buglers of the sew
,ral batteries.
Get on the car and sound the tattoo
md then taps" he told them. The men
climbed upon the top of the car, raised
heir bugles and sounded the notes that
lave so recently aroused the enthusi-
ISM and patriotism of all Americans.
The slvery notes rang out loudly and
vent echoing among the trees and far
way to the hills. Then the men listen
d. Again the tattoo was sounded and
S the men listened, away off, in the d.
ection of the woods, sharp but faint
ark was heard Again the bugles
ounded and a great cheer arose. Loud
r became the barking, more joyous the
ugle blasts, until present. va big dog
anne tearing across the stretch of
pen
1t was Taps, and, borne aloft by series
f eager arms, he was hustled aboard
he train. His tongue was hanging out,
is hair clogged with mud, which told
ne story. He had gone into a distant
wamp to have a swim and had become
lired, only making his escape under
ne influence of the strains he knew so
ell. ii