The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1907-01-10
Capturing a Guarded Calf.

While lying at Rome. Ga, in 1864,
our rations needed a little replenishing,
and one of our mess discovered a calf.
100 big for one TO handle, which calf
was honored by a guard OF W soldiers.
1t was a rule of our mess that any one
discovering such a find" must report
IL at mess, and this was accordingly
reported, and our mess determined. in
spite of the guard, to raise that calf.
Old Pink led the party. 1t was in
the eastern part Of the village, and the
Enclosure in which the calf was con-
fined was surrounded by a picket fence.
A few pickets were taken of quietly,
and then the fun began. Such a love
of home as that calf manifested would
have lone honor to Barzillea Of old. He
through that hole in the fence, not
withstanding we drove him back and
forth like a weayer's shuttle time and
time again. At last Old Kit Ga brother
OF our leader) out of all patience, de-
termined to try force; and, grabbing
at the calf's neck, and missing by q
couple of feet. grasped him around TIE
body, %whereupon the creature began to
run with all his might, Old Kit cling
ing the tighter. The calf was about
eight months old. In good condition,
and the way he drew that seven-footer
through the dog fennei and cherry
sprouts was too funny for a Sunday
school class. Had the brute kept his
mouth shut we should have been all
right. but. unable to shake off Old Kit,
he began to below around and round
the Enclosure. which aroused the
guards, and bang. bang. went their
muskets: whereupon all but Old Pink
and myself lit out. and the guard,
thinking all had gone, became quiet
again, we lying close TO the cherry
sprouts meanwhile. After a while We
tried the calf again. and had little
difficulty in conducting him out through
the fence and in the direction Of the
camp. At about half way our calf be-
gan to recover his attachment for home
and show a decided inclination to con-
tribute nothing more toward the trans
portation of his own corpus away
from his native field OF dog-fennel and
cherry sprouts. If he wouldn't he
wouldn't. and. as we We're determined
to W that calf. we had TO accept the
situation and abide by 1t. Catching
the calf by the hind foot. Old Kit
handed me the Ratchet with the curt
command. Kill him." The first blow
only started that siren below again,
but a second blow laid him insensible
at our feet. Old Kit now showed him
self a good deal Of a butcher, for In
a few moments that calf's head was
| severed from his body and we were
dragging the latter up the sidewalk
TO the hilltop, when Old Kit, out OF
mere bruvado, returned TO where we
| killed the calf. and. taking the head,
pitched It through the window to the
second pair Of guards We suppose
| they breakfasted upon 1t.
Iu due time we arrived In camp. and
while dressing our beef in a clump of
| elder bushes at about the hour of mid
night, the owner Of the calf and the
guards came prowling about hunting
the calf. just then covered deep In
elder bushes. Never was a quieter
place than that camp at that hour
1t was POLITICALLY quiet. Every soldier
was asleep. save the two they were
hunting for, and didn't find. They
finally departed, and we were glad tc
see them go, and then we finished our
butchering and stored our beef.
The camp guard each got u good
slice. and we-why we had meat t.
/ sell at twelve and one-half cents pei
Mound.