Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-10-09
Civil War Stories

'Who can tell when the calamity
howl heganf"
i can" said DR.. Carlson, one of
party of six in a game of einch,
Then DIR. Carlson told a story that
will interest all classes of readers. be-
cause stories about army pets never
fail 10 interest.
Our regiment was camped at Pine
Hin, Ark, for long time one day
there marched into our regiment
peculiar looking dog. cross between
gray and brown. with very large ears
that hung down like hounds. large
limbs and head unlike hounds,
but with bay that was houndlsh. Al
once IL became pet. One morning
our pet showed us u nest of puppies
The news of the event went through
the brigade within an hour, and hun
dredS of the boys dropped around to
see and welcome the newcomers. For
one reason or another, probably be-
cause the little fellows were handled
and petted SO much, all but one OF
them died within IA month. Not loug
after that, not seeing the mother max
ing the rounds of the tents ON her Gus
tomary morning calls, one of the boys
went 70 dog headquarters and saw
the surviving puppy sitting on his
launches mournfully whining and
looking at its motionless mother
Our company pet was dead.
That afternoon the dog was given
a suitable military burial ANA we
turned our undivided attention to
bringing up the puppy. Ii was taken
into one of the tents and cared for as
tenderly as Il mother would care for
her baby. 1t was necessary TO keep Il
constant supply of milk. MIX was not
an army ration We had plenty of the
condensed sort but the surgeon said
that that would soon make the little
one join his mother, brothers and sis
tiers. so one of our company volunteer
ed to forage for milk. Stringing ON
a couple of canteens, he set out. He
was gone two hours, and when he
came back he had plenty OF milk, but
had had to travel, going and coming.
over four miles. Every drop of that
| precious milk was saved for the young
dog. The little fellow thrived There
was no lack OF volunteers to 20 IN
search of milk. lie was well fed on
that ration until he was large enough
to feed on army ratlons. like the rest
OF us, and then he was constantly in
danger of being overfcd
When six weeks or two months old
| II was decided 10 give the new pet &
name. All of the regimeutal genluses
/ and we had our full quota of them
We're invited TO the tent where the dos
was an honored guest. and the matter
of a name was animatedly discussed
| One of them wanted TO call him Gov
ernor That proposition was quickly
| abandoned when Pewaukce member
said: For heavens sake. don't dc
that; he might turn out ms worthless
as some governors.
What do YOU say To calling hin
DNhNihAt SdHl tSNu Oi VERNON lSdti
There is The same objection Il
that as there was TO his being called
Governor, II seems 10 me, said the ole
! man.
Arkansas was proposed Not by q
blank sight said John Carrier. II
he is given the name of state II shall
be union. not rebel state
we had a visitor from Company Il
Peter Bodettc. lie said: ALLOW me
to suggest a name Call him Caam
ity.
"A little further discussion. aud il
was agreed that that should be his
name and from that day to this the
Twenty-eighth's pet dog has been call
ed Calamity Like his mother. he
/ became a large, awkward. good-na
tured. serviceable animal He was
perfectly at home with any man IN
the TwentY-eightl. and friendly with
every man In the brigade, from the
general commanding go the kicking
cook
Calamity was more than All orna.
ment and playthiDg We found him
very useful during the balance of tht
war. particularly when meat rations
we're short. II seemed to be as nat
ural for Calamity to catch pigs M
II is for water spaniel to swim.
ION a march our boys were supplied
Wits fresh pork through the energy
skill and generosity Of Calamity. lie
had his preference in the matter OF
breed. The razorback species were
'Calamity's' special delight This breed
of swine ran Wild IN portions Of Ark
ansas Whenever we reached piece
of timber Calamity would trot along
the line with a knowing look and a
dog laugh FOR the men. and then sud
denly dart out ipto the woods The
next news we had from Calamity was
a squeal from raz0r-back. and that
was the signal for an outburst from
oil Of the men who heard it. II the
game was not too old and ugly .Cala.n-