When he joined the regiment2, he had passed beyond the period of puppy-hood and was in the full flush of dogly 114 beauty. He was large, not very large,—would probably have turned the scales at about fifty pounds. His build was decidedly “stocky,” and, as horsey men would say, his feet were well under him; his chest was broad and full, back straight, color a warm dark brindle, nose and lips very black, while he had a broad, full forehead and a wonderful pair of large, round, soft, dark-brown eyes. Add to this description an air of supreme5, well-bred dignity, and you have an idea of one of the noblest animals that ever lived. His origin was obscure; one camp rumor6 asserted that he was born on board of a merchant ship while his mother was making a passage from Calcutta to New York; and another told of a beautiful mastiff living somewhere in the State of New Jersey that had the honor of bringing him into the world. It would be very interesting to know something of the 115 parentage of our hero, but, since the facts surrounding his birth are unattainable, we must content ourselves with telling a portion of a simple story of a good and noble life. It may be safe to assert that he was not a native American; if he had been, he would have provided himself with the regulation genealogical tree and family coat-of-arms.
During the first part of his term of service, Carlo was very loyal to his Company, marched, messed, and slept with it, but he was not above picking up, here and there, from the mess tents of the other Companies a tid-bit, now and then, which proved acceptable to a well-appointed digestion7.
His first tour on guard was performed as a member of the detail from Co. G, and always afterward8, in the performance of that duty, he was most faithful. No matter who else might be 116 late, he was ever on time when the call for guard mount was sounded, ready to go out with his own particular squad9. At first, he would march back to Company quarters with the old detail, but, as soon as he came to realize the value and importance of guard duty, he made up his mind that his place was at the guard tent and on the patrol beat, where he could be of the greatest service in watching the movements of the enemy. In the performance of his duties as a member of the guard, he was very conscientious10 and ever on the alert. No stray pig, wandering sheep, or silly calf11 could pass in front of his part of the line without being investigated by him. It is possible that his vigilance in investigating intruding12 meats, was sharpened by the hope of substantial recognition in the way of a stray rib13 extracted from the marauding offender14 whose ignorance of army customs 117 in time of war had brought their tender “corpuses” too near our lines.
As a rule, Carlo, what with his guard duties and other purely15 routine items, managed to dispose of the day until dress parade. At that time he appeared at his best, and became the regimental dog. No officer or soldier connected with the command more fully appreciated “The pomp and circumstance of great and glorious war” than he. As the band marched out to take position previous to playing for the Companies to assemble, he would place himself alongside the drum-major, and, when the signal for marching was given, would move off with stately and solemn tread, with head well up, looking straight to the front. Upon those great occasions, he fully realized the dignity of his position, and woe16 betide any unhappy other dog that happened to get in front of the marching band. When 118 upon the parade field, he became, next to the Colonel, the commanding officer, and ever regarded himself as the regulator of the conduct of those careless and frivolous17 dogs, that go about the world like the street gamin—having no character for respectability or position in society to sustain.
Of those careless ne’er-do-wells the regiment had accumulated a very large following. As a rule, they were harmless and companionable, and, like the inevitable18 “befo’ de wah” Judge and Major, they were always on hand ready for a free lunch and drink. It was only at dress parade that they made themselves over-officious. Each Company was attended to the parade ground by its particular family of canine19 companions, and, when all of them had assembled, the second battalion20 of the regiment would make itself known by a great variety of jumpings, caperings, 119 barks of joy, and cries of delight. To this unseasonable hilarity21 Carlo seriously objected, and his demeanor22 plainly told the story of his disgust at the conduct of the silly pates23 of his race. He usually remained a passive observer until the exercise in the manual of arms, at which particular period in the ceremonies, the caperings and the barkings would become quite unendurable. Our hero would then assume the character of a preserver of the peace. He would make for the nearest group of revellers, and, in as many seconds, give a half a dozen or more of them vigorous shakes, which would set them to howling, and warn the others of the thoughtless tribe of an impending24 danger. Immediately the offenders25 would all scamper26 to another part of the field, and remain quiet until the dress parade was over. This duty was self-imposed and faithfully performed upon many occasions. 120 After the parade was dismissed Carlo would march back to quarters with his own Company, where he would remain until the last daily distribution of rations27, whereupon, after having disposed of his share, he would start out upon a tour of regimental inspection28, making friendly calls at various Company quarters and by taps turning up at the headquarters of the guard. His duties ended for the day, he would enjoy his well-earned rest until reveille, unless some event of an unusual nature, occurring during the night, disturbed his repose29 and demanded his attention.
During the first year of his service in the field, Carlo was very fortunate. He had shared in all of the transportations by water, in all the marchings, skirmishes, and battles, without receiving a scratch or having a day’s illness. But his good fortune was soon to end, 121 for it was ordained30 that, like other brave defenders31, he was to suffer in the great cause for which all were risking their lives.
The morning of April 18, 1862, my brigade then stationed at Roanoke Island, embarked32 upon the Steamer Ocean Wave for an expedition up the Elizabeth River, the object of which was to destroy the locks of the dismal34 swamp canal in order to prevent several imaginary iron-clads from getting into Albemarle Sound, where we had assembled at that time what was known as a “Pasteboard Fleet,” which the supposed iron-clads were to destroy.
Among the first to embark33 was the ever ready and faithful Carlo, and the next morning, when his companions disembarked near Elizabeth City, he was one of the first to land, and, during the whole of the long and dreary35 march of thirty miles to Camden Court 122 House, lasting36 from three o’clock in the morning until one in the afternoon, he was ever on the alert, but keeping close to his regiment. The field of battle was reached: the engagement, in which his command met with a great loss, commenced and ended, and, when the particulars of the disaster were inventoried37, it was ascertained38 that a cruel Confederate bullet had taken the rudimentary claw from Carlo’s left fore-leg. This was his first wound, and he bore it like a hero without a whine39 or even a limp. A private of Co. G, who first noticed the wound, exclaimed: “Ah, Carlo, what a pity you are not an officer! If you were, the loss of that claw would give you sixty days leave and a Brigadier-General’s Commission at the end of it.” That was about the time that General’s Commissions had become very plentiful40 in the Department of North Carolina.
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The Command re-embarked, and reached Roanoke Island the morning after the engagement, in time for the regulation “Hospital or Sick Call,” which that day brought together an unusual number of patients, and among them Carlo, who was asked to join the waiting line by one of the wounded men. When his turn came to be inspected by the attending surgeon, he was told to hold up the wounded leg, which he readily did, and then followed the washing, the application of simple cerate, and the bandaging, with a considerable show of interest and probable satisfaction. Thereafter, there was no occasion to extend to him an invitation to attend the Surgeon’s inspection. Each morning, as soon as the bugle41 call was sounded, he would take his place in line with the other patients, advance to his turn, and receive the usual treatment. This habit 124 continued until the wound was healed. Always, after this, to every friendly greeting, he would respond by holding up the wounded leg for inspection, and he acted as though he thought that everybody was interested in the honorable scar that told the story of patriotic42 duty faithfully performed.
Later on, for some reason known to himself, Carlo transferred his special allegiance to Co. K, and maintained close connection with that Company until the end of his term of service. He was regarded by its members as a member of the Company mess, and was treated as one of them. But, notwithstanding his special attachments43, there can be no reasonable doubt about his having considered himself a member of the regiment, clothed with certain powers and responsibilities. At the end of his term, he was fitted with a uniform—trousers, jacket, and fez, and, thus apparalled, 125 marched up Broadway, immediately behind the band. He was soon after mustered44 out of the service, and received an honorable discharge, not signed with written characters, but attested45 by the good-will of every member of the regiment.
If alive to-day, he must be very old and decrepit46; and I am sure that if he is, in his honorable old age his honest traits of character have not forsaken47 him. No doubt, he takes a just pride in the good service he rendered to his country in the years of its great trials, and it is fortunate that his having four legs has placed him beyond the temptation to join the ranks of the Grand Army of treasury48 looters, who have traded off the honorable name of soldier for that of the pensioned mercenary.
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jersey
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| n.运动衫 | |
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regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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sketch
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| n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述 | |
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supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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rumor
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| n.谣言，谣传，传说 | |
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digestion
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| n.消化，吸收 | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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squad
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| n.班，小队，小团体；vt.把…编成班或小组 | |
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conscientious
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| adj.审慎正直的，认真的，本着良心的 | |
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calf
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| n.小牛，犊，幼仔，小牛皮 | |
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intruding
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| v.侵入，侵扰，打扰( intrude的现在分词)；把…强加于 | |
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rib
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| n.肋骨，肋状物 | |
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offender
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| n.冒犯者，违反者，犯罪者 | |
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purely
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| adv.纯粹地，完全地 | |
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woe
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| n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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frivolous
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| adj.轻薄的；轻率的 | |
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inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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canine
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| adj.犬的，犬科的 | |
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battalion
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| n.营；部队；大队(的人) | |
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hilarity
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| n.欢乐；热闹 | |
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demeanor
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| n.行为；风度 | |
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pates
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| n.头顶，（尤指）秃顶，光顶( pate的名词复数 ) | |
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impending
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| a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
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offenders
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| n.冒犯者( offender的名词复数 )；犯规者；罪犯；妨害…的人（或事物） | |
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scamper
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| v.奔跑，快跑 | |
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rations
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| 定量( ration的名词复数 )； 配给量； 正常量； 合理的量 | |
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inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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ordained
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| v.任命（某人）为牧师( ordain的过去式和过去分词 )；授予（某人）圣职；（上帝、法律等）命令；判定 | |
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defenders
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| n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者 | |
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embarked
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| 乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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embark
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| vi.乘船，着手，从事，上飞机 | |
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dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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lasting
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| adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持 | |
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inventoried
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| vt.编制…的目录（inventory的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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ascertained
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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whine
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| v.哀号，号哭；n.哀鸣 | |
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plentiful
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| adj.富裕的，丰富的 | |
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bugle
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| n.军号，号角，喇叭；v.吹号，吹号召集 | |
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patriotic
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| adj.爱国的，有爱国心的 | |
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attachments
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| n.（用电子邮件发送的）附件( attachment的名词复数 )；附着；连接；附属物 | |
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mustered
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| v.集合，召集，集结（尤指部队）( muster的过去式和过去分词 )；（自他人处）搜集某事物；聚集；激发 | |
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attested
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| adj.经检验证明无病的，经检验证明无菌的v.证明( attest的过去式和过去分词 )；证实；声称…属实；使宣誓 | |
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decrepit
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| adj.衰老的，破旧的 | |
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47
Forsaken
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| adj. 被遗忘的, 被抛弃的 动词forsake的过去分词 | |
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treasury
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| n.宝库；国库，金库；文库 | |
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