Fightin' Felines and Other Civil War Cats

I'm kind of thinking that chicken might be a money-making rooster! They still had cock fights on board ships. If he loses, he still covers himself in glory...and gravy... :chicken:

I'm curious - I've heard there was a Confederate regiment from the west, not sure if it was Missouri, who had as their mascot a bobcat! The men dearly loved him because he was untamable and always ready for a fight - just like them. Does anyone know this story? I'd love to hear it!
LOL to the rooster story Diane:bounce:

I'd love to hear that other story, too :biggrin:
 
I'm kind of thinking that chicken might be a money-making rooster! They still had cock fights on board ships. If he loses, he still covers himself in glory...and gravy... :chicken:

I'm curious - I've heard there was a Confederate regiment from the west, not sure if it was Missouri, who had as their mascot a bobcat! The men dearly loved him because he was untamable and always ready for a fight - just like them. Does anyone know this story? I'd love to hear it!


Ha! Never thought of that! Cock fighting was a common practice, wasn't it? Poor things. What you have to love is our hypocrisy with some of this stuff. Cock fighting was cruel so we outlawed it ( finally ) but the meat department at any supermarket is piled with dismembered chickens neatly displayed under plastic wrap. Our relationship with the animal world is baffling. Whole world stops when a kitten falls into a storm drain- news stations show up, we hold our breath until emergency crews rescue the baby. Then everyone goes to lunch at McDonalds.

Hope someone has the story on the bobcat. A bobcat! Around here we've come to a polite agreement with bobcats on how much space to give each other. It's extensive.
 
They certainly have. Used to be if you found a stray dog he was usually some sort of hunting or herding dog - now they are almost all some breed of fight dog. People say hunting is cruel but not near as bad as fighting - whether it's roosters, dogs or people! At least people have a choice...well, sometimes... One thing, though - both Lee and Grant hated any cruelty to animals and would come down like a ton of bricks on the abuser! Grant - won't stop beating those horses? C'mere, lemme give you a few quick ones in the honker see how ya like it...
 
cat lafayette.JPG

USS Lafayette- ships cat, 7th man from left.
 
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Tom Cat” was a coal black cat that was loved and adored by the fort’s defenders. It was reported that “Tom Cat” would run back and forth along the fort’s defenses during the maelstrom of combat. Each time, “Tom Cat” would wager one of his nine lives dodging the wall of lead cannon and musket balls that flew overhead. In the late 1930s, world famous industrialist Henry Ford took an active interest in the historical preservation of Fort McAllister. Ford purchased the Civil War landmark and invested his own money in the extensive reconstruction of this famous fort. Today, Fort


Photo41311.jpg



By Mike Stroud, 2008


3. Tom Cat Marker, near the Visitor Center at Fort McAllister


McAllister is the best-preserved Civil War era earthen fortification in the South. But like may other
Southern historic sites, this tranquil 1700 acre park has its own fare share of ghostly occupants. Ford’s hired workers refused to spend the night at Fort McAllister because it was reported that strange noises could be heard emanating from the grounds. It has been said that source of the eerie noises was never identified and that the ghostly sounds that are reported at Fort McAllister today continue to be unexplained. In addition to the chilling noises, Re-enactors, visitors and park staff have reported seeing the ghosts of the forts most famous Civil War casualties. (Submitted on October 27, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)

https://www.hmdb.org/Marker.asp?Marker=13038
 
In December 1865, the following poem went the rounds of northern newspapers.It was often, though not always, attributed to the editor of the Monuezuma Republican (Iowa). As a Poe fan, I think it's quite brilliant:



The other night, while we lay musing, and our brain confusing​
O’er the topics of the day,​
Suddenly we heard a rattling, as of mighty hosts a-battling,​
As they mingled in the fray. “What is that?” we cried, upstarting,​
Slap! We ran against the door.​
“Oh, ‘tis nothing,” Edward grumbled, as o’er a huge arm-chair we stumbled,​
‘Tis a bug, and nothing more.”​
Then, said we, our anger rising, (for we thought it so surprising --​
That a bug should thus offend)​
“Do you think a small insect, sir, thus would all the air infect, sir?​
No, ‘tis not a bug, my friend.”​
Now, becoming sorely frightened, ‘round our waist our pants we tightened,​
And put on coat and hat --​
When into the darkness peering, we saw with trembling and much fearing,​
The glaring eyes of Thomas Cat, Esq.​
With astonishment and wonder we gazed upon this son of thunder,​
As he sat upon the floor. --​
When, resolution taking, and a rapid movement making,​
Lo, we opened wide the door. --​
"Now clear out!" we hoarsely shouted, as o'er head our boot we flouted,​
"Take your presence from my floor!"​
Then with air and mein majestic, this dear creature called domestic​
Made his exit through the door.​
Made he his exit without growling, neither was his voice a-yowling,​
Not a single word he said.​
And with feeling much elated, to escape a doom so fated,​
We went back to bed.​
 
Adding to our list of historical cats already cited below, the following (in bold type):

Among our threads are:

The brief sad tale of Juliet, cat of Co. D, the 44th Massachusetts Volunteer Militia
https://civilwartalk.com/posts/1540505

We All Need Somebody To Lean On; Furred, Feathered And Less Fluffy Love:
https://civilwartalk.com/threads/we...furred-feathered-and-less-fluffy-love.137338/

Robert E. Lee's Cats, Baxter, Tom "the Nipper" and Tom Tita:
https://civilwartalk.com/threads/robert-e-lees-cats-baxter-tom-the-nipper-and-tom-tita.89490/

Ship’s Cat finds his way Home: https://civilwartalk.com/threads/ships-cat-finds-his-way-home.151438/

Tom Cat, the Confederate Mascot: https://civilwartalk.com/threads/tom-cat-the-confederate-mascot.26402/

Mules (and Cats) for Another War:
https://civilwartalk.com/threads/mules-and-cats-for-another-war.147922/https://civilwartalk.com/threads/mules-and-cats-for-another-war.147922/

Mark Twain’s Cats: https://civilwartalk.com/threads/mark-twains-cats.144821/

Civil War Animals & Mascots: https://civilwartalk.com/threads/civil-war-animals-mascots.138431/

Mascots: https://civilwartalk.com/threads/mascots.88916/

“He is but an Old Gray Cat…” (not a war cat, a civilian cat): https://civilwartalk.com/threads/he-is-but-an-old-gray-cat.134976/

Clara Barton, animal-lover: https://civilwartalk.com/threads/clara-barton-animal-lover.134833/

Kitten at the Battle of GreenBrier: https://civilwartalk.com/threads/kitten-at-the-battle-of-greenbrier.92570/

Abraham Lincoln and 3 stray kittens: https://civilwartalk.com/threads/abraham-lincoln-and-3-stray-kittens.90813/#post-732157

Abraham Lincoln and his love of cats and other critters:
https://civilwartalk.com/threads/ab...f-cats-and-other-critters.104611/#post-960139

Cat lovers: https://civilwartalk.com/threads/cat-lovers.131335/#post-1474373

Seward’s menagerie: https://civilwartalk.com/threads/sewards-menagerie.134157/#post-1531264

President Lincoln and his love of animals and children:
https://civilwartalk.com/threads/pr...ve-of-animals-and-children.71381/#post-438088

Dogs and other animals, etc., at Gettysburg (other than horses): https://civilwartalk.com/posts/1321836

USS Lehigh: https://civilwartalk.com/posts/545390/

Trivia 1-31-18: https://civilwartalk.com/threads/1-31-18.142655/#post-1746178

Shaffer: Civil War cat bewitches gunboat In Kinston:
https://civilwartalk.com/threads/sh...witches-gunboat-in-kinston.80128/#post-583371
 
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