Mr Bogey's Old White Mare

John Hartwell

Lt. Colonel
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Joined
Aug 27, 2011
Location
Central Massachusetts
In May of 1862, the 25th Mass. Volunteers were encamped at a place called Red House, some 13 miles from New Bern, N. C. They named it Camp Bullock. The place was owned by “an inoffensive individual by the name of Bogey. The plantation of Mr. Bogey was surrounded by woods, and contained perhaps twenty acres. It was situated at the cross roads, one leading to New Berne, one to Tuscarora, and one to Bachellor's Creek.”

“On the night of May 19th, Camp Bullock was twice alarmed by the firing of pickets, followed by the ‘long roll.’

“It seems that Mr. Bogey was the owner of a white mare, a gentle animal, not swift-footed and nimble-jointed, like those the field and staff rode upon, yet a good beast, always inclined to peace and the observance of all military rules. This animal had been turned out to feed, and during the night approached the line at a point held by a picket of Company G. The mare was properly challenged, but heeded not the inquiry in the sweet German accent, whereupon Mr. Sentinel blazed away. The mare, disgusted, turned aside. The camp was alarmed, for, all along our lines went the bang! bang! bang! of the vigilant guardians of the camp. After everything was quiet, the mare approached the picket a second time, and for the second time was interrogated, ‘Who comes there?’ Answered not, again Mr. Sentinel fired, but without success, for Mr. Bogey found his mare safe and sound the next morning. An enemy might safely approach that picket — at least such was the thought of the soldiers when the facts became known. Company G was ordered out to scout after the second alarm, and remained on duty the balance of the night.

“Alarming the camp, even thus foolishly, was not without its compensation, for the soldiers became accustomed to the ‘long roll,’ and to a speedy assembly in battalion line in the darkness of night.”
(Wearing the Blue in the 25th MVI, C. W. Denny, Worcester, 1879, p. 121)
 
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