"Old Bull" chasing Confederate projectiles at the Battle of Prairie Grove.

major bill

Brev. Brig. Gen'l
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Aug 25, 2012
"Foust's Battery E had a canine mascot named "Old Bull" who ran himself ragged chasing Confederate projectiles as they bounced and rolled along the ground. Many shells failed to explode because of defective fuses, but it seemed unlikely Old Bull would survive the day unless he saw the error of his ways. The wiry mongrels' chances improved around 2;00 P.M., when Hindman returned to the Ridge and told Shoup and Marmaduke to stop wasting ammunition."
 
Pouncing on spurts of soil shot up as a bullet hits the ground, or leaping at them as they buzzed past was a favorite pastime of many army mascots, it seems. It was also the last frolic of many. One can only hope it was a quick end, accompanied by a split second of pure joy at having finally caught one of the pesky things.
 
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