Mike Serpa
Lt. Colonel
- Joined
- Jan 24, 2013
MILKING COWS. BY CORPORAL OSCAR SLAGLE, COMPANY D.
When the battle of Hartsville occurred I, with a detail of one-half of our Company and one-half of Company F, were with the supply train as guards at Gallatin,Tenn., consequently we did not return to Harts-ville, but were put on provost duty and quartered in the Court House. Our duties were guarding prisoners, private property, and patroling the streets of the town,three hours on duty and nine off, except when we could play sick.
While thus employed we became tired of our daily fare and hankered for a change of diet, but could not obtain anything inside of the guard lines as all was closely watched. So we frequently took midnight rambles after coming off duty in the early part of the night, and being in possession of the countersign could go where we pleased.
On one of these excursions in company with J. C. and L. K. Hutton,we came across some cows which we thought needed milking, but my comrades could not milk, their fingers being adapted to catching chickens, etc., so it was agreed that they should corner the cows and I should do the milking. This was done.
I had milked three and had a good supply of milk, enough, I thought, but the boys said there was one more cow and we had better make a clean job of it. It was pretty dark, but the cow was white, so I told them to corner her up, which with some trouble they did.
I then proceeded to milk her, putting out my hand for the purpose. Just then something struck me broadside and I went sprawling. When I recovered sufficiently to speak I blurted out, "That's a steer!" The boys were so convulsed with laughter that I did not get any sympathy from them, and I have a belief to this day that it was a put up job on their part.
>Oscar Slagle received the Medal of Honor while serving with Company D, 104th Illinois Infantry, in action at Elk River, Tennessee. Private Slagle "voluntarily joined a small party that, under a heavy fire, captured a stockade and saved the bridge."
When the battle of Hartsville occurred I, with a detail of one-half of our Company and one-half of Company F, were with the supply train as guards at Gallatin,Tenn., consequently we did not return to Harts-ville, but were put on provost duty and quartered in the Court House. Our duties were guarding prisoners, private property, and patroling the streets of the town,three hours on duty and nine off, except when we could play sick.
While thus employed we became tired of our daily fare and hankered for a change of diet, but could not obtain anything inside of the guard lines as all was closely watched. So we frequently took midnight rambles after coming off duty in the early part of the night, and being in possession of the countersign could go where we pleased.
On one of these excursions in company with J. C. and L. K. Hutton,we came across some cows which we thought needed milking, but my comrades could not milk, their fingers being adapted to catching chickens, etc., so it was agreed that they should corner the cows and I should do the milking. This was done.
I had milked three and had a good supply of milk, enough, I thought, but the boys said there was one more cow and we had better make a clean job of it. It was pretty dark, but the cow was white, so I told them to corner her up, which with some trouble they did.
I then proceeded to milk her, putting out my hand for the purpose. Just then something struck me broadside and I went sprawling. When I recovered sufficiently to speak I blurted out, "That's a steer!" The boys were so convulsed with laughter that I did not get any sympathy from them, and I have a belief to this day that it was a put up job on their part.
The history of the One Hundred and Fourth Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry : war of the great rebellion 1862-1865 : Calkins, William Wirt, 1842- : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
Historical Committee: Frank M. Sapp, Milton B. Bushnell, John H. Widmer, William W. Calkins.
archive.org
>Oscar Slagle received the Medal of Honor while serving with Company D, 104th Illinois Infantry, in action at Elk River, Tennessee. Private Slagle "voluntarily joined a small party that, under a heavy fire, captured a stockade and saved the bridge."
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