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- Aug 6, 2016
A Wisconsin soldier writes home to his family in May of 1863 describing his discoveries as he marched from his home state to a new world that was to be found in the south. The young man was stationed on the Mississippi River opposite Vicksburg surrounded by the beauty of the bayous, magnolias and palm trees and some never-before-seen nine to ten feet creatures.
“These hideous looking monsters are said to be harmless, and will not molest anyone unless in self-defense.” {1}
Many Union soldiers had never seen an alligator. To pass the time, soldiers were known to poke the reptiles with their bayonets in the hopes to start a fight amongst the beasts. One soldier reportedly was brave enough to collect some of the scales from the back of a gator and made his girlfriend a pair of earrings. Although they made “fun sport” with the reptiles a regiment near Baton Rouge discovered the “fear of gators” when they were forced to wade up to their armpits as they marched through an alligator habitat.
Another soldier from Vicksburg told the story of his experience. Lieutenant John G. Earnest of the 79th Tennessee wrote home on May 5, 1863:
“A huge old mosquito with claws like a ground hog and a bill half as long as a sergeant’s sword was seated on my shoulder trying to run his bill through my neck and pin me to the ground—fortunately it had lodged against my backbone and before he could make another trial the sentinel came to my relief at a ‘charge bayonets’—when ‘old skeeter’ flew off saying he ‘would be happy to repeat the call’. I sincerely hoped he would not. I now set about tucking the cover under me all around and finally went to sleep again. About daylight I was awakened by a tremendous roar—when I found the mosquitoes had pulled me to the edge of the bayou, and an old alligator jubilant at the prospect of getting me for his breakfast had given a tremendous laugh which awoke me, and I preferring not to be his breakfast shifted from there. I vowed never to allow myself to sleep on that bayou’s bank again.” {2}
In 1864 the 28th Wisconsin Infantry stationed in Arkansas found - - -
"these reptiles are quite abundant about here, and swarm and riot in all the bays, creeks, and lakes in this region, and at this time of the year are found crawling all over the land." {1}
Another soldier from Vicksburg told the story of his experience. Lieutenant John G. Earnest of the 79th Tennessee wrote home on May 5, 1863:
“A huge old mosquito with claws like a ground hog and a bill half as long as a sergeant’s sword was seated on my shoulder trying to run his bill through my neck and pin me to the ground—fortunately it had lodged against my backbone and before he could make another trial the sentinel came to my relief at a ‘charge bayonets’—when ‘old skeeter’ flew off saying he ‘would be happy to repeat the call’. I sincerely hoped he would not. I now set about tucking the cover under me all around and finally went to sleep again. About daylight I was awakened by a tremendous roar—when I found the mosquitoes had pulled me to the edge of the bayou, and an old alligator jubilant at the prospect of getting me for his breakfast had given a tremendous laugh which awoke me, and I preferring not to be his breakfast shifted from there. I vowed never to allow myself to sleep on that bayou’s bank again.” {2}
In 1864 the 28th Wisconsin Infantry stationed in Arkansas found - - -
"these reptiles are quite abundant about here, and swarm and riot in all the bays, creeks, and lakes in this region, and at this time of the year are found crawling all over the land." {1}
While one enterprising officer managed to capture an alligator and - - -
"brought in under a strong guard, and delivered up as a prisoner of war" to be displayed at the camp headquarters.” {1}
As the war continued the Southerners discovered a new source of leather when it was difficult to procure. It is estimated that thousands of alligators met their fate for the Confederate cause when they were hunted and killed for their skins. The Confederate Army had discovered a new use for these reptiles as they turned the alligator skins to make saddles and shoes for their fighting men. {3} Of course that was a thousand less the Union army avoided.
According to most sources I could find; there is no record of alligators attacking soldiers, despite the claim of Captain Haydon of the 2nd Michigan. Did alligators visit upon the dead and wounded? It’s left to speculation.
According to most sources I could find; there is no record of alligators attacking soldiers, despite the claim of Captain Haydon of the 2nd Michigan. Did alligators visit upon the dead and wounded? It’s left to speculation.
How much were stories of alligator encounters have been embellished? I did find this “gem” of a tale regarding a soldier from Louisiana. He writes of the day he decided to grab a canoe and hunt for a trophy to bring home - -
“I had always been anxious to obtain some portion of an alligator to carry home as a trophy. An alligator swimming shows but little bumps above the water, the larger ones at his eyes, the other at his nose; and it requires a marksman of no mean skill to hit it. I soon fell in with a number, and picking out the largest I fired. He turned on his back, his feet quivered in the air, his jaws opened and he sank. I paddled to the spot and brought his lordship to the surface. After a good deal of prying and pulling I got him into the boat, turning his head to the bow. He had hardly struck the bottom of the boat, when his mouth and eyes opened with a start, and his tail swept from side to side with the force of a sledge hammer. In an instant I comprehended my situation. To jump out and swim for shore was to jump into the jaws of a dozen reptiles, and my only salvation was to keep out of the reach of his tail, the canoe being so narrow that he could not face me.
At length, by throwing his head over the side of the boat, he got his head towards me, and made a charge with his jaws wide open. For once in my life I think I was thoroughly frightened. In an instant I plunged my paddle down his throat. His jaws closed on it like a vice, and he was quiet for a moment, and I had time to draw my pistol and send two balls into his head. He now lay quiet for a moment but I saw that he was by no means dead, and I loaded my pistol, preparatory to another attack; but as he did not seem disposed to renew hostilities, I paddled swiftly down the stream, and landed at the first convenient place. I then paid my last respects to his alligatorship by sending another ball entirely through his head and ‘went on my way rejoicing’. I did not succeed in getting the desired trophy, for alligators are like snakes; ‘their tails do not die until sundown’, and every time I touched him his tail would fly from side to side with such force as to endanger my bones. I think I shall never handle another alligator until his head and tail are cut off.” {4}
“I had always been anxious to obtain some portion of an alligator to carry home as a trophy. An alligator swimming shows but little bumps above the water, the larger ones at his eyes, the other at his nose; and it requires a marksman of no mean skill to hit it. I soon fell in with a number, and picking out the largest I fired. He turned on his back, his feet quivered in the air, his jaws opened and he sank. I paddled to the spot and brought his lordship to the surface. After a good deal of prying and pulling I got him into the boat, turning his head to the bow. He had hardly struck the bottom of the boat, when his mouth and eyes opened with a start, and his tail swept from side to side with the force of a sledge hammer. In an instant I comprehended my situation. To jump out and swim for shore was to jump into the jaws of a dozen reptiles, and my only salvation was to keep out of the reach of his tail, the canoe being so narrow that he could not face me.
At length, by throwing his head over the side of the boat, he got his head towards me, and made a charge with his jaws wide open. For once in my life I think I was thoroughly frightened. In an instant I plunged my paddle down his throat. His jaws closed on it like a vice, and he was quiet for a moment, and I had time to draw my pistol and send two balls into his head. He now lay quiet for a moment but I saw that he was by no means dead, and I loaded my pistol, preparatory to another attack; but as he did not seem disposed to renew hostilities, I paddled swiftly down the stream, and landed at the first convenient place. I then paid my last respects to his alligatorship by sending another ball entirely through his head and ‘went on my way rejoicing’. I did not succeed in getting the desired trophy, for alligators are like snakes; ‘their tails do not die until sundown’, and every time I touched him his tail would fly from side to side with such force as to endanger my bones. I think I shall never handle another alligator until his head and tail are cut off.” {4}
A children’s poem demonstrates the alligator was a predator that took no sides in the Civil War {*}
“Albert the Alligator had a very big mouth!
Teeth pointing north and teeth pointing south”
Sources
1. https://madison.com/wsj/news/local/...cle_dfccfa8a-28a5-11e0-bab0-001cc4c002e0.html
2. https://www.battlefields.org/learn/head-tilting-history/civil-war-soldiers-encounters-with-natur
3 “American Alligator”, by Carla Mooney
4. The Civil war in Song and Story 1860-1865, by Frank Moore · 1889 (Link)
{*} http://www.prekfun.com/a-f/alligators/alligators_songs.htm
Photo in Public Domain
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