Squire, A Mascot's Tale

By John M. Cunningham, Jr.

Description:

At the outbreak of the Civil War, and against his wife Rachel's pleadings, Captain Jesse Webb takes his beloved dog Squire to war as his regiment's mascot. By 1863, they're posted in Port Hudson, Louisiana. Here Jesse encounters his old rival for Rachel's hand, Colonel Marsden, who'd killed Jesse's brother in a duel a few years earlier. Here, too, Squire kills a fighting bulldog in self-defense.

The bulldog's owner, Aaron Blevin, conspires with Marsden against Squire and Jesse. In exchange for Squire, Blevin's daughter Giselle promises to have an "affair" with Jesse, designed to ruin Jesse's honor and marriage as Marsden's revenge for losing Rachel to him. When Rachel unexpectedly arrives at the garrison and Blevin captures Squire to be used as a bait dog, trouble for both of them ramp up. Squire's life hangs in the balance; Jesse's marriage is on the line. Will Rachel forgive Jesse's "affair" and for losing Squire? Will Squire survive his ordeal and find his way home while the Union army battles the Rebel garrison?

Book Takeaway:

Do not judge others or jump to conclusions, because everything is not always as it seems.

Why the author wrote this book:

During a visit to Port Hudson's battlefield just north of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, I imagined my much-loved dog standing on a leveee sniffing the smoke of Union ships anchored in the Mississippi River. Thus, my dog inspired this book. This book has two themes, human and canine. The human theme deals with assumptions and misunderstandings which lead to a conflict between the two main human characters--Jesse and Marsden. From the canine angle, it highlights the evil of dog fighting. About one-third of the book is written from Squire's point of view.