From The Regimental Flag: A Good Dog Story

part of a series from the regimental newspaper of the 2nd Delaware Infantry

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From The Regimental Flag (Vol. 8), March 13, 1862, pg. 2
A GOOD DOG STORY. 

A gentleman who had a splendid Newfoundland dog became the subject of conversation. After praising the qualities of his favorite very highly, the owner assured his companion the Nero would, upon receiving the order, return and fetch any article he should leave behind, from any distance.

To confirm this, a marked shilling was first shown to the dog, and then put under a large square stone by the side of the road. The gentlemen then rode for three miles, when the dog received the signal from his master to return for the shilling he had seen put under the stone. The dog turned back, the men rode on, and reached home; but to their great surprise, the hitherto faithful messenger did not return during the day.

It afterwards appeared that he had gone to the stone under which the shilling was placed, but it being too large for his strength to remove, he had stayed howling at the place till two gentlemen on horseback, hearing the noise made by the dog, stopped to look at him, when one of them alighting, removed the stone, and seeing the shilling, put it into his pocket not at the time thinking it to be the object of the dog’s search.

The dog followed their horses for twenty miles, remained quietly in the room where they supped, followed the maid to the bed chamber, and hid himself under one of the beds. The possessor of the shilling hung his breeches on a nail by the bedside, but when the travelers were both asleep, the dog took the breeches in his mouth, and leaping out the window, which was left open on account of the heat, reached the house of his master at four o’clock in the morning with his prize, in the pocket of which was found, besides the shilling, a watch and money, which being advertised were returned to their owner; when the whole mystery was explained, to the admiration of all parties.