Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1861-11-08

A GOOD paY for nruIe..

A good story is told Of two Of our SOL
diers, at Paducah, which will pay for its
space in repeating. When our troops first
received their teams they were troubled TO
procure forage; so the mules were turned
loose or tethered in the outskirts Of the
town. Occasionally a few would be miss
ing, until Uncle Sam found himself minus
some twenty-five or thirty. Those which
strayed away were caught up by the rebel
spectators and taken TO BlaEdville, back Of
Columbus, where they had accumulated
some fifty stolen and purchased animals,
which were under Ave or six keepers. The
two privates mentioned, (members of the
Fourteenth Illinois Volunteers,) hearing Of
the whereabouts Of the stock, asked General
Smiths permission to attempt their reeapt-
ure, which, with some rDisgivings, was grant
ed. The boys dressed 10 the garb of Ken.
lucky farmers, went and surveyed the field
and fold, and set to work. They had whis-
Ky with tbem-whisky such as Kentucky
rebels like to get drunk on--good old Bour-
bon, and the first object was to get them as
comfortably tight as possible, which was
not long, in being accomplished. Then
the boys went to the mule yard, let down
the bars, mounted two of the best, without
saddle or bride, and started for Paducah,
the whole lotfollowing at break neck pace,
and braying in a most diabolical chorus
The keepers were not long in discovering
the trick, and gave chase as far as they
deemed prudent towards the lines, but to
no purpose; and in good season Saturday
morning the boys made their appearance at
Gen. Smiths headquarters to report, their
faces beaming with a glow of satisfaction
hard TO describe. Their report was con-
densation of laconism; so / will give the
dialogue:
Gen. Smith--"Well, boys, what luck I"
Soldier-"We got 'em, and more too.n
Gen. S.--"How many did you get?"
Soldier-"Forty, reckon, haint counted
EN-"
Gen. S.-"But that is more than we have
lost. You didn't steal any, hope"
Soldier-"Steal! Kristopher, steal No,
sir rec, but you see we didn't have time to
put the bars up after we had got Uncle
Sans out, and the Cd id things
would foller."
Then the General drew on an elongated
countenance, and as stearnly as though he
had been a Judge and was sentencing a
culprit to a lifetime of imprisonment, lee
tured the soldier soundly for using profane
language in the quarters of the general off.
Ger. The soldier took the lecture uneasily,
twirling his hat nervously the while, and
when the General had 'subsided' apoloeized
as follows: 30
"You see, General, we have had to cuss
the d-d things all day to get 'em into
camp, and it's mighty hard to quit off all ol
a suddenly"
Then the Generals rigidity relaxed; Z
smile, or rather laugh, came up from hi,
heart, and tried to escape from the corner.
of bis mouth; but discipline is discipline
with an old army officer, and it would moi
do to allow such breach of decorum tc
pass unnoticed; but in consideration of the
recaptured twenty-five mules, "and more
toe" he did not inflict any severe castigation
or put them under arrest, but thanking them
for the services rendered, dismissed them
with caution to leave their profanity be-
hind them when they came again to head
quarters, and the boys left, declaring, as
they closed the door, that ''such pious old
cuss hadu'tany business to be around among
sojers."