Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1861-12-11
& Mule Story.

heard & good story Of two of our
soldiers, at Padueah, yesterday which will
pay Tor It's space in repeating. When our
troops first received their teams thew were
troubled to procure forage, so the mules
were turned loose or tethered in the cut
skirts OF the town. Occasionally a few
would be missing, uatil Uncle Sam found
himself minus some twenty-five OF thirty.
those which strsyed away were caught up
BY the rebel Spectators and taken to Bland
vile, lback to Columbus, where they had
accumulated some fifty stolen and pur-
chased animals, which were under five or
SIX keepers. The two privates mentioned
members of the Fortieth Illinois VoIun-
teers), hearing of the whereabouts of the
stock, asked General Smiths permission to
attempt their recapture, which, with some
mlsglyings, was granted. The boys, dress
cd IN the garb of Kentucky farmers, went
and surveyed the field and fold, and set to
work. They had whiskey with them
Whlskey such as the Kentucky rebels ike
to get drunk On-gOOd old Bourbon, and
the first object was TO get them as comfor-
tably tight as possible, which was not long.
in being accomplished. Then the boys,
went to the mule yard, let down the bars,
and mounted two Of the best, without sad
dc or bride, and started for Paducah,
the whole lot followed at breakneek pace,
and braying in the NEST diabOlical chorus.
The keepers were not long in discovering
the trick, and gave chase as far as they
deemed it prudent to our lines, but to no
purpose; and in good season Saturday af-
tcrnoon the boys made their appearance at
Gen. Smiths headquarters to report, their
faces leaning with glow Of satisfaction
hard to describe. Their report was con-
densation of Laconism:
Gen. Smith-'Well boys what luck %
Soldier-'We got EN-, and more too
Gen. Smith-'How many did you ges?'
Soldier Forty, reckon; haint counted
'cm.'
Gen. Smith-'But that is more than we
have lost. You did not steal any, I hope
Soldier-'Steal! K-ristopher, stealI No,
Stree, but didn't have tims 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 sternly as though he
had been judge and was sentencing eul-
prit to lie Of imprisonment. lectured the
soldier roundly for using profane language
in the quarters and presence of a general
officer. The soldier took the lecture uu-
easily, twirling his hat nervously the while.
and when the General had subsided, apollo
gized as follows
You see, General we had to euss the
ID id things all day to git'em into
camp and It's mighty hard to quit off all
of suddenly
Then the Generals rigidity relaxed; a
smile. or rather laugh, came up from his
heagt. and tried to escape from the corners
CT his mouth; but discipline is discipline
with an Old army officer, and it would not
10 TO allow such breach of deeOrum to
pass uunoticel; but in consideration of the
recartured twenty-five mules, "and more
toe" he did not iudict any severe castiga-
ton or put them under arrest, but thank
ing them for the services rendered, dis.
missed them with a caution to leave their
profanity behind when they came again to
headquarters, and the boys left, declaring.
as they closed the door, that such a piOus
old cuss hadn't any business to be around
amongst 'scjurs."