Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-05-29
5f(l5tcIlalltolls,
SQUIRE BAELEY's MULE.
BY CAPTAIN JERE WILLIAMS.

If the stories of incidents and advcn
-tures current in any Of the numerous
camps in the neighborhood of Secesh-
dom, could be collected in book form,
they would make very readable work.
| may send you string Of such as are
atioat IN our region, at some future time.
At present | will relate one which came
to my knowledge a few days since.
Squire Bailey had the biggest, and
best, and most docile mule in Marlin 5
Bottom, and Martins Bottom is about
the biggest and best ncighborhood on
Greenbricr river. Squire Bailey was in
clined to be Union man, and did not
entire y conceal his sentiments, notwith.
standing the presence of Floyd's army in
the vicinity. About the time of Floyd' 5
tumultuous flight from the region, he
was very much in need of transportation,
and according to established uSages
among seceSh, he proceeded to levy upon
the teams of the farmers. OF course, a
Union man, like Squire Bailey, was not
to escape; but Squire Bailey, taking time
by the forelock, very quietly, one night,
removed to a safe locality all his live
stock except his favorite mule, which he
kept for hauling wood and going to mill
This mule being the only support of a
large and increasing family. Squire Bal
ley fondly believed the Secesh would not
be heartless enough to rob him of it.
But Squire Bailey did not understand
Sccesh, One fine morning along came
Quartermaster Blife, accompanied by
half dozen armed men from Floyd's
army. Squire Bailey was standing at
his gate when Quartermaster Blilie ap-
preached and commenced convers aticn
with him.
Good Morning, Mr.-a-Mr."
"Bailey," suggested the Squire.
"Yes, Bailey; good morning, Mr. Bal
ley"
"Mornin,' said the Squire.
81 understand, Mr.. Bailey, that you
have number of horses and mules which
you wish to dispose of to our glorious
Confederacy."
Mistake. sir" said Bailey, 81 have
n one to sell to anybody"
"But, Mr.. Bailey, some gentleman in
formed me yesterday that you had quite
a number of horses and mules"
eff you'll believe your own eyes, in
stead of some gentlemen Mr.. Quarter
master, you can see for yourself that
have nothn' but that mule in the log pei
there, and that | can't possibly keel
house without"
"Ah, | see the mule !" said BIiiie
looking through the cracks. "You'd b.
asking fifty dollars for that, | s'pose.--
Well, it's a big price, but if you won
take less I'll have to give it. Corporal
just write note for fifty dollars, paya
bile in Florida swamp lands, at twenty
live dollars an acre, two years after on
glorious Confederacy achieves undispu
ted independence"
"But, Mr.. Blife," demonstrated tn
Squire, "if you tako my mule, my fami
ly will freeze to death, and starve t,
death too, afore spring, And if l hac
twenty mules | could not sell you sicl
as that for less nor three hundred in gold
but this one l can't spare at no price.
"We must all make sacrifices, Mr.
Bailey, for our glorious Confederacy.- =
If you only knew the sacrifices | hav
made, Mr.. Bailey. The starving anC
freezing Of your wife and children ar
nothing compared to them; but our elo
rious Confederacy called, and my patri
otsm responded to the call. Future gen
erations will remember and bless us, Mr.
Bailey, and we will receive the everlast