Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1863-12-09
MIDNIGHT CHARGE OF THE MULE
BRIGADE.

MIDNIGHT CHARGE OF THE MULE
... BRIGADE.
A correspondent with the Army of the
Cumberland gives the following amusing
account of successful charge by mule
brigade" =
"During the advance of Hooker's COM
mand upon the enemy, mean Lookout
Mountain, an incident occurred that is
worth relating, and one which l believe
has never been made public, notwithstand-
ing the fact that it was at the time of its
occurrence subject of much merriment
at the expense of the rebels. You will
remember that Hooker moved on Lookout
Mountain very cautiously, from the west
side. While engaged. in the movement
up the valley, owing to some cause un-
known to me, stampede among the
mules took place. 1t was in the dead of
night, when both armies were resting
from the fAtigues of the previous day,
and the sentinel's tread was the only
sound that disturbed the universal quiet
Rushing from the wagons, to the num-
Der of about thirty, the mules made
for the enemys lines like frightened
sheep. The drivers were awakened by
the noise just in time to witness the dis
appearance of the animals through our
advanced pickets. The enemy's pickets
were not caught mapping Hearing the
mule brigade tearing across the valley,
they mistook them for Yankee cavalry,
discharged their muskets at the supposed
" Yanks" and fell back upon battalion
stationed little in the rear Of them,
with the cry that the enemy were upon
them. The battalion, partaking of the
alarm, sprung to arms only in time to
hear the sound of the frightened mules,
whose race was not checked by the vol,ey
from the pickets. They retreated also
short distance to point where the whole
rebel brigade had stacked their arms, and
we're calmly dreaming of home and battle
scenes. In rushed the battalion, more
dead than alive with the cxclama-
ton Hooker has surprised us; his cav
airy is upon u.s. The valiant sops of
Mars did not wait to gather up their plan-
kets or guns, but made the fastest pedes-
trian time on record, back to the main
force, leaving upon the field for the mule
brigade, over one thousand stand of arms,
among which were three hundred new En-
field rifles, blankets, small arms. KNAPP
sacks, &c. Meantime our transfers had
given the alarm, and force was sent out
for the recovery of the mules, and in
few hours the expedition, inaugurated
by the mules, returned to our lines with
the valuble spoil
This is no fancy sketch its correct
ness is vouched for by member of Gen.
Thomas staff, who was present when the
expedition returned 1t will be recollec-
ted that in his report of Hooker's victo-
ry, General Thomas stated that 1900
stand of arms were captured. You, in
common with mauy of your readers, were
no doubt at loss to discover by what
prestidigitatorial process more arms were
taken than prisoners. In the midnight
charge Of the mule brigade you have
solution of the problem. Through it's
aid large amount of valuable stores and
arms was secured, and Hooker was ena-
bled to push his advance much nearer the
point of ground contended for. All will
agree that the charge of the mule brigode
is worthy of place in history"
FgThere ia a widow ladv in Wind