The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-01-28
WEDNESDAY MORNING, JAN. %, 1858
For the Nashville Union.

Government Mules and Horses
II IL is not, it should 10 LHovvH to ths
public, that all horses and mules owned
by the United States, at the time of the
purchase by the agent, are branded with
the letters az. S,.' and that when they
are sold or condemned, they are branded
with the letter &C" Il is fair to pre-
sumo that all officers, soldiers and sut-
tiers in the army know this, for the di-
rections are found in the I016 section of
the Revis ed U. S. Army Regulations Of
1861, which is extensively distributed in
the army.
1t is astonishing to find in the Depart
ment of the Cumberland, both suffers
and soldiers, and sometimes an officer
dealing in both horses and mules that
have the United States brand without
the letter &C." showing cOnclusively
that the animal belongs to the United
States, aud that some person has stolen
the same from its proper keeper.
For the further information Of those
engaged in this kind of traffic, they are
referred to section 1876 Of said Army Re-
gulations, which reads as follows, to-
wit:
at is forbidden to purchase horses
without ascertaining the right Of the
party to sell. Stolen horses shall be re-
stored. Estrays, in the enemy's country,
when the owner is not discovered, are ta-
ken for the army"
Acting under these regulations, the
Chief of Police of this Department has
recovered large number of horses and
mules, amounting in the aggregate TO Sc
veral hundred.
About three weeks since it was report
ed to the office of the Chief Of Police that
a drove of horses and mules had crossed
the river, and that the intention OF
those that had them in charge was TO
take them to Louisville, Kentucky. They
were ordered 10 be detained until an
investigation should be had; the persons
in charge were sent for, and thorough
investigation had, when il appeared
that there were 81 mules and SO horses
the mules had all been purchased in thit
city and vicinity within the last foul
weeks; that many of them had the United
States brand, and the horses had beer
purchased in Kentucky and Indiana, tC
Eli a contract with the Government, anC
that these horses had been rejected; tha
the mules and horses were claimed by SO.
veral individuals. the mules we're deliver.
ed TO the QuartermSster, and the parties il
charge of the horses was permitted to pro
eeed with them. This is onlyo one case, ,othe
cases of a similar character are Of week
ly and daily occurrence, where one, two
three, and sometimes as many as fV,
mules are found that have the United
States brand, and are in the possession
Of persons who claim to have purchased
them at prices varying from I've TO thir-
ty dollars, and on an investigation b.
the Chief of Police, they are found to b
the property of the United States, AM
are delivered to the QuartermAster; an,
in no instance after such an investiga
ton, has the claimant Of the animal dis
puted the correctness Of the decision.
This traffic in horses and mules be
longing to the United States has becom
so common that those that ars engage
in it seem TO think that it is right; bu
they should remember that if this is con
tinued, that the strong arm Of the Law
will be brought to bear upon them, an
that justice may overtakS them /
hour when they are not expecting it,
, Too much praise cannot be aWarde,
to the Chief Of Police in ferrstting ou
{ this unlawful traffic, and restoring to th
GOvernm snt it's property as above stated
. OBsKRV ER.