The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1863-12-03
rIIDNIGmr CHARGE.

A correspondent of the Cincinnat'
Commercial, of November Goth, writes Hs
follows During the advance Of Hook
er's command uron the enemy, near.
Lookout Mountain, an incident occurred
that is worth relating, and one which |
believe has never been made public, not
withstanding the faci that il was at the
time Of its occurrence a subject of much
mcrrimcnt at the expense OF tho 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 unknown to me, stampede
among the mules took place. II was in
the dead of night, when both armies woIo
resting from the fatigucs of the previous
day, aud the scntincl's tread was the oaly
sound that disturbed the universal quiet
Rushing from the wagons, to the number
of about thirty, the mules made for the
cncmY's lines like frightened sheep.
ghe drivers were awakened by the noise
Just in time to witness the Disappearance
of the animals through our advanced pick
cts. The encmys pickets were not
caught mapping. Hearing the mule RI
gade tearing across the valley, they mis-
took them for Yankee cavalry, discharg-
cd their muskcts at the supposed "Yanks"
and fell back upon n battolion stationed
a little in the rear Of them, with the cry
that the enemy we're upon them. Tho ba-
talion, partuking OF the alarm, sprang to
arms only 10 time to hear the sound o.
the frightened mules, whose race was no,
checked by the volley from the pickcts.
They rc,rcated also short distance to o
point where whole rebel brigade had
stacked their arms, aud were calmly
dreaming of home and batlle-scencs. In
rushed the batta lion, more dead than
alive from fright, with the exclamation
" Hooker has surprised us ; his cavalry is
upon US" The valiart sons of Mars did
not wait TO gather up their blankets OF
guns, but made the lustest pedestrian
time on record, back to the main force
leaving upon the field, for the mule bri,
gade, over one thousand stand Of arms
among which were three hundred new
Enfield rides, blankets, aud small arms
knapsacks, &c. Meantime our teamstcrs
had given the alarm and force was sent
out for the recovery of the mules, and il
u few hours tie expedition, inaugurutct
by the mules, returned to our lines wit!
the valuable spoils.
This is no fancy sketch its correct
ness is vouched for by member of G en-
cral Thomas staff, who was prescn
when the expedition returned. twill b
rccollccted that in his report of Hooker
victory, General Thomas stated that
500 stand of arms were captured. You
in common with many Of your reader:
were no doubt at loss to discover b,
VIII at prestidgitatorial process more arm
were taken than prisoner. In tue mid
night charge Of the mule brigade, yo'
have an Illustration of the problem, =
Through its aid large amount of valua
BILE stores and arms was secured, an
II ooker was enabled to push his adyanc
much nearer the point ofground contend
ed for. All will agree that the charge q
the mule brigade, is worthy Of place i
history. NJ ~
GoBBLIEG UP REBEL PIoKETs.
On Wednesday dense fog settled up
On the valley, rendering the pickets Q
the two armies invisible. Our pickets