New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-06-16
Buiy the Mule.

! From Gen. Marcy's Thirty Yeara Of Army IifeBl
q AN incident occurred while we were in the
mountains which struck me at the time as beino
one Of the most remarkable and touching eriden.
| ees OF devotion that have ever known eyinend
among the brute creation.
On leaving Fort Leayenworth with the army for
Utah IN the previous summer, one of the officers
rode small mule, whose kind and gentle disnosi.
non soon caused him to become fayoPite an1ong
the soldiers, and they named him :" Bfly.ii AZ
tAls oneer and myself were very often thrown to-
gethef upon the march, the mule, in the course Of
a lew days eVlneed a growing attachment for
mare that rode. The sentiment was NOT. how
ever, reolprocated on her part, and she intimated
as much by the reversed position of her ears and
tie nee exercise Of her feet and teeth whenever
Billy came within her reach. But these signal
marks of displeasufey instead of discouragIng.
rather seemed to increase his devotion, and When
| ever at liberty he Invariably sought to pet mar
her, and appeared much distressed when NOT ner.
mitted to follow her.
On leaving Camp Scott for New Mexico. BilIv
was among the number of mules selected for the
| expedition. During the march was in tha habit
when starting out from camp in the morning of
leading off the party, and directing the packman
| to hold the mule until should get SO far in adj
vance with the mare that he could not see us; but
the moment he was released he would in spite of |
all the efforts of the packers, start off at most
furious pace and never stop or cease Drawing m
vi ne reached the mares side. We soon found il
ne was finally permitted to have his own way
In the course of time we encountered the deem |
SHOWS in the Rocky Mountains where the animejp5 I
could get no forage, and Billy, in common with I
the Others at length became so weak and faded /
that he was unable any longer to leave his nnIsce
In the caravan and break track through tba I
snow around to the 'front.' He made FREQUENT Az
tempts to turn out and force his wav ahead. hut
after numerous unsuccessful efforts he wouId fall
down exhausted, and setup most mournfu BRAY.
ing. 10y
The other mules soon began to fail, and to he
lett, worn out and famished, to die by the way
for - /
Billy showed symphonic of becoming one of the
victims, until one evening after our arrival at camn
! was informed that he had dropped down, and /,
been left upon the road during the day Tho NAV
all depored his loss exceedingly as his devofion
70 the mare had touched their kind hearts, and i
many expressions OF sympathy were uttered /
around their blyouac fires on that evening.
Much to our surprise, however about 10 o,clock 1
Just as we were about going to Sleep we heard q {
mule braying about half mile to the rear mon Z
our trail Sure enough, 1t proved to be Billy who
md oyertaken US. As soon as he reached tbe q
lde OF the mare he lay down and seemed perfectly
iontented. !
The next day relieved him from his pack, and c
n Y MN 70 run loosei but during the march )
g gave out, and was again abandoned to his fate t
NJ TINS time We certainly never expected to see u
I'M more To our great establishment, however. a
oont Twelve O'Clock that night the sonorous but ii
OF very musical notes of Billy in the distance ii
reused as from our sumbeTs and again announced lie
Is approach In an instant the men were unon Ia
leir feet, gave three hearty cheers and rushed III
" IN N nody 70 meet and escort him into camp hi
But this weflmeant ovation elected no response 81
ON MN, He came reeling and hounderinR ALONG Ia
lrougn tne deep. snow. perfectly regardless Of Il,
lese h0nors, pushing aside all those who occupied
le trail or interrupted bis progress in the Least
andering about until he found tie mare. dronna3
,wl by her side, and remained until morning,
When We resumed our march on the following th
" no made another desperate effort to proceed re-
1t soon fell down exhausted when We reinetsntI sal
landoned him, and saw him no more, hu
Alas poor Billy your constancy deserved un
liter fate you may, indeed be said to have hean his
victim of unrequited affection. Go