Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-11-23

1 AN INTERESTING EPISODE OF THE LATE REBEL
LION.
When Dahlgens iron-clads began opera
tions in Charleston IIurbor, the Tenth Army
Corps made sudden dash and drove in the
thin lines of pickets which the rebels had
posted on the eastern end of Morris Island.
When daylight came every gun which Beau-
regard could bring to bear upon the new work
began to rain shot and shell, and from day
light till noon there were lively times in and
about Charleston Bay. Shortly after noon
Fort Sumter opened furiously, and it was
| feared that an attempt WAS about to lie
made by the enemy TO advance. There
were enough men there, it was thought, to
hold it, but there WAS deficiency OF nmmu
milton, and II mule-driver volunteered to
deliver the ammunition. The only road was
the smooth and sandy beach along the bay,
and the distance between the two points
about "A mile and IL half. half that distance
was within easy range of Fort Sumter, and
Battery Wagner's guns covered all the way
to the sand hills, behind which was the
Federal camp.
am describing this incident as il appear
ed from the shipping in the bay, and what
called attention to II was the sudden waking
up Df every gun on the southeast angle of
Sumpter. Looking to see the cause of the
Iurlous chnDOLhtilub, every bouN Nhs sur
prised to see mule team tearing up the beach
III the direction OF the new work. The driver
was laying the lash on. and that mule had its
ears laid straight back and was making its
legs go. Occasionally shell would touch
the beach, bound up, and explode, and the
mule would then hesitate and try to turn
back. But the driver would lay the cowhide
on with renewed vigor then the mue put
on another spurt until at last it became en-
tiiely demorllized by the explosion of II ten
inch shell almost under its belly. Every
glass i'll the squadron was leyelled at the
spectacle. The driver got OF his seat, took
the animal by the head, whirled it around
once or twice and started itup the beach once
more. Fort Sumter flashed and famed, Bat
tery Wagner belched and thundered, and still
that daring driver urged his mule along,
though the way was swept by at least thirty
guns. At last he reached his destination,
but he could not stay there and i'll mo-
ment be was turned around and exhorting that
animal to do its level best. The mule did
not need 20 be told to step out for in its rear
there WAS roar and rocket, and about its ears
were flying sand and scrap-iron, which seemed
to stimulate its teetness. Down that hard
beach flew the mule. the light cart bobbing,,and
swaying, and the drivers arm rising and
falling as he dealt out lash after lash. At
last they near the friendly shelter of the sand
hills. In another minute they will be safe
but as they near the place to turn aside =
shell came screaming from Sumter.
Everybody could see the huge mass OF iron
AS it roared through the air. 1t struck the
beach dir, city in the rear of the mule and
with bound it overlook it and exploded
with terrific violence. A general eYclama-
ton is heard from Dahlgren's flag ship
where the Admiral and his staff are earnestly
gazing at the adventurous mule and the
daring driver. Fort Sunlter's ramparts are
black with men they, too, willing witnesses of
Yankee pluck. Along the swell OF Morris
Island, and covering every elevation, can be
seen the Union soldiers who stand with
bated breath, anxious and full of suspense,
and every eye intently taking in the scene
When the shell exploded circle OF smoke hid
the mule Il moinent but when the smoke
cleared Mr. Mule had his ears laid back, and,
with head down and legs lashinG wildly out,
he was making kindling wood of the cart,
which had been badly demorilized 10y a frag-
ment of shell. Presently the driver is seen
hmping to the mule III "A second the mule
is free from the cart, and, with the driver
ON his back and farewell whisk OF his tail
disappeared behind the cover of the hills
The thousands OF boys IN blue unit. in II
long and hearty hurnah the sailors wave
their hats and shout themselves hoarse and,
bark the rebels have caught the Infection,
and are cheering. TOO.