The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-11-17
The Mule of Sumter.
from the Hartford Zines

\ When Dahlgren's irOnclads begaf
operations in Charleston Harbor the
Tenth Army Corps made sudden
sdash and drove in the thin lines O1
spickets which the rebels had posted
'on the eastern end of Morris Island
When daylight came every gur
which Beauresgard could bring tC
Dear upon the new work began tc
rain shot and shell, and from day.
hght till noon there were lively times
in and about Charleston Bay. Short
iy after noon Fort Sumter opened
furiously, and it was feared that an
attempt was about to be made by the
i nemy to advance. There were
sappgh men there, it was thought to
Hold it, but there was a deficiency oil
ammunition, and 50 a mule driver
volunteered to deliver the anmuni-
ton. The only road was the smooth
and sandy beach along the bay, and
the distance between the two points
about a mile and half. Half that
distance was within easy range of
Fort Sumter, and Battery Wagner's
guns covered all the way to the sand
hills, behing which was the Federal
camp.
L am describing this incident as it
appeared from the shipping in the
bay, and what called attention to it
was the sudden waking up of every
gun on the southeast angle of Sum-
ter. Looking to sec the cause of the
furious cannonading, everybody was
surprised to see mule tearing up
the beach in the direction of the new
work. The diver 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 ex-
plode, and the mule would then hesi
tate and try to run back. But the
driver would lay the cOwhipe on with
renewed vigor then the mule put on
another squirt, until at last it became
entirely demoralized by the explo-
sion Of a ten-inch shell almost under
its belly. Every glass in the squadron
was levelled at the spectacle. The
dryer got off his seat; took the ami
NAL by the head, Whirled it around
once or twice and started it up the
and nGrh hadmnfGa, dnfaa Battery WaGggfateaf WGga bselched
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 in a
moment he was turned around and
eXhorting that animal to dolts level
best. The mule did not need to be
told to step out, for in its rear there
was roar and racket, and about its
ears were flying sand and scrap iron
which seemed to stimulate its fleet
ness. Down that hard beach flew the
mule, the light cart bObbing and
swaying, and the drivers arm rising
and falling as he delt out lash after
lash. AT last they near the friendly
shelter of the sand hills. In another
minute they will be safe, but just as
they near the place to turn aside a
shell came screaming from Sumter.
Everybody could see the huge mass
of iron as it rOared through the air.
1t struck the beach directly in the
rear Of the mule and with a bound it
overlook it and exploded with terrific
violence. A general exclamation is
heard from Dahlgren's flagship,
where the Admiral and his staff are
earnestly gazing at the adventurous
mule and his daring driver. Fort
Sumter's ramparts are black with
men, they, too, willing witness OF
Yankee pluck. Along the swell OF
Morris Island, and covering every
elevation, can be seen the Union sol
diers, who stand with bated breath,
anxious and full Of suspense, and
every eye intently taking in the
scene. When the shell exploded a
circle of smoke hid the mule for a
moment, 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 beer
badly demoralized by fragment o
the shell. Presently the driver il
seen limping to the mule, in {
second the mule is free from the car
and with the driver on his back, anC
Il farewell whisk of his tail, disap
pears behind the cover Of the hills.
The thousands of boys in blue
unite in a long and hearty hurrah
the sailors wave their hats and shou
themselves hoarse, and, bark tn,
rebels have caught the infection, anC
/ L.