Evening star., 1877-11-16
The Mule of Sumter.

2 Y
When Dahlgren's iron clads began opera
tions in Charleston Harbor the 10Th army
corps made a sudden dash and drove i'm the
thin lines OF p.ckets which the rebels had
EoSted on the eastern end of Morris Island
" heh day light came every gun which Beau
regard could bring TO bear upon the new
ToTk began 10 rain snot ami shell. and from
daylighi TIL noon there vera lively times In
and about Charleston Bay. Shortly after
neon Fort Sumter opened furIousIy, and it
was reared that an alterOpt was about 10 De
maze Dy the enemy to advance. There were
enough men there, IL was thought, 10 hold IT,
but there was deficiency OF ammunition
ard so mule driver volunteered to deliver
me amIdunition. The only road was the
sm Doth and sandy beach along the bay and
The distance between the two points about a
mile and a bGlf Half that distance was
within easy range OF Fort Sumter, and Bat
terry "agnrrs guns covered all the way to
The sand hills, behind which was the Federal
camp.
am describing this incident as it tappeared
from the shipping in the bay, and what ca He'd
attention TO IL was the sudden wa king up OF
every gun on the southeast angle of Sumter.
Looking 10 see the cause of the furious can
nonading, every body was surprised to see a
mule team tearing up the beach In the direc
ton of the new work. The driver was laying
The lash on, and that mule had its ears laid
straight back and was making it's legs go.
occasionally shell would touch the beach
bouEd'up and explode, and the mule would
then hesitate and try TO turn back. But the
driver Tonld lay the cowhide on with re-
HeWed yigor; then the mule put on another
spurt; until at last IL became entirely demon
allied by the explosion OF a teu-inch shell
almost under its belly. Every glass in the
squadron was levelled at the spectac cle The
driver got off his seat, took the animal by
the head, wbirled IL around once or twice
and started it up the beach once more. Fort
Sumter flashed and famed. Battery Wagner
helohed and Numbered, and still that daring
driver urged ms mule along. though the way
was swept by at least thirty guns.
AT last ne reached his destination, but he
could rot stay there, and in moment he
was turned around and eXhOrting that ami
NAL to do It's level best. The mule did MOI
need 10 be told TO step out, for in its rear
there wa roar and racket, and about its ears
were lying sand ard scrsp-iron, which
seemed 10 stimulate its HeetnesS. Down that
bard beach flew the mule, the light cart
tCbblng Bnc sway ing. and the drivers arm
Using 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 just as they near the place
80 tUrn aside a she'll came screaming from
sumter. Every body could see the huge
mass Of iron as ii roared through the air
II struck the beach directly in The rear
OF The mule and " In a bound it overlook
1t ard exploited with terrific violence. y
general exclamation is heard from Dahl.
grens flagship, where the Admiral aud
his staff are earnestly gazing at the
adventurous mule and bis daring driver
tGTt Sumters Tampsrts re black with men,
They, too WilIiT z Witnesses of Yankee pluck,
AlO. & TIE swell OF Morris island aud cover
lGS every elevation, can be seen the Union
soldiers, VITO stand with bated breath,
anxious al full of suspense. and every eve
irtently taking in the scene. When the she'll
exploded a circle of smoke hid the mule for
moment, but when The smoke cleared Mr.
Mule had his ears laid back, and, with head
down and legs lashing wildly ont, he was
making kindling wood of the cart, which had
been badly demoralized by q fragment Of
the shell. Present., the driver is seen limp
lpg 10 fh6 mule; in second the mule is free
from the cart, and, with the driver on his
back, and a farewell whisk of his tail, disap-
pears bt hind the cover of the hills.
The thousands of bows In blue unite In a
long and hearty hurrah; the sailors wave
their hats and shout themselves hoarse, and,
bark! the rebels have caught the Infection,
and are cheering, too.