The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1877-11-28

the following reminiscence of the war +:
When Dahlgren's iron-clads began OPP
erations in Charleston harbor, the tenth
army corps made sudden dash and drove
in the thin lines of pickets which the
Confederates had posted on the eastern
end of Morris Island. When daylight
came every gun which Beauregard could
bring to bear upon the new work began
to rain shot and shell, and from daylight
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 be made by the Confederates to adj
vance. There were enough men there,
it was thought, to hold it, but there was
deficiency of ammunition, and so a
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 half. Half that dis
tance was within easy range of Fort
Sumter, and Battery Wagner's guns
covered all the way to the sand hills, be-
hind which was the Federal camp.
am describing this incident as it ap-
peared 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 Sumter. Looking to
see the cause of the furious cannonading,
everybody was surprised to see 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
its legs go. Occasionally a 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 mule put on another squirt,
until at last it became entirely demoral-
lied by the explosion of ten-inch shell
almost between its legs. Every glass in
the squadron was levelled at the spec
tacle. The driver got off his seat, took
the animal by the head, whirled it
around once or twice and started it up
the beach once more. Fort Sumter
flashed and famed, Battery Wagner
belched and thundered, and still the
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 do its 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
feetness. 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 just as they near the
place to turn aside shell came scream
ing 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
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 she'll exploded circle of smoke hid
the mule for a moment, but when the
black 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 demoralized by fragment of
the shell. Presently the driver is seen
limping to the mule in second the
mule is free from the cart, and, with the
driver on his back, and farewell whisk
of his tail, disappears behind the cover
) Of the hills.
The thousands of boys in blue unite
in long and hearty hurrah the sailors
wave their hats and shout themselves
hoarse, and, bark the Confederates
have caught the infection, and are cheer.
ing, too.