The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1877-11-29
The Mule Of Sumter

When hahl@ren'~ IRON cla,s began operations vi
Charleston harbor the Tenth Army Corps made
sudden dash and drove in tho thin lines Of Pickets
which the rebels had posted on the eastern end OF
Morris island. When daylight came every gun
Which Bcauregard could bring to bear upon the
new work began to RAIN shot and shell, and from
daylight till noon there were lively times in md
about Charleston Bay. Shortly after noon Fort
Sumter opened turiouSIy. and il was feared that
an attempt was about to be made by the enemy to
advance There were enough men there il was
thought to hold il, bit there was 4 deficiency of
ammunition, and mule driver volunteered t"
deliver the ammunition. The only road was the
smooth and sandy beach along the bay, and the
distance between the two points about Il mile and
Il h;tlI. Half that distance was within easy rtnGc
Of Fort Sumptcr and Battery Wagner's guns cover
cd all the way to the sand hills behind which was
the Federal camp.
am describing this incident as it appeared truln
the shipping in the bay, and what called attention
10 il the sudden waking mp III every gun ON
the southeast angle ot Suultrl hvnhinG i"
the cause Of the furious cannonadlng, everybody
was surprised to see mule team tearing up the
beach in the direction OF the new work. The dry
pr was having the l;tSi on, and that mule mad ITS
ears laid straight back and making its lcgS 20
Occasionally ii 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 COW hide on with renewed vigor then the
mulc put another squirt. until at last 1t became
entirely acmoraZed by the explosion of Il ten inch
shell almost under its belly. Every glass III the
squadron WAS lcveled at the spectacle. The driver
rot off his seat took the animal by the head,
Whirrd it around one or twice and started 1t up
the beach once more. F, IT Sumter flashed and
famed battery Wagner bclched and thundcrrd
and still that daring driver urged his mule along
though the way was swept by at least thirty guns
Ia. llt
not stay there. and in moment he was turned
around and eXhorttng that anlmt! to do Its level
best The mulc 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 It's teetneSs Down
that hard beach flew the mule, the light cart bob
| bng and swaying, and the drivers arm rising and
falling as he dealt ont lash after lash. At last they
near the friendly shelter OF the sand nils In an
other minute they will be safe, but Just rs they
| near the place to turn aside she'll came scream
| ing from Sumter Every body could the huge
mass Of iron us roured through the air, 1t struck
| the beach directly i'll the rear of the mule and with
| a bound it overlook it and exploded with terrific
| violence A general exclamation is heard from
| Dahlgrens tag ship, where the Admiral and his
| staff are earnestly gazing at the adventurous mule
and his daring driver Fort Sumpters 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 batcd breath,
anxious and full of suspense. and every eye intent
| " taking in the scene When the shell exploded
il circle of smoke hid the mule for Il moment, but
when the smoke cleared Mr.. Mule had his ears laid
back, and, with head down. and legs lashins wild
ly out he was making kndling wood of the cart,
which had been badly demorazed by a fragment
of the Shell Presently the driver is seen IilnpinE
to the mule; in second the mule is free from The
cart and with the driver on his back, and fare
well whisk Of his tail disappears 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
| shout themselves hoarse, and, bark! the rebels
| have caught the infection, and are cheering too.
Reuben Proctor entered a house in Iowa, about
fifteen miles from Des Moines, the other day, and
found girl named Codigan alone. He Wore a
mask and carried pistol in his hand. The farm
had been sold, and Proctor demanded the money
which was in the house. The girl rushed at him,
struck down the pistol, tore off his mask and
actually drove him out of the door He turned
and fired two shots at her of the balls passing
through her breast, and the other through her
head The girl still lives, but the doctors say she
cannot recover. Proctor was arrested, but before
| ~ l;,ni MI off a u,pl