The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1877-11-27
The Mule of Sumter.

The Mule OF sumter.
When Dahlgren's iron -clads began
operations In Charleston harbor the
Tenth Army Corps made sudden dash
and drove in the thin lines Of pickcts
which the rebels had posted on the east.
end of Morris Island. When daylight
came, every gun which BeauregarG
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 at
tempt was about to be made by the en-
emy to advance. There were enough
men there, it was thought, to hold it,
but there was a deficiency of amm uni
ton, and so mule driver volunteered
to deliver the ammunition. The only
road was tho smooth and sandy beach
along the bay, and the distance between
the two poiits about mile and half.
Half that distance was within easy
range of Fort Sumter, and Battery
Waguer's guns covered all the way to
the sand hills, behind 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 tho
sudden waking up Of every gun on the
southeast angle of Sumter. Looking
to see the cause of the furious cannon
aiding, everybody was surprised to see a
mule tearing up the beach in the direc-
tion of the new work. The driver was
laying the lash on, and that mule had
its ears laid straight back aud was max
ing its legs 60. Occasionally shell
would touch the beach, bound up and
explode, and the mule would then hesi-
tnte and try to turn back. But the
diver would lay the cowhide on with
renewed vigor; then the mule put on
another spurt, until at last it became
entirely demoralized by the explosion
of ten'inch shell almost under its
belly. Almost every glass in the squad
ron was leveled ut the spectacle. 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 thundcred,
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 ho could not stay there, aud in a
-irrSsssmsat he was turned around and ex>
horting he animal to do its level best.
The mule did aSSs need to be told to
step out, for iu its fcsr there was roar
and racket, and abOf Of[-EssS, swSisE
seemed to stimulate It's feetnoss. Down
that hard beach few the mule, the light
cart bobbing and swaying, and the dri'
ver's arm rising and falling as he dealt
out lash after lash. AT last they neared
the friendly shelter Of the sand hills.
: In another minute they will be safe, but
Ijust as they near the place to turn aside
shell came screaming from Sum-
ter. Everybody could see the huge
mass Of iron as it roarcd through the
DIR. 1t struck the beach directly In
the rear of tie mule and with a bound
Il overlook it and exploded with terri
bic violence. A general exclamation is
heard from Dablgreus flagship, where
the Admiral aud his staff are earnestly
gazing at the adventurous mule and
his daring driver. Fort Sumter's anl'
parts are black with men, they, too
, willing witnesses of Yankee pluck
, Along the swell of Morris Island, and
covering every eleYation, can be seer
the Union soldiers, who stand with
| bated breath, anxious and full of sus
: pense and every eye intently taking il
the scene. When the shell exploded
, a circle Of smoke hid the mule for
, moment, but when the smoke cleared
. Mr.. Mule had his ears laid back, ant
l with head down and legs lasuing wildly
out, he was making kindling wood o
the cart, which had been badly demon
,, alized by fragment of the shell
Presently the driver is seen limping t
, the mule, in a second the mule is fret
= from the cart and with the driver oil
his back, and farewell whisk OF hi
tail, disappears behind the cover OF tn
1 hills.
The thousands Of boys in blue unit
= in long and hearty hurrab; the sailor
q wave their hats and shout themselve
hoarso, ard, bark the rebels hav
4 caught the infection, and are cheerin!
t too.
News From Sir John Franklin.
A singular interest has always gath
oroJ around the memory OF Sir jOhi