Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-11-21
An Excited Mule.
Hartford Times

Hartford Times
When Dahlgren's iron-clads began
operations in Charleston harbor, the
Tenth Army Corps made sudden dash
and drove in the thin lines of pickets
which the rebels had posted on the east
ern end of Morris island. AS the Union
soldiers advanced up the island, the
Southrons retired and at last stood at
bay under cover of Battery Wagner AT
first it was thought that the heavy guns
of the monitors and the new Ironsides
would sweep away the earthwork, but a
long afternoons hammering left it as
good as new, to the great surprise OF
Admiral Dahlgren, and presume, the
rebels also. Then it was determined to
capture it by assault, and stormine
column was started for it one evening,
after it had been hammered and batter
ed out Of shape and form. The assault
did not succeed. Then General Gil
more made preparations to capture it
by regular approaches. Accordingly a
small army, with spades, broke ground
in a dangerous proximity to the battery
one dark and boisterous night. When
daylight came, every gun which Beau
regard 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
enemy to advance their lines as far as
the new work There were enough men
there, it was thought, to hold it, but
there was deficiency of ammunition,
and so mule-driver volunteered to de-
liver the ammunition. The only road
was the smooth and sandy beach along
the bay, and the distance between the
two points about 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, behind which was the federal camp.
| am describing this incident as it APP
peared from the shipping in the bay,
and what called attention to it was the
sudden waking-up of every gun OH 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 direct
ion 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 shell
would touch the beach, bound up and
explode, and the mule would then hest
tate and try to turn back. But the
driver would lay the cowhide on with
renewed vigor; then the mule would
put on another squirt, until at last it be-
came entirely demoralized by the ex-
plosion of ten-inch shell almost under
its belly Every glass in the squadron
was leveled at 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, Bat
terry Wagner belched 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 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 f1eetness
| Down that hard beach flew the mule,
the light cart bobbing and swaying, and
| the drivers arm rising and falling as if
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 just as they near the place
to turn aside, shell came screaming
from Sumter. Everybody could see the
huge mass of iron as it roared through
the air. It 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 shell exploded, a circle of smoke
hid the mule for q moment. but when
the smoke cleared, Mr. Mule had his
ears laid back, and, with his head
down, and legs flashing wildly out, he
was making kindling wood of the cart,
which had been badly demoralized by
a fragment of the shell. Presently the
driver is seeing limping to the mule;
in second the mule is free from the
cart, and, with the driver on his back
and a farewell whisk of his tail, dis
appears 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.
4 Retired Rutchnr