Weekly Trinity journal., 1879-03-15
JOHN PHOENIX AND JEFF
DAVIS.

LA v 4Os
A New York correspondent Of the In
dianapolis Journal gives the following
interesting "Reminiscences Of the late John
Phenix-Lieat. Derby, Of the United
States Army:
When Frank Pierce was President,
JEFF. Davis, then Secretary of War, is
sued general invitation TO officers Of the
army, who were skilled draughtsmen to
sond in suggest ms for the new uniform
which it had been decided to adopt. One
such invitation was sent TO each officer.
Lieut.. Derby was very ready with his
pen-a really ingenious artist. In reply
he sent to the War Department a design
tor new uniform-or rather a peculiar
addition 70 the old uniform-the amend
mont consisted merely Of ring attached
to the seat OF the trousers Of each private
soldier. Each officer was to carry, in
stead Of a sword, a long pole, with hook
pole and the ring enabled officers to keep
the privates from running away in battle.
Fugitives could easily be caught by it ano
brought back. StraFglers could be kept
in line. Moreover the ring would be
very useful IN the calsvry service to fasten
soldiers to the saddle to prevent them
from falling of and in the military SER
vice the rings we're TO be used for draught
-, H. u. -
These specifications we're accompanied
by the most grotesque pictures, represent
ing officers hauling back cowardly recruits
by the servceable ring, cavalry securely
fastened TO the top Of their steeds by the
same device, and artilerymen harnessed
to cannon, drawing them through narrow
defles, or up an ACTIVITY inaccessible to
mules, by cable attached to the posterior
staples.
On another sheet Of bristol board was
nm Illustration in gaudy co!ors of 'Derby's
Rotary Mule Howitzer,' accompanied by
the following description Upon the
back Of young and vigilant mule, strap
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towards the tail. A similar piece of or
dinance is fastened with iron bands under
the animals abdomen, the muzzle aimed
between his lorelegs 10 tho front. There
are four gunners, two to each piece, and a
'persuader," as he is called whose bust
ness ii is to persuade the mule TO stand
frm and not retreat, by stuffing him with
oats, after each discharge, with tin sau-
sage stuffer. When Indians, OF other le-
gitimats game, appear in view, the mule
Is, by crank movement on the tail, linn
bered TO the front. 1t don't make any
difference which way tho mule faces land
here is where my patent comes in) one
gun is always pointed toward the front.
AT the command fire. the top howitzer is
discharged. The recoil throws the mule
on his back, bringing the second gun in to
position. This is discharged, which sud
denly brings the mule TO his feet again,
when the gunner swa5s out the mules
throat with hay and reload. The accom-
panying illustrations (n brown, red, blue
and gold, and still on file in the War
Department. represented the rotary mule
in seven different attitudes, looking con-
tented and happy all the time.
This was felt 10 be an outrageous auda-
city on the part OF subaltern. The
clerks in the War Department laughed
at the funny letter nmoderately, but
their superiors looked serious. Jefferson
Davis, the head of the Department, was
terribly indignant, and he resolved TO
defend his wounded dignity. Charges
and specifications were drawn up against
Lieutenant Derby, and the officers wero
actually named for his Court,martial.
when VIM. i. Marcy, Secretary of State,
man of more sense and sefpoise, said
To the irate Secretary: Now, see here,
General Davis don't do it. This Derby
has undoubtedly superGuous develope,
inent OF humer. But he is shrewd and
ingeniours, and really a fine drauc
He has valuable qualities. You can or
dera Court that will convict him, but you
will be butt of ridicule on account of it
All your life. Better fle the suggestion of
the crook and-ring and the lively rotary
mule, and say nothing And he did.