The Arizona sentinel. [volume] (Arizona City [Yuma], Yuma County, A.T. [Ariz.]) 1872-1911, 1879-03-01
JOHN PHENPX AND JEFF.
DAVIS.
A New story Told of the Greatest
of American HumOrists.

OF American HumOfiStS.
A New York correspondent of the In,
dianapolIs Journal gives the following
! interesting "reminiscences of the late John
/ Phenix-Lieutenant Derby, of the United
States Army, who participated in estab-
fishing Fort Yuma;
When Frank Pierce was President, jeff.
Davis, then Secretary of War, issued a
general invitation to officers of the army
who were skilled draughtsmen to send in
suggestions for the new uniform which it
had been decided to adopt. One such in
vitation 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 design for a
new uniform-or rather peculiar addi-
ton to the old uniform-the amendment
consisting merely of ring attached to
the seat OF tie trousers of each private
soldier. Each officer was to carry, instead
of sword, long pole, with a hook in
the end like a shepherds crook. The
pole and the ring enabled officers to keep
the privates from running away in battle.
Fugitives could easily be caught by it and
brought back. Stragglers could be kept
in line. Moreover the ring would be very
useful in the calvary service to fasten SOL
ders to the saddle to prevent them from
falling off: and in the artillery service the
rings were to be used for draught pur-
poses in the absence of mules.
These specifications were accompanied
by the most grotesque pictures, repre-
senting officers hauling back cowardly
recruits by the serviceable ring. cavalry
securely fastened to the top of their steeds
by the same device, and artillerymen har-
messed to cannon, drawing them through
narrow defles, or up an activity inacces-
sible to mules, by cables attached to the
posterior staples.
On another sheet of bristol-board was
an Illustration in gaudy colors of " Derbys
Rotary Mule Howitzer," accompanied by
the following description: "Upon the
back of Il young and vigilant mule, strap
a mountain howltzer, the muzzle pointing
towards the tail. A similar piece of or
dinance IS fastened with iron bands un-
der the animals abdomen. the muzzle
aimed between his fOrelegs to the front.
There are four gunners, two to each piece,
and 'lersuader,' as lie is called, whose
business it is to persuade the mule to |
stand firm and not retreat, by stuffing him |
with oats, after each discharge, with tin |
stuffer. When Indians, or other |
legitimate game appear in view, the mule |
is, by crank movement on the tail, lim-
bered to the front. 1t don't make any
difference which way the mule faces,
(and here is where my patent comes in,)
one gun is always pointing toward the
front. At the command fire tie top
howitzer is discharged. The recoil throws
the mule on his back, bringing the Sec
Ond gun into position. This is discharged,
which suddenly brings the mule to his
feet again, when the gunners swab out
the mules throat with hay and reload"
The accompanying Illustrations Gin brown,
red, blue and gold, and still on file in the
War Department. represented the rotary
mule in seven different attitudes, looking
,ontcnted and happy all the time.
This was felt TO be an outrageous au-
lacity on the part of a subalterr. The
clerks in the War Department laughed at
he funny letter immoderately, but their
,uperiors looked serious. Jefferson Da-
us, the head of the Department, was ter
IDLY indignant, and he resolved to defend
lis wounded dignity. Charges and speci-
ications were drawn up against Lieut..
Derby, and the officers were actually
famed for his court-martial, when VIM. L.
Marcy, Secretary of State, man of more
enSe and self-poise, said to the irate Sec
etary: "Now, see here, General Davis,
Ion't do it. This Derby has undoubtedly
superfuous development of humor. But
le is shrewd and ingenious, and really
inc draughtsman. He has valuable quail
ties. You can organize a court that will
onvict him, but you will be butt of
idicule on account of it all your life. ,
Better file the suggestions of the crook
nd-ring and the lively rotary mule, and
ay nothing" And he did.
WE have just seen map from the rail-
way office in San Francisco, showing
'ucsOn on the main line This with