The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1879-02-21
JOHN PHOENIX AND JEFF.
DAVIS.
A New STORY Told of the Greate.G o.
American N mOrisss-

|
New story Told of the Greafe.G of
American HumOrisss-
A New York correspondent of the
indianapolis Journal gives the following
interesting reminiscence of the late John
Phenix--Lieutenant Derby, OF the U.
States army.
When Frank Pierce was President,
JEFF. Davis, thea secretary of war, is-
sued a general invitation to officers OF
the army who were skillful draughts-
men to send in suggestions for the new
uniform which il had been decided to
adopt. One such invitation was sent to
each officer. Lieutenant Derby was
very ready with mis- pen--a really inge-
-sxaxs saparisneas ssas~'sr 2 nsE uni-
form--or rather peculiar addition to-
the old uniform--the amendment con-
sisting merely OF q ring attached to the
seat of the trousers of each private sol
dier. Each officer was to carry, instead
of sword, long pole, with hook in
the end like 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 cavalry service to
fasteu soldiers to the saddle to prevent
them from falling of ; and in the artil-
lery service the rings were TO be used for
dIsught purposes in the absence OF
mules.
These specifications were accompanied
by the most grotesques pictures, repres-
enting officers hauling back cowardly
recruits by the serviceable ring, cavalry
securely fastened to the top of their
ateeds by the same device, and artillery
men harnessed to cannon, drawing them
through narrow de6les, or up an ACTIVITY
Inaccessible TO mules by cables attached
to the posterior staples.
On another sheet of bristol board was
sn illustration In gaudy colors OF : Der
bys Rotary Mule Howitzsr," accom-
panied by the following description
" Upon the back of youEg and vigilant
mule, strap mountain howiizer, the
muzzle pointing toward the tail. A
similar piece of ordinance n fastened
with iron bands under the animals alb
domen, the muzzle aimed between his
ioreIegs to the front. There are four
gunners, two to each piece, and per-
suader," as he is called, whose business
it is to persuade the mule to stand firm
and not retreat, by stufing him with
oats, after each discharge, with tin
sausage-stuffer. When Indians, or other
legitimate game, appear in view, the
mule is, by crank movement on the
tail, limbered to the front. 1t don't
matter which way the mule face, (and
here is where my patent comes in), one
gun is always pointing towards the front
At the command Fire = the top howit-
ger is discharged. The recoil throws the
mule on his back, bringing the second
gun into position. This IS discharged,
which suddenly throws the mole to his
feet again. when the gunners swab out
the mules throat with hay andsreload."
The accompanying illustrations Tin
brown, red, blue and gold, and still on
file in the War Department. represented
the rotary mule in seven different atti-
tudes, looking csntented and happy all
the time.
This was felt to be outrageous auda-
city on the part of subsltern. The
clerks in the war department laughed at
the funny letter immoderstely, 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 specifca
tions were drawn up against Lieutenant
Derby, and the officers were actually
named for his court martial, when VIM |
l.. Marcy, secretary of state, said to the
irate secretary: Now, see here, Gen.
Davis dCn't do it. This Derby has un-
doubtedly a superfuous development of
humor. But he Is shrewd and ingenious,
and really fine draughtsmsn. He has
valuable qualities. You can organize
court that will convict him, but you will
be butt of ridicule on account OF it all
your life. Better file the suggestions of
the crook>and.ring and the lively rotary
mule, and say nothing" And he did.