, 1879-03-08
lectlp Statesman.
SATURDAY, ..,..-.... MARCH s. 1919


The Mule HOwitzcr.
4 New York correspondent of the
indianapolis Journal gives the following
interesting reminiscence of the late John
Pheni1-Lieut Derby, of the United
States army:
When Franklin Pierce was president,
jeff Davis, then secretary of war, issued
sgenersl invitation to officers in the army
who were skillful drangbtsmen, 10 send
in SUGGESTIONS for the new uniform it had
been deaded to adopt. One such invita-
tion was sent to each officer. Lieutenant
Derby WAS very ready with his pen-a
really ingenious artist. In reply he sent
10 the war department design tor new
uniform-or, rather, peculiar addition
to the old uniform-the amendment con-
sisting merely of ring attacked to the
trouser Of each private soldier Each
officer was to carry, instead RI sword, a
long pole. with hook in the end like
shepherds crook The pole and the ring
enabled the officers to keep the priratss
from running away in battle. Fugitives
could easily be caught by it and he
brought back. Stragglers could be kept
in line. Moreover, the ring would be
rery useful in the cavalry service to fas-
ten soldiers to the saddle to prevent them
from falling off, and in the artillery ser
vice the rings were to be used for draught
purposes in the absence of mules.
These specifications xsre accompanied
by the most grot.sane pictures, represent
ing officers hauling back cowardly recruits
by the serviceable ring, cavalry securely
fastened to the top.o their steeds by the
same device, and artillerymen harnessed
to cannon. drawing them through narrow
defles or up All acclivity inaccessible t"
mules, by cables attached to the posterior
staples.
On another sheet of bristle-board was
An illustration in ga,dy colors of der
hy's Rotary mule Howitzer, accompanied
l,y the following description - Upon the
back of ayoung and vigllant mule strap
a mountain howitzer, the muzzle pointing
toward The tail A similar piece of ordi
nance is fastened with iron bands under
the animals abdomen, the muzzle aimed
between his forelegs to the front. There
are four gunners 10 each piet te-and
'persuader,' as he is called, whose bns
ncss it is to persuade the mule 10 stand
firm and not retreat, by stntflng HIM with
cats, after each discharge, with a tin sau-
SAGE stuffcr. When Indians, or other
esitiwate game, appears in view, the mule
Is, by crank movement on the tail,
limbered to the front. 1t don't make
any difference which way the mule faces.
(and here is whers my psient comes in),
one gun is always pointing towaro the
front. At the command Fire the Top
howitzer is discharged. The rccoil
throws the male on his back, bringing
the second gun into position. This is
discharged, which suddenly throws the
mule On his feet again, when the gunnels
swab out the mnles throat with hay aud
reload The accompanying illustrations
{in brown, red. blue, and gold, and still
On file i'll The war Department., repre-
sented the rotary mule in seven different
attitudes, looking cont.ntcd and happy
all the time.
This was felt to be outrageous audaclty
on the part Of "a subal,ern. The clerks
in the war department laughed at tie
funny letter immediately. but their
superiors locked ,rious jefferson Davis,
the head of the department, was terribly
indignant, and he resolved to defend his
wounded dignity. Charges and spccifi-
cations were drawn up against Licuterant
,nerby, and the officers we're actually
n,m,,l for his Court martial, when Wm.
=. Marcy, secretary of state, a man of
more SENSE and sylf-poise, SAID to The
irase secretary: "Now, see here, Gen.
Davis, don t do it. This Derby has un-
doubtedly superfuous development oi
humor. But he is shrewd and Ii. -ssenlnns,
and really fine draugh'sman. He has
valuable qualities You can organize
court that will convict him, but you vii
be a butt Of ri1icule on account oi it all
your life. Better file the Suggestions OF
the crook and ring and the lively rotary
mule and say nothing" And he dad.
Derby died (of sueido} few Years aft.r
wards, but think he SAN the INSIDE Of All
insane asylum first