The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-03-20
John PlGnix and JcT. Davis.

s~s JOhn Eh0niX anu Jc1l. Davis.
A New York correspondent of tho In
dianapolis Journai gives the following
interesting "Reminiscences Of the late John
PhGnix-Lieutenant Derby, Of the U. S.
Army:
When Frank Pierce was President,
JEFF. Davis. then secretary Of war, issued
general invitation to officers of the
army who were skilled draughtsmcn to
send in suggestions for tie new uniform
which it had been decided to adopt. One
such invitation was sent TO each officer.
Lieutenant Derby was very ready with
his pen-a really ingenious artist. In
reply he sent to the War Department q
design for new uniform rather a
peculiar addition to tho old uniform
the amcndm, II. consisting merely of a
ring attached TO the seat of trousers Of
each private soldier. Each officer WAS
to carry, instead Of a sword, long pole
with q hook in the end like shepherds
crook. The pole and the ring enabled
officers to keep privatcs from running
away i'll battle. Fugitiyea could easily
be caught by it and brought back.
Stragglers could be kept in line. More
over, the ring would be very useful in
the cavalry services 10 iastcn soldiers to
the saddle TO prevent them falling off;
and in the artillery service the rings
were to be used for draught purposes in
the absence ofmulcs.
The specifications were accompanied
by the most grotesquc pictures, rcprcsen-
ting officers hauling back cowardy re-
cruits by the scrviceable ring, cavalry Sc
curely fastened 10 the top of their stceds
~ Itn ~
harnesscd to cannon, drawing them
through narrow deilcs, or up m accliy-
ity inaccessible to mules, by cables at
tached to the postcrior staples.
On another sheet of bristol. board WAS
an illustration in gaudy colors Of DER
buys Rotary mnle IIowitzer,' accompa-
| MED by the following description
Upon tho back Of young and yigi-
liant mule strap mountain howi,zcr,
the mu:zlc pointing towards the tail.
A similar piece of ordinance is fastened
with iron bands under the animals nb-
d0mcn, tho mnzzlc aimed between his
iore-legs TO the front. There are four
gunncrs, two to each piece, and per
suadcr,' as he il called whose business it
il to persuade the mule 10 stand firm and
not retreat, by stuilin2 him with oats,
after each discharge, with Il tin sausage
s:uticr. When Indians, or other logit-
innate game appear in view, the mule is,
by crank movement on tho tail, linn
bercd to the front. 1t don't make any
difference which way the mule faces land
there il where my patent comes in) one
gun is always pointing towards the front
AT the command Fire ! the top howit-
ger is discharged. The rccoil throws the
mule on his back, bringing the second
gun into position. This is discharged,
which suddenly throws the mule TO his
feet again, when tho gunners swab out
the mules throat with hay and reload"
The accompanying illustrations Tin
brown, red, blue and gold, and still on
file in the War Department., rcprcscn-
ted the rotary mule in seven different
attitudes, looking conteutcd and happy
NIL the time.
| This was felt to be outrageom, audaci-
ty on the part ofa subaltcrn. i'hc clerks
III the War Department laughed at tho
funny letter immodcratcly, but their su-
pc.ors looked serious. Jefferson Davis,
the head Of the department, was terribly
indignant, and resolved to defend hi,
wounded dignity. Charges and spccli-
cations wcre drawn NJ as.::s5: L;ou.um-
ant Derby, aud the officers were actually
named for his court-martial, when Wm
l.. Marcy, Secretary Of State, man Of
moro sense and sclf-posc, said to tho
irate Secretary: "Now, see here, Gene
raj Davis cont do it. This Derby has
undoubtedly superiluous &c, elopmcnt
of. humor. But he is shrewd and inge-
nious, and really fine draughtsman
He has valuable qualities. You can
organize q court that will convict him,
but you will be n butt of ridculc for it
all your life. Better file the suggestions
of the crook and ring and the lively rota-
- mule, and say nothing" And no