The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-03-06
FOIIN PHLsNIX AND IEEF. DAYIS.
A New York correspondent of the

A New York correspondent of the
Indianapolis MArnal gives the
following intorA05ing rominscenoe
of the late Johu henix-Liouten-
ant Derby, of thsp. S. Army:
sWhen Frank Rserce was presi-
dent, jeff. Davis, hen secretary Of
war, issued q RsHaral invitation to
officers OF the 1lR who were skilled
draughtsmen tAd in suggcstions
for the aifSftSeshich it had been
decided to adopRa One such invita-
was sent to eaoh ofcer. Lieutenant
Derby was very ready with his pen
a really ingetSus artist. In
reply ha8eht to III War Departs
ment aassign. for fnew uniform--
or rather a peculiafabddit to the
old uniform-the amendment con-
sisting merely of q 13ng attached to
the sent of trousers Sf each private
soldier. Each officeR was to carry.
instead of Il sword, along pole, with
a hook in the end lib a Shepherds
crook. The pole aifaf the ring en-
abled officers to kaep privates from
1rqnning away in baft9e. Fueitiyes
icduld easily be canE by it and
brought back, Straa .lors could be
kept in line..sMofeY h., tho RING
would be very yWafful~ the cavalrvy
service to .fasteii ,s81Siers to the
saddle to prevent thsA falling off ;
and in the artilleryheNHice tho rings
were to be used foEaHmght purpos-
es in tho absence o3 MWes.
The specifications .ware accompa-
niod by the most grotesaue pictures,
representing officers hauling back
cowardly recruits by the serviceable
ring, cavalry securely fastened to
the top of their steeds by the same
device, and artillerymen hamessed
to cannon. drawing thefh through
narrow detiles, Or. up an acclivity
inaccessible to mules, by cables
attached to the posterior staples.
On another sheet Of BRISTOL
board was an illustration in guady
colors of "Derby's Rotary Mule
Howitzer,' accompanied by the
following by the following descrip-
ton "UpaAstAss back of q young
s1a aSa,Szgi ,ES5zsg5ilane 1s 1@s 6so,.a sf6an mountain
towards the tail. A. similar p5Tidd9TGf I
ordnance is fastened with iron
bands under the animals abdomen,
the muzzle aimed between his fore
legs to the front There are four
guhners, two to each piece, and q
'persyader,' rs he is called, whose
business it is to persuade the mule
to stand firm and not retreat, by |
stufiing him with oats, after each |
discharge, with q tin suffer.
When Indians, or other Legitimate
game, appear ia 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 there is where my
patent comes in) one gun is always
pointing towards the front. At tie
command Fire : the top howitzer is
discharged. The recoil throws the
mule on his buck, bringing the
second gun into position. This is
discharged, which suddenly throws
the mule to bis feet again. when tho
gunners swab out the mules throat
with hay and reload" The accom-
panying illustrations Gn brown, red,
blue and gold, and still on file in the
War Department), represented the
the rotary mule in seven different
attitudes, looking contented and
happy all the time.
This was felt to be outrageous
audaeity on the part of q subaltern.
The clerks in the War Department
laughed at the funny letter immod-
erately, but their superiors looked
serious. Jefferson Davis, tho head
of the department. was terribly in
! dignant, and he resolved to defend
his wounded dignity. Charges and
specifications were drawn up
against Lieutenant Derby, and the
officers were actually named for his
courtsmartial when VIM. T.. Marcy,
Secretary of State, man of more
sense and self-poise, said to the
iirate Secretary "Now, see here
General Davis don't do it. This
Derby has undoubtedly superau~
Gus development of humor. But ho
is shrewd and ingenious, and really
o tine draughtsman. He has yalu~
able qualities. You can organize q
court that will convict him, but you
will be butt of ridieule for it all
your life. Better file tho sugges>