Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1882-03-02
y A COntraband Mule.
Andy, let's go a-swimming.D

ANDY, let's go s-swimming." f.. =. i
well, Harry, L don't know about that.
Id ike to make good plunge; but, you
see, there's no telling how soon we NAV
move"
| 1t WAS the afternoon of Tuesday, June
IA, 1854. We had been marching and
lighting almost continually for five
weeks and more, from the Wilderness to
Spottsylvania, over the North Anna. in
at Cold Harbor, across the Pamunky
and over the Chickahominy to the
banks of the James River, about a mile
and half from which we were now
lying, along dusty road. We were sun
burned. covered with dust, and gener-
ally used up, so that swim in the river
would be reffeshment indeed. i..s
Having learned from one of the eff
GERS that the intention evidently was to
remain where we then were until the
entire corps should come up, and that
we should probably cross the river at or
somewhere near that point, we resolved
to risk it. fgE f1,isasa 1-,l Easf f.i
So, o,oYer a eorn-ield we started at a
good pace We had not gone far when
we discovered mule tied up in clump
OF bushes, with rope arouud his neek.
And this long-eared animal, somewhat
gothic" in his style of architecture. we
decided, after solemn council of war.
to declare contraband, and forthwith we
impressed him into service, intending to
return him, after our bath. on our way
back to camp. Uhtying Bucephalus from
the bush, we mounted, Andy in front
and l on behind, each armed with a
switch. and we rode along gayly enough,
with our feet-dangling among the eorE-
stalks. .....i'r .,-....-~, -...,...
Fer while all went well. We fell
to talking about the direction we had
come since leaving the Pamunky; and
Andy, who was usually such an author
ity on matters geographical and astron-
omical that on the march he was known
In the company as "the compass" con-
AOSoCo w L4O 90 NO AOuO Ou blldI lie NINE
self had been somewhat turned about.
in that march over the Chickahominy
swamp.
"And as for me- said 1, al think this
is the aWfullest country to get turned
about In that ever did see. Why, An
dy, while we were lying over there in
the road 1t seemed to me that the sun
was going down in the east. Factl But
w hon fnnb
a little ridge to the rear to- look for wa
ter for coffee, found, on looking up,
that on that side of the ridge the sun
was all right. Yet when l got back to
the road and looked around, judge of my
surprise when found the whole thing
had somehow swung around again, and
the sun was going down in the east
Whoa dari Whoa darI Whar you
gwine wild dat dar mule O. mine? Whoa,
Petep i.4f- 3rcni -al
The mule stopped stock-stiii as we
caught sight of the black head and face
Of darkey ooy peering forth from the
door OF a tobacco house that we were
passing. Possibly, he was the owner of
the whole plantation now, and the mule
Pete might be his only live stock -l..i
Where are we going, Pompey? Why,
we're going 'on to RichmOndp"
ION ter Rfchmon'! An wild dat dar
mule O. minel 'Clar to goodness, sodg-
BIS, can't git along without dat mule.
Better git offn dat dar mulep' -f.
whip him up, Andy!" shouted 1.
"Come up, Bucepbalus!" !" shouted Andy.
And we both laid on right Justify.
But never an inch would that miserable
mule bulge from the position he had
'aken on hearing the darkey's voice, un-
ill all of sudden, and as if a mine
lad been sprung under our feet, there
Was such striking out of heels and
'uch an uncomfortable elevation in the
rear, the angle of which was only in
creased by increased eudgsling, that at
asst, with an enormous spring, Andy
Ind were sent flying off into the corn.
"Yii yil vi! Did n say better git
,ff' n dat dar mule o, ,miHe?-Yil vi! yip'
Laughing as heartily as the darkey at
,ur misadventure, we felt that it would
,e safer to make for the river afoot. We
rad q glorious plunge in the waters Of
he James, and returned to the regiment
It sunset, greatly refreshed. Harry NJ. n
zieffer in March st. Nicholas.