The silver state. [volume] (Unionville, Nev.) 1870-1903, 1883-09-06
THE REVOLVING MULE.
John Phentx's Invention stu on Fi lie
at Washington.
baltimore American.l

af washington.
baltimore Amercan.l
''The last time ! was in Washing.
ton," said veteran army officer to the
Americas correspondent, ''those fellows
up at the Navy Department were in
quite huff over an effort looking to a
change in their uniforms, and there
was as great commotion as the one
that existed during President Pierce's
administration, when they talked of
changing the style of uniforms in the
army. That event was attended by
some very amusing incidents, but the
most laughable was the part taken in
it by the late Captain Derby, or John
Phoenix, as he was known in journalis'
tic and literary circles. He was a
Lieutenant at the time and stationed
in California jeff. Davis, who was
secretary of War, issued a general in
vitation to officers OF the army who
were skillful draughtsmen to send in
suggestions for the 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,
not exactly design for new uniform,
but peculiar addition to the old uni
form, the amendment consisting merely
OF ring attached to the seat of the
trowsers Of each private soldier. Each
officer was to carry, instead Of sword,
long pole with a hook in the end,
like shepherds crook. The pole and
the ring was to enable officers to keep
privates from running away in battle.
Fugitives could easily be caught by it
and brought back, and stragglers could
be kept in line. Moreover, the ring
would be very useful in the cavalry
service TO fasten soldiers to the saddle,
TO prevent them from falling off, and
in the artillery service the rings were
to be used for draught purposes. in the
absence Of mules. These specihca.
tions were accompanied 10y the most
grotesque pictures, representing officers
hauling back cowardly recruits by the
serviceable ring, cavalry securely fas-
tened to the tops of their steeds by the
same device, and artilerymeu har-
messed to cannon, drawing them
through narrow defiles or up an acclivi.
ty inaccessible to mules. On another
sheet of cardboard was an illustration
in gaudy colors of "Derby's Rotary
Mule Howitzer," accompanied by
written inscription to this effect: Upon
the back OF young and vigIlant mule
strap mountain howitzer. the muzzle
pointing toward the tail. A similar
piece OF ordnance is fastened with iron
bands under the animals abdomen, the
muzzle aimed between his fore legs TO
the front. There are four gunners-
two to each piece and 'persuadcr,'
as he is called, whose business it is to
persuade the mule to stand firm and
not retreat, by stuffing him with oats,
after each discharge, with tin sausage
stuffer. When Indians or other legiti.
mate game appear in view, the mule is,
by a crank movement on the tail,
brought to the front. 1t don't make
any difference which way the mule
faces-and here is where the point
comes in-one gun is always pointing
toward the front. At the command,
"Fire the top howitzer is dis
charged. The recoil throws the mule
on his back. bringing the second gun
into position. This being discharged,
the mule is suddenly thrown ON his
feet again. when the gunners swab out
the mules throat with hay and reload. /"
The illustrations which accompanied
these directions-in brown, red, blue
and gold, and still on file in the War
Department-represented the rotary