National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-10-04

| llTe III nlStOTy Us DNVutNuils
aGrsnt, silent and grave, seldom awoke
enthusiasm among the soldiers, although
they entertained for him sincere regard
and high respect; for they learned in
time that this taciturn man, who rode
over battle grounds without n sword,
chewing an unlighted cigar In his pow
crful jaws, was q truo leader, and, indeed,
n groat soldier, Knowing Grant to be
rosoluto and tenacious, the rank and file
| fought under his command with stoadi-
ness and courage, appreciating the fact
that every blow they struck would
DO followed by others equally strong
and oillcacious. Though the hero of
| Vicksburg and Appomattox seldom
was evident that no appreciated
them, and in these days of peace no
general is moro fond of recalling the
good feeling that existed between him
and the war-worn veterans he led so
often to victory.
The impudonce of American soldiers
was very noticeable. One day. as Gen.
Mcclellan was riding through the camps
at Yorktown, he was greeted with tho
salutation of "Uow are you, George 2"
The general laughed at the incident and
probably soon forgot it. But imagine u
German soldier addressing Won Moltke in
such fashion.
Army teamsters wero mover appreciated
at their truo value by soldiers in the
field, for IL was the general opinion that
any fool can drive mules" Those who
tried the experiment found that the
Transfers office was not u sinccure. The
successful handling ofsix stubborn, pug
nacious brutes, as army mules invariably
were, required degree of patience and
an amount Of skill aud will power only
to be developed by long experience. When
the roads were dry and even, wagon driv-
ing was pastimo, but when the trains
reached mountain passes, or tho roads be-
came seas of mud after heavy rains, then
tho task was indeed no joke. Mud,
three feet doep, as tenacious as stiff clay
could make 1t, rendered tho movement
of wagons and artillery q most difficult
operation. The wheels were solid disks,
tho spokes and fellocs being entirely hid
den by the mass Of mud they carried, and
the labor for both men and animals was
multiplied four.fold. Then the genius Of
the teamster was manifested. With
strange and inexhaustible vocabulary Of
onths at his command, and armed with
formidable snake whip, the driver used
both with startling and telling effect.
Tho air, blue with shocking profan ity,
and the hugo whip whistling cruelty as 1t
descended on tho backs of the quivering
brutes, gave them now strength, and the
mirod vehicle soon emerged from its
muddy bed. 1t was leading article Of
faith among Transfers that mules could
only be driven by constant cursing, and
they lived up to that belief with rare con-
stancy. Strange as 1t may seem, IL is
nevertheless fact, that whenever an at
tempt was made to drive a team of mules
w M MI in nj ~ ttN-
variably proved failure, because the an
imals had become SO accustomed to that
method of persuasion they would not
move without it. Teamsters, as class,
wcro brave and untiring, rendering i'm
portant service in their peculiar sphere
of duty, but they got very little credit
for it from tho rank and file, being gon-
orally looked upon as men who were I'M
willing to fight. That they could fight,
however, was often proved, for the team
sters frequently saved their trains from
capture by their stubborn resistance when
attacked. Every wagon carried loaded
musket and the weapons were often used
with deadly effect.
Many brave mule driver died like
hero in defending the property intrusted
to his charge, though there was seldom
any record Of such bravery.
To see an ordnance train gallop up on
the battlefield was an exhilarating sight.
for then the teamsters were in their
glory. Coming up on The trot the wagons
would be wheeled into line as cleverly as
If the men were moving field pieces into
position, and the mules appeared to enjoy
the occasion as much as their drivers,
for they strained every muscle and
obeyed every command with remarkable
docility.
Mention has been made Of the humor.
GUS incidents happening on battlefields,
but there was very little fun to be found
in the ranks when the army was arrayed
in limo of battle. Then everybody was
serious. Orders were given in quiet
tone and obeyed with celebrity and in
perfect silence. Here the private was
of more Importance than his officer, for
on his courage and GOODNESS rested the
issue Of the struggle. If the men in the
ranks stock fast and used their weapons
with proper effect victory would be
won; if they failed to hold their ground,
all was lost. The officers could only
direct what should be done; the men
were to execute it. Then there was the
feeling among both officers and men that
in the presence of the enemy they stood
on one common plane as to danger. The
bullets lying over their heads and tho
shells screaming and shrieking in mid
air paid no heed to rank. Brigadiers and
colonies, captains and lieutenants, were
no better here than the humblest private.
Ono of the most trying positions for
soldier Is the movement of line during
battle. The men have probably been
fighting hard all the morning, only to
find the fro of tho enemy gradually
slackening and finally ceasing altogether.
Skirmishers arc thrown out and word
comes that tho opposing line has fallen
back. Then orders are issued to move
forward in line. Slowly, steadily, the
several brigades step out, following their
skirmish line oyer the fields, through
woods, and across ravines and bitches,
until at length the men catch a glimpse
of tho enemy's line whore it has taken
up advantageous ground. "Haltw comes
ringing down the line and as tho men
obey and drop the heels of
their muskets on the soft earth they
peer curiously at their adversares,
knowing too well that the next
minute will probably bring them into
mortal combat. Silent and thoughtful,
the soldiers lean ON their rifles, their faces
blackened with powder, or bleeding from
some slight wound u veteran never heeds.
They feel no great desire to go forward,
but are perfectly willing to do SO if their
general so decides. Each man in the long
line knows that if an advance is made
some of them will not see tho sun set, and
he cannot shake off the feeling that per-
haps his turn has come to join tho silent
majority. Look down the line, and you
will SEQ many face, which has been the
life and soul of tho camp, now serious
enough, for, as the veteran gazes ut the
corpses scattered over the field he real
ICES the awfulness of the occasion. Sud-
denly the bugles utter their shrill notes
and tho silent line moves forward. Bat
tories behind them open fire. and under
the cover of these shells tho advance con-
tinues. Then, as they come within mus
ket range. the enemy greets the advanc-
10. Lal ..,.t Iln, 80