, 1884-02-16

toned in California. JEFF Davis,
who was Secretary ol War, issued
general invitation to. officers of tho
army who were skillful draughts-
men to send in suggestions for the
new uniform it was decided to adopt.
One such invitation was sent to each
Office. Lieutenant Derby was ready
. with his pen-rcally an ingenious
artist. In reply, he sent to the War
Department, not exactly design for
new uniform, but a peculiar addi-
ton to the old uniform, the amend
Inent consisting merely of ring at
tlChed to the seat of the trousers Of
each private soldier Each officer
was to carry instead of a sword,
long pole with hook in the end like
shepherds crook. The pole and
ring enables officers to keep privates
from running away IN battle, Fug-
7 itiVes could De easily eaught by y
and brought back; stragglers could
be kept in line. Moreover, the ring
would be very useful in the cavalry
service to fasten soldiers to the sad
die, to prevent them from falling
of, and in the artillery the rings
We're to be used for draught puT-
poses, in The absence Of mules.
These specifications were acCompa-
MED by the most grotesque pictures,
representing officers hauling back
cowardly recruits, by the serviceablG
ring, cavalry securely fastened to the
tops Of their steeds by the same de-
vice, and artillerymcn haTncssed to
cannon, drawing ,hcm through mar
row dchlcs or up an activity inac-
cessible to mules. On another sheet
of Bristol board was an illustration
in gaudy COlOr5 Of Derby's Rotary
Mule IIOwitzcr,' accompanied by n
written description to this effect:
Upon the back Of young and Wig
liant mule strap q mountain howit-
ger, the muzzle pointing toward the
tail. a similar piece of ordinance
is fastened with iron bands under
the animals abdomen, the muzzle
aimed between his fore legs in the
front. There are four gunners-two
to each pieCe-and persuader, as
he is called, whose business it is to-
persuade the mule to stand firm and
not retreat by stufling him with oats
after each discharge with tin saus-
age suffer When Indians or other
legitimate 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 mple faces--and here is
where my patent comes in-one gun
is always pointing TO the front. At
the command !Firep the top hOwit-
zer IL dlsl lhlrnad. The roeniL thraUs
tffe Tnufe-oT ms -I1acIz, md brings -tirs5
second gun into position. This dis
charge, which suddenly throws the
mule on his feet again, when the
gunners swab out the mules throat
and reload.
The Illustrations which accomp3-
MED these directions--in brown,
red, blue and gold, are still on file
in the War acknowledgements
ing the rotary mule in seven differ
ent attitudes, looking happy all the
time. This was felt to he outrageous
on the part Of subaltern. The
clerks in the War Department
laughed at the funny letter immod-
erately, but their superior looked Sc
rious. Jefferson Davis, the Secreta-
ry, was terribly indignant and had
resolved to defend his wounded dig
nifty. Charges and specifications
were drawn up against Lieutenant
Derby and the officers were actually
named for his court-martidl when
William r. Mercy, Secretary of
State-a man Of considerable sense
and self-pOise-said TO the Secretary
of War: "Now, see here, General
Davis, don't you do it. This Derby
has undoubtedly a superfluous de-
velopment Of humor, but he is
shrewd and ingenious and really a
fine draughtsman. You can organ
ize court that will convict him,
but you will he the butt Of ridicule
on account Of it all yourlife. Better
file their suggestions of the crook
and-ring and the lively rotary mule
and say nothing. And he did It,
Poor Derby subsequently became an
inmate of an insane asylum andl
died by suicide.