Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-03-22
THE MULE IN THE WAR,
dow He, Fought and Kicked and Ran in
the Struggle for the Union.

Sometimes the mule was called upon
for special service, requiring qualities
for which lie did not generally receive
credit. The lines were frightened
about the birthplace of secession when
Admiral Dahlgrenss fleet began opera
tons in the harbor, and rendered it
practicable for the troops on shore to
advance with some hope of being able
to. hold points previously untenable.
During the night detachment of the
Tenth Corps dislodged picket post on
the east end of Morris Island, and when
daylight came had thrown up quite a
formidable beginning for field-work.
But tie place was within easy range
of Fort Sumpter and Battery Wagner,
and every rebel gun that could be
brought to bear began to drop she'll
into the little earthwork 1t was
fought that an attempt was about to
be made to carry the place by assault,
aud. while there were men enough to
mold it, they were little short of am
munition. The only practicable road
was mile and a half of hard, smooth
sand-beach, commanded from end to
end by the rebel batteries.
But there was a combination in the
Federal camp that was equal to the
emergency; namely, fleet mule and
plucky driver. The mule is men
toned first, only because he has long
since kicked his last kick, but the
driver, if he still survives, will &C.
knowledge that without the mule lie
could not have done what he did. 1t
may be assumed that the mule had a
Of r. l,o
upon to run the gauntlet, and possibly
I, c driver, too, may have felt justified
in fortifying the inner man. Be that
as it may, just before noon few boxes
of ammunition were thrown into the
lightest wagon, and, after looking the
harness over carefully, the driver took
his seat in the shelter of the sand hills
The mule stood with his extensive ears
raking aft and wicked CLEAN in his
eye, as if the oats were beginning to
RISE into his brain.
Goodbye, boys! G. up, mule~ and
the equipage started down through
the dry sand to the hard level of the
beach. Mule shook his head and exc
cuted q demivolt hen lie felt the damp
,lnd under his feet, but Driver soothed
not yet dawned upon the rebels that
the expedition was intended for the
relief of the garrison. But presently
the CLEAN of intelligence was Indicated
with a rush in the shape of a shell
from the southeast angle of Sumpter.
1t struck the water fairly in line;
ricocheted, and broke over in the
marsh; but it was the signal for action.
Up went the whip, and tue mule gath
cred his mighty hind legs under him.
For Il moment it was uncertain whether
he was going to kick Or run, but few
remarks from the driver convinced
him that there was demand for forward
movement, SO he slit out for all he was
worth. At least thirty guns COM
manded that stretch of beach, and
they pounded away as fast as they
could be fired. Now and then shell
would burst rather too near the mules
ears for comfort, and he would sheer
violently and try to make for home.
But the gallant driver piled the lash,
a ten-inch shell tore up the beach and
exploded so near that the mule was
entirely demoralized; but not so his
driver. Leaping down from his seat
he caught the mule by his head, back
ed him rapidly round once or twice,
and was off again on the keen jump
before the gunners could get his range
as n fixed object. On he went, and at
last dashed into the redoubt: but there
was no shelter in it for the mule. His
ears waved conspicuously above the
lOW-lying parapet
The ammunition boxes were tumbled
out uncermoniously, and the mules
nose pointed for home! With the
lightened load and the prospects of
unlimited fodder, he beat the previous
record. But the rebel artillerists were
on their metal now. They had failed
TO stop the supplies, but their hearts
burned for revenge. Their shouts
now came more from the rear, and
bets were freely offered with no takers,
on what the result would be should the
mule have fair chance to kick ten
inch shell as it were, ION the fly"
The crescendo scream of shell chasing
him up the beach lent wings to his
heels, and he fairly flew toward the
sheltering sand hills. There we're only
a few rods more to be covered, when
some careful gunner made a close cal
culation as to the lengthening range,
and pulled his lanyard almost in tie
nick of time. The huge mass of iron
struck the beach, as it seemed to the
anxious spectators, exactly behind the
wagon, and the next instant nothing
was to be seen there but cloud of
white smoke and brown sand. In an
instant, however, this tioated away,
and the mule was seen vigorously re-
ducing to kindling wood what was left
of the quartermasters wagon.
And the driver, where is he? Well,
he was apparently knocked over by
the explosion, but he got on his feet
in a moment, and, having cut the
traces, was on the mules back in an
other, waving his hat in response to
the cheers that rolled across the water
from Yankee blue-jackets, from Con-
federate garrisons, and from the dark
blue masses that crowned the distant
sand dunes. 1t is a pity that the
drivers name has not been preserved,
for his daring act certainly deserved
recognition and reward. Perhaps he
received both, but the writer has been
unable to find mention of the fact.
An Excuse for Papa.