The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-02-15
a eeMAakAe.E TEAM.
A Group Of Six Army Mules and Ihe'r
Experience During tho Civil War.

Experience During tho Civil War
From an account given by Mr.. Harvey
Riley, formerly in charge Of the quarter
masters depot at Washington, we arr
enabled to give sketch Of one remark
able team: Early In the spring OF 1851,
certain group Of six met officially rs com
rades. They had been associated occa-
sionally before in the somewhat mixed
society oathe quartermaster's corral, but
now they were regularly mustered into
the service OF the United States by Capt,
afterward Gen, Sawtelle, and were
hitched mp together for the first time at
Berryyille, Nd. and one Edward Wesley
Williams, colored teamster, united MS
fortunes with theirs. He was good
teamster, and at once established those
amicable and confidential relations with
his animals which are OF the highest con-
sequence to the successful negro driver.
His trace chains were never so short that
the singletrees banged about the wheelers'
heels. His bits were always OF the regu-
latiou size. seven-eighths inches round,
and full five inches between the rings.
His broad harness straps were always
properly adjnsted, so that there should be
no reasonable ground for the laying back
Of ears or the letting fly of heels.
The authorities deemed It Important
that Williams and his mules should be In
Washington on the day of Lncoln's in
auguration. and they started for the ma
tional capital OH March / but history fails
to record the exact date Of their arrival.
fnasmuch as the ceremonies passed oil
successfully, and without interference
from the confederates, We may infer that
the whole six added the music If their
voices 10 the cheers that went up from in
front Of the Capitol on that memorable
occasion. They remained on duty In and
about the defenses of Washington until
May IA, 1862 when they were transferred
to Fortress Monroe, and reported to Gen.
Mcclellan, or his lawful representatives.
They marched up the Peninsula, partici
pated in the siege of Yorktown, the battle
of Williamsburg, and the arduous mud
! marches of the Chickahominy. At the
seven days fight all six were present for
duty, and with indiscriminate efficiency,
hauled army supplies or CHASTITY loads Of
dead and wounded until they reached
Harrison's Landing with the Army Of the
Potomac. Thence Williams drove back
to Fort Monroe, and was shipped 20
Washington with his team in time to haul
ammunition out to Manassas junction,
and take part in what an Irish soldier lad
called "ouT annual batting at Bull Run.
They saw the tables turned at Antietam,
and turned back again at Fredericksburg,
| where they were in the ammunition train
Under Gen Hooker, the team followed
the fortunes of war through the Chancel-
at,l
was with Grant in front IF Petersburg
Bnt there, sad TO relate, the faithful
saddle mule on whose bacl Williams hal
ridden so many weary miles, was killed
By artillery fire from the ehemy's works
Her surviving comrades bore up under
this affection and admitted new incum
bent, with their usual grace The intro
duction of stranger was not permitted
to interfere with regular duties and the
team worked right along until the fall OF
Richmond.
In June following 1860, hostililies had
ceased, and the team was ordered back TO
Washington, where it was transferred
back TO the regular army, and was on
duty herewith in August, 1866. There
IS no evidence forthcoming to show tina,
the faithful Williams is not still cracking
his black snake over the backs Of his
historic team at some remote frontier
post; but, i'll the nature Of things, the
| four footed members Of the association
must long since have been honorably re
| tired, or perhaps shot, for such is the
merciful method Of dealing with the super
| ANIMATED government mule.
None OF these animals was more than
| fourteen and half hands high, nor
weighed more than 800 pounds. They
frequently went without hay or grain for
| four or five days, subssting on wayside
groupings; and several times they were
| without water for twenty-fonr hours
| Adrian Rexfor1 in American Magazine.