The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-05-23
A Plucky Mule.

Sometimes the mule is called upon for
special service, requiring qualities for
which he does not generally receive
credit. The lines were tightening about
Charleston when Admiral Dahlgren's
fleet began operations in the harbor
and rendered it practicable for the
troops on shore to advance with some
hope of being able to hold points pre-
viously untenable. During the night
detachment of the Tenth Corps dis
lodged picket post on the eastern end
of Morris Island, and when daylight
came had thrown up quite formidable
beginning for a field work. But the
place was within easy range of Fort
Sumter and Battery Wagner, and every
confederate gun that could be brought
to bear began to drop shells into the
little earthwork. 1t was thought that
an attempt was about to be made to
carry the place by assault, and while
there were men enough to hold it, they
were a little short of ammunition. The
only practicable road was mile and
half of hard, smooth sand beach, COM
manded from end to end by the con-
federate 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 mentioned first only because he
has long since kicked his last kick, but
the driver, if he still survives, will ac-
knowledge that without the mule he
could not have done what he did 1t
may be assumed that the mule had a
good feed of oats before he was called
upon to run the gauntlet, and possibly
the driver, too, may then have felt JUS
tilted in terrifying the inner man. Be
that as it may, Just before noon few
boxes of ammunition were thrown into
the highest available 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 a wicked
CLEAN in his eye, as if the oats were
beginning to rise into his brain. "Good-
bye, boysp' and the equipage started
down through the dry sand to the hard
level of the beach. Mule shook his
head and executed demi-volt when he
felt the damp sand under his feet, but
driver soothed him with endearing
words. 1t had not yet dawned upon
the confederates 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 shell from the
southeast angle of Sumter. 1t struck
the water fairly in line, ricocheted
and burst over in the marsh, but it
was the signal for action. Up went
the whip and the mule gathered
his mighty hind legs under him. For
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 4" lit out for all he was
worth" AT least thirty guns COM
manded the stretch of beach, and they
pounded away as fast as they could
be fired. Now and then a shell
burst rather too near the mules ears
for comfort, and he would sheer vic.
ently and try to make for home. But
the gallant driver piled the lash and
held him to his work. At length ten.
inch shell tore up the beach and ex.
ploded so near that the mule was en-.
tirely demoralized, but not so his
driver. Leaping down from his seat
he caught the mule by the head, backed
him rapidly round once or twice, and
was off again on the keen jump before
the gunners could get his range as q