The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1888-04-24
A pnUoKY MULE.
Running tho Gauntlet OF q Confcder-
ate Cannonade. ~

Sometimes the mule Is called upon
Tor special service, requiring qualities
for which he does not generally receive
credit. The lines were Tightening
about Charleston when Admiral Dahl
gren's fleet began operations in the har-
bor, and rendered it practicable for the
troops on shore to advance with some
hope OF being able to hold points pre-
yiously untenable. During the night q
detachment Of the Tenth corps dislodg-
ed picket post on the eastern end Of
Morris island, and when daylight came
had thrown up quite formidable be-
ginning for q field work. But the place
was within easy range Of Fort Sumter
and Battery Wagner, and every Con.
federate gun that could be brought to
bear began to drop she'll into the little
earthWork. 1T was thought that an at,
tempt was about to be made to carry
the place by assault, and, while there
were men enough to hold it, they were
little short Of ammunition. The
only practicable road was mile and q
half Of hard, smooth sand beach, COM
manded from end to end by the Confed-
erato batteries.
But there was combination in the
Federal camp that was equal to the
emergency; namely, a fleet mule and q
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 acknowledge that
without the mule he could not have
done what he did. 1t may be assured
that the mule had n good feed Of oats
before he was called upon to run the
gauntlet, and possibly the driver, too,
may then have felt justified In fortify-
ing the inner man. Be that as it may,
just before noon few boxes Of ammu-
milton were thrown into the lightest
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 wicked gleam in his
eye, rs If the oats were beginning to
rise into his brain.
''Good-by, boysl Cup, mulel'' and
the equipage started down through the
dry sand to the hard level Of the beach.
Mule shook his head and executed q
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 rush in the shape of shell from
the southeast angle Of Sumter. Itstruck
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 q moment it was
uncertain whether he was going to kick
or run, but few remarks from the
driver convinced him that there was de-
mand for forward movement, so he slit
out for all he was worth.'' At least
thirty guns commanded that stretch Of
beach, and they pounded away as fast
as they could be fired. Now and then
a 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, and held him to his work.
at length 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 the head,
backed him rapidly round once or twice,
and was off again on the keen jump be-
fore the gunners could get his range as
q fixed object. On he went, and at
last dashed into t..a 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 unceremoniously, and tho mules
nose pointed for homel With the light
ened load and the prospects Of unlimit-
ed fodder, he beat the previous record.
But the Confederate artillerists were
on their metal now. They had failed
to stop the supplies, but their hearts
burned for revenge. Their shots now
came moro. from the rear, and bets were
freely offered with no takers, on what
the result would be Should the mule
have a fair chance to kick ten inch
shell, as it were, 'son the fly" Tho
crescendo scream Of shell chasing him
up the beach, lent wings to his heels,
and he fairly flew toward the shelter.
ing sand hills. There were only few
rods more to be covered, when some
careful gunner made close calculation
as to the lengthening range, and pulled
his lanyard almost in the 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 a cloud Of white smoke
and brown sand. In an instant, how
ever, this tloated away, and the mule
was seen vigorously reducing to kindl-
Ing wood what was left Of the quarter
masters 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 another,
waving his hat in response to the cheers
that rolled across the water from Yam.
kee blue jackets, from Confederate gar
risons, and from the dark blue masses
that crowned the distant sand dunes.
1t is q pity that the drivers name
has not been preserved, for his daring