The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1888-05-31


tensive ears rAking sit and . wicle CLEAN
10 his eye, s II The oats we're beginning
TO rise into his brain.
Good by boysl Cup. mulcrn and tho
equipsge started down through the dry
sand 10 the hard level Of The beach, Male
shook his head aud executed a demi.,oli,
when he felt the damp sand under his
ieet, but driver soothcd him with ondesr-
ing words. II bad not yet dauned npon
the confedcrates that the expedition was
Intended Tor The relief OF the garrison, lint
presently the CLEAN Of intelligence ". in.
dicatcd with rush In the shape Of she'll
from the southeast angle Of Sampler. II
struck The water iairly in line, ricochetsd.
aud burst over in the marsh. but Il vas q
signal for action. Up went the whip, aud
tho mule gathered bis mighty hind legs
under him. For moment il was uncer-
tain whether he was going TO kick or run.
but Few remarks from the driver cunvin-
ced him that there was demand for forward
movement, so he 'lit out for all he was
worth" At least 30 guns commanded tba.
stretch OF beach, aud they pounded away
as fast as they could be fred Now aud
then shell would burst rather too near
the mules ears for comfort, and be would
sheer violently, aud try TO make for homo,
But the gallant driver piled the lash, and
held him TO his work
AT length ten Inch shell tore up tho
beach aud exploded so near that the mule
was entirely demoralised; bnt not so bis
driver Leaning down from his seat, he
caught the mule by the head, backed him
rapidly around once or twice, and was OF
again on the keen Jump before the gunners
could got his range as a fred object On
he went. and at last dashed into the ro-
doubt;but there was no shelter in il for
the mule. His ears waved conspicuously
bcve the low lying parapet.
The ammunition boxes were tumbled
out unceremoniously, and the mules nose
pointed for homel With the lightened
load and the prospects OF unlimited fodder,
he beat the previous record. But the Con-
federate ariillerists were on their metal
now. They had failed to stop the supplies,
but their hearts burned for revenge Their
shots now came from the rear, and bets
were freely offered with no takers. on what
would be should mule have q fair chance
to kick ten inch shell. as it were, ION tho
fly" The creseendo scream OF shell
chasing him mp the beach, lent wings to
his heels, and he fairly flew toward tho
sheltiring sand hills. There we're only
few rods moro to be covered, when somo
careful gunner made close calculation as
10 the lengthening range, and pulled bis
lanyard almost in the nick OF time. The
huge mass Of iron struck the beach, as II
seemed to the anxious spectators, exactly
behind the wagon, and the next instant
nothing was TO be seen there but 0 cloud
of white smoke and brown sand. In an
instant, however. this HoAted away, and
he mule was seen vigorously reducing to
kindling wood what was left OF the quar-
'ermaster's wagon,
And the driver, where Is be {? Well, he
was apparently knocked over by the ex-
ploson, but he got on his feet In mo-
mont, and, having cut the traces, was on
he mules back in another, waving his
nat In response TO the cheers that rolled
lcross tho water from Yankee blue jackets
rom Confederate garrisons, and from tho
lark blue masses that crowned the distant
Iand dunes.
II is q pity that the drivers name has
,ot been preserved for bis daring act Ger.
ainly deserves recognition and reward.
Perhaps he received both, but tho writer
las been unable TO find mention OF the
act