Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-03-01
A heMARkAe.E TEAM.


A Group. Of Six Army Mules and Thesf
Experience During the Civil War.
From an account given by Mr.. Harvey
Riley. formerly in charge Of the quarter
masters depot at Washington, we are
enabled to give sketch of one remark
able team: Early in the spring of 1861,
certain group of six met officially as COM
rasles. They had been associated occa-
sionally before in the somewhat mixed
society of the quartermaster's corral. but
now they were regularly mustered into
the service of the United States by Capt,
afterward Gen.. Sawtelle, and were
hitehed up together for the first time at
Berryvilie, Md; and one Edward Wesley
Williams, a colored teamster, united his
fortunes with theirs. He was good
teamsrer, and at once established those
amicable and confidential relations with
his animals which are of the highest con-
sequence 10 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-
lation size, seyen-eighths inches round,
and full five inches between the rings.
His broad harness straps were always
properly adjusted. so that there should be
10 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 Lincoln's in
auguration, and they started for the ma
tional capital on March l. but history fails
to record the exact date of their arrival.
Inasmuch as the ceremonies passed on
successfully, and without interference
from the confederates, we may infer that
the whole six added the music Of their
voices TO 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 indiscrimnate 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 'our 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
louisville and Chantilly campaigns, and
was with Grant in front of Petersburg
But there, sad to relate, the faithful
saddle mule. on whose back Williams had
ridden so many weary miles, was killed
by artillery fire from the enemy's works.
Her surviving comrades bore up under
this affection and admitted a new incum
bent, with their usual grace. The intro
ductioI of Il stranger was not permitted
to interfere with regular duties and the
team worked right along until the fall of
Richmond
In June following 1861 hostilities had
ceased and the team was ordered back to
Washington, where 1t was transferred
back to the regular army, and was on
duty Herewith in August, 1866 There
is no evidence forthcoming to show that
the faithful Williams is not still cracking
his black snake over the backs Of his
historic team at some remote frontier
post; but, in 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, suDssting on wayside
groupings; and several times they were
without water for twenty-four hours
Adrian ReXford in American Magazine