The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1891-08-15
A PLUCKY MULE.
RUNNING THE GAUNTLET or A
CONFEDERATE cANNoNADE.

Hauling Load ot Ammunition Under
Fire from Fort sumter aud battery
Wagncr-A Critical Momeut--Ihc Last
Shot-SRfe,
Sometimes the mulc is called upon for
special service, requiring qualities for which
he does not generally receive credit The
lines wcro tightening about Charleston when
Admiral DahlgrenS tlcot began operations IN
the harbor, aud rendered il practicable for
the troops on ShorC to advance with some
hope of being able TO hold points previously
uutenahle During the night detachmSnt
of the TenNh corps diSlodgrd picket post IN
/ the eastern end of Morris island, and when
daylight came had thrown up quite formid-
able beginning fora field work But the place
was within easy range Of Fort Sumter and
Battery Wagner, and every Confederate gun
that could be brought 20 bear began 10 drop
shell into the little earthwork. IL was Thought
that an attempt was about TO be made to
carry the place by assault, aud, while there
were men enough to hold it, they wero a little
short of ammunition, The only practicable
road was mile and a half of hard, smooth
sand beach, commanded from end 20 end by
tne NohIeuelNto hattolloS
But there was II combination In the Federal
camp that was equal to the emergency;
namely, fleet mulo 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 acknowledge
that without the mule he could not have done
what he did. Ii may be assumed that tho
mule had good feed OF oats before no was
called upon TO run the gauntlet, and possibly
the driver, too, may then have felt justified
in tortifying the inner man. BE that as IL
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 CLEAN in his eye as if the oats were
beginning to rise into his brain.
"GoOd-by, boySl Cup muo" and the
equipage started down through the dry sand
TO the hard level OF the beach. Mule shook
his head and executed a dem-volt when he
felt the damp sand under his feet, but driver
soothed him with endearing words. 1t had not
otyet dawned upon the Confederates that ths
expedition was intended for the relief of the
garrison. But presently the CLEAN OF intel
ligence was indicated with rush in the
shape Of a 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 a mo-
ment 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 he fired
Now and then 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 a ten inch she'll tore up the
beach and exploded so near that the mule
was entirely demoraized; 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 fixed object. On he |
went, and at last dashed into the redoubt: |
Dut there was no shelter in 1t for the mule |
His ears waved conspicuously above the low
ying parapet
The ammunition boxes were tumbled out
and the mules nose pointed
or home! With the lightened load and the
prospects of unlimited fodder, he beat the pre-.
Tious record. But the Confederate artilerists
we're on their metal now They had failed to
top the supplies, but their hearts burned for
'evenge. Their shots now came more from
he rear, and bets were freely offered with no
a6ers, on what the result would be should
he mule have fair chance to kick a ten
nch she'll, as it were, ION the fy.n The
scream Of she'll chasing him up the
'each, lent wings to his heels and he fairly
lew toward the sheltering sand hills. There
we're only few rods more to be covered
when some careful gunner made a close cal
ulatlon as to the lengthening range, and
'ulled his lanyard almost in the nick of time.
he huge mass of iron struck the beach, as it
eemed TO the anxious spectators, exactly be-
ind the wagon, and the next instant moth
ng was to be seen there but cloud of white
moke and brown sand. In an instant. how
yer, this foated away, and the mule WINS
cen vigorously reducing to kindling wood
THAT was left Of the quartermaster's wagon.
And the driver where is he! Well, he was
pparently knocked over by the ex plosion,
ut he got on his feet in moment and,
aving cut the traces, was on the mules
ack in another, waving his hat in response a
the cheers that rolled across the water t
'om Yankee blue jackets, from Confederate
arrisons, and from the dark blue masses a
lat crowned the distant sand dunes. u
1t is pity that the drivers name has not p
cen preserved, for his daring act certainly ]
eserves recognition and reward. Perbans
received both, but the writer has been un. I
Ole to find mention of the fact-Adrian
exford in American Magazine