Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1891-02-20
The Army Mule.
HEADQU ARTERS.
Long BOW CLUB, NO. I, LIMITED,
FEBRUARY 10, lS9l.

hWtS III Tue distance, our ' ICE PreSi
dent arose and said:
Comrades, am the very un WILL.
Qng) COURIER of the information that
our worthy President cannot be pres.
Vnt this evening. lie went this morn
ing to st. John, p. @, to look for IA
mate to the llazen steer, the one that
drew ut ono load all the sprucn that
grew on half acre, and in his absence
ii becomes my duty TO preside. None
can regret this more than myself; we
miss his hearty greeting and gentle
voice, which falls upon the eur as soft
and sweet us the waters Of the Oasis TO
the thirsty traveller on u simeon swept
desert, and, like him, shall look for
iuy subject for your entertainment
this evening to the animal kingdom.
lie was pleased to roam the forests for
wild beasts, but shall take a domestic
animal, and give you as my theme,
The Army Mule Before entering.
however upon the subject proper, u
brief history Of events that led to my
first introduction to this much abused,
yet noble animal. may be Of interest.
1t was my fortune in the early
days OF 81 to enter the u. s. Service
rs private in Company ID, 81 Regt.
Vt. Vols, and my chevrons we're won
10y liberal and judicious use of Can
ada IL. w. just before the election of
Company officers. The regiment was
early sent To the front, and | pariici.
pated in all its engagements from the
attack on Fort Gallop " in Northern
Vermont, to the battle of Gettysburg.
July, 1863. Then believing | could
serve my country equally rs well, and
my comrades better, secured Il detail
in the Ambulance Corps. Some may
possibly think this position pleasant
one and attended with but little if any
danger such however is not the cnse.
Many times have passed through
scenes and un seeas Of the greatest
danger while serving in this position.
| distinctly remember one circum.
stance that occurred where it was only
by the greatest presence OF mind that
my life was spared, 1t was something
| like tulsa certain sutler gave ne an
even half dozen OF John llenncssey's
best, and in looking through one Of
these at II lively scrimmnSe that was
going on in my immediate front, Il
piece OF shell passed between my hands
and face completely severing the neck
Of the bottle, and had | but hesituted
IL moment to spit out the broken glass
history would have been strangely
silent on this remarkable occurrence.
Again we were subject 10 many fierce
night attacks from the brass bauds in
our immediate vicinity, and the only
successful defence that could be made
was with fluid known in the army
as "comlnissary.' \ generous applica,
ton Of this to the enemy would so con-
fuse their minds that at about the
fourth round tney would sink gently
into their own lIorn5 and were carried
home. We have now arrived at The
Army Mule.
"On one OF my first acquisitions foI
transportation, after being assigned to
this Corps, | received large white
mule. From his general makeup
length of ears aud heel was sure that
had drawn n prize, and the addition,
to national cemeteries Of those who
tried to break and drive him fully con
firlned my first Impressions and his
deeds OF blood were not confined to
man alone. All that approached Kim
from the rear was sure Of u free pass &c
that bourne, from which no traveller
we were in camp near Brandy Station
Va. At one Sunday morning inspec
ton it was discovered that one OF the
teamsters had lost n halter. To make
this deficiency good he, the saiue
night, visited distant part of the
army, and strange TO relate, on arriv
ing ut the camp with the halter he
found horse attached to the othel
end of it, On further examination i
was recognized as II very valuable
animal, which had been given to 1
certain General by admiring friends
As it was black stallion, with a
white star in forehead, easy OF identiii
cation, it began to have rather III
ugly look. MI detperandum beint
our motto, mo Montrose in ours) we
sent for the Tonsorial Artist and al
the lnanipulations known to the pro
fession we're immediately applied t.
the horse his name was reached, tai
locked, CheDey's hair dye applied t
the white star, and sooner than /
takes me to tell it, the horse was but
shadow OF his former self. But
proved poor investment. The los
OF his beautiful name and tail brok
his heart, and before the week was on
he went stark mad, kicked IL big hol
, in the side OF the stable, broke hi
halter, and went out 10 the corru
where the mule was softly sleeping
but asleep or awake, he was equal
ready, and stood his ground. The
: followed the fercest battle b'
| tween animals ever known in vi,
9 gInia indeed the dumb beasts Tough
I like true Southern gentlemen. TIL