Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-01-20
Tue MULE or SUMTER.
War Incident that Pleases Friend
and Foe.
y World

o
The newspapers and magazines arr
full Of war stories, but there are few Of
them any better than this one told by al
old soldier at New York dinner-tablC
the other evening.
When. Dahlgren'S lroncladS began
operations ia Charleston harbor the
| Tenth Army Corps made sudden dash
/ and drove in the thin lines of pickets
/ which the Southern officers had posted
on the eastern end Of Morris Island.
/ When daylight came, every gun which
Beauregard could bring to bear upon
the new work began 10 rain shot and
shell.
There were enough men there, but
there was a deficiency Of ammunition,
and so a mule-driver volunteered to de-
liver the ammunition.
The only road was the smooth sand
beach along the bay, and the distance
between the two points about mile and
4 half. Half that distance was within
easy range of Fort Sumter, and Battery
Wagner'S guns covered all the way 10
the sand hills behind which was the
Federal camp.
/ am describing the incident as 1t APP
peared from the shipping in the bay;
aud what called attention TO 1t was the
sudden waking up Of every gun on the
southeast angle OF Sumter.
Looking To see the cause OF the
furious cannOnading, everybody was
surprised to see a mule team tearing up
the beach in the direction of the new
work. The driver was laying the lash
on, and that mule had its ears laid
straight back, and was making It's legs
go.
Occasionally shell would touch the
beach, bound up and explode, and the
mule would then hesitate and try TO
turn back, but the driver would lay the
cOwhide on with renewed vigor; then |
the mule put on another squirt, until at |
last il became entirely demoralized by |
the explosion Of ten-inch shell almost |
under its belly.
The driver got of his seat, took the |
animal by the head, whirled 1t round |
once or twice, and started 1t up the |
beach once more.
Fort Sumter flashed and famed. Bat
terry Wagner belched and Numbered,
and still that daring driver urged his
mule along, though the way was swept |
by az least thirty guns.
At last he reached his destination, but |
he could not stay there, and in mo-
ment he was turned around and exhort-
ing that animal to do its level best. The
mule did not need TO be told to step out,
for in its rear there were roar and racket
and about its ears were flying sand and
Scrap-iron. which seemed to stimulate
its heetneSs.
Down that hard beach flew the mule,
the light cart bobbing and Swaying, and
the drivers arm rising and Falling as
he dealt out lash after lash. AT last
they near the friendly shelter of the sand
hills.
In another minute they will be safe,
but lust at they neared the place TO turn
aside, she'll came screaming from SUM
ter Everybody could see the huge
mass OF iron as it roared through the |
air. 1t struck the beach directly in the |
rear of the mule, and with a bound 1t
overlook it and exploded with terrific
violence.
When the she'll exploded circle OF
smoke hid the mule for moment; but |
when the smoke cleared Mr.. Mule had
his ears laid back, and, with head down
and legs lashing wildly out, was making
Of the cart, which mad
been badly demoralized by fragment
Of the shell.
Presently the driver is seen limping
to the mule; in q second the mule Is
free from the cart, and. with the driver
ON his back and farewell whiSk OF his
tail, disappears behind the cover OF the
hills.
The thousands of boys in blue unite
in a long and hearty hurrah; the sailors
wave their hats and shout themselves |
hoarsc, and, bark. the Southern soldiers
have caught the infection and are cheer
inc toni