The National tribune., 1891-05-14
A BALKY MULE.
A Prescription which Starred Him Running Down
the Mountain.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: On reading the
"reminiscences Of an Ohio Captain" by Rolin
l.. Jones, ia THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE some
time ago. u occurred TO me that the Captain
did BOo tell all that we saw that day near Paw
Paw, Va, and if he laughs as heartily at re-
membrancc now as he did Mt our experience
after leaving camp that morning I DO not want
20 be held responsible for the consequence,
much less accused OF premcditatcd murder
Nearly every comrade remembers how the
roads were built in Virginia among the mount
aims; that u.s. run around instead Of straight up.
On such a road as this the Captain and myself
came down 10 an army team Of two mules and
wagon. The driver seemed 10 be under orders
90 20 somewhere bat that sadd le-mule posi-
lively refused 20 move, aud was braccd stiff
using much unnecessary strength 10 keep the
wagon FROM running forward. Judging from
his position that some strategic move would
have 10 be made in order 10 clear the road, we
suggested 10 the driver that lac be ready TO
move al once, and we would play the mule a
little old trick that VIC had tried before on
baky horses. After quite an amount Of per-
suason, and at cur threat to leave him, he re-
luctanty complied. We were supplied with the
necessary instrument close by, in the shape Of
q small stone, aud as the driver swung into tho
saddle We dropped the stone into Miss Mules
car, az the same time giving the ear vigorous
shake, then stepping back We did not have
long 10 wait before that dose took effect. A
he-haw from the mule and ya.ho0p from the
driver, and all that remained was the Captain
and myself The long roll Of the wagon and a
cloud Of dust marked the direction the other
party had taken. The Captain bad got tired
Of standing, aud was rolling around on the
ground, laughing some but the fatcs seemed 10
be working against as, as we had not gone far
when we discovered something of down 10 the
right vi the road that looked familiar, aud on
close examination about all that could be made
out was tho u. S" on That Wagon-box, the
balance being a mixture Of mules, harness
wagon aud profanity. As tho driver was
standing by contemplating the wreck, and 10
our question, IL he started on time" his reply
did not leave the impression with Us that ho
was fully satisfied; but We remembered that
such Is life, and that some people arc never
satisfied.
Now, IL that comrade Il living, and will com
municate with me, / should be pleased 10 hear
from him; and IL he was not hurt ia body, his
feelings must have been hurt 10 such an ex-
tent that pension would not seem out Of place
in his case.
The next noticeable occurrence was the bat
terry drill that the Captain described, aud the
sword exercise by the officer on one Of his men,
But what lcll a lasting impression on my mind
was dead man that we found 90 arriving At
the depot al Paw Paw. New York cavalry
man Was lying ia an ambulance. lie had been
shot out az BiOomery Cap, or Furnace, the day
before, and had been brought back, dead. /
shall never forget my feelings al seeing the
first man killed by rebel bullet
This was ia The Winter Of 1862; but after
passing through the battles Of Cedar Mountain.
Chauccl0rsvIile, Gettysburg, etc, aud the
bcll-holcs Of Libby and Belle islc then fol-
lowing sherman until August, 1865, dead men
became more common.
IN conclusion, Jet me urge comrades 10 stick
10 the principles that actuated US IN those
years; also 10 lnE NATIONAL TRIBUNE now.
il ] read the coming time right, il will not bc
very long when we shall need 20 touch elbows
! be Of no account
lf this meets with approval, may write q
/ little mule TemiuIscence on old Hutch aud
kellogg H. LL0SAED, First Lieutenant
! 2gth Ohio, Ruahmorc MINI.