Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1891-03-06
A ReMARnA ALB e TEAM.
Group of six Army Mules and Their
Experience During the Civil War.
IDAHO

A Group of six Army Mules and Their
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 a sketch OF one remark
able team: Early in the spring of 1861,
certain group of six met officially as COM
rades. 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
hitched up together for the first time at
Berryville, Md; and one Edward Wesley
Williams, colored teamster, united his
fortunes with theirs He was good
teamster, and at once established those
amicable and confidential relations with
his animals which are of the highest con-
sequence to 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-
iation size, seven-eighths inches round,
and full five inches between the rings
His broad harness straps were always
properly adjnsted so that there should be
no reasonable ground for the laying back
of ears or the letting fly Of heels.
The authorities deemed IL 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 ], but history fails
10 record the exact date of their arrival
Inasmuch as the ceremonies passed Off
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
10 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 Chickehominy. At the
seven days fight all six were present for
duty, and, with ndiscriminate 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 10
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 Mt 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 aud Chantilly campaigns, and
was with Grant In front Of Petersburg
But there, sad to relate, the faithful
saddle mule, on whose back Williams he'd
ridden so many weary miles, was killed
by artillery fire from the euemy's works.
Her surviving comrades bore up under
this affection and admitted new incum.
bent, with their usual grace The intro
duction of a stranger was not permitted
to interfere with regular duties. and the
team worked right along until the fall OF
Richmond.
In Juno following 1868, hostilitles had
ceased, and the team was ordered back t.
Washington, where 1t was transferred
back to tho regular army, and was or
duty Herewith in August, 1866 Their,
Is no evidence forthcoming to show tina
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, thu
four footed members of the association
must long since have been honorably re
tired, or perhaps shot, for such Is the
mercful method of dealing with the super
anuuated government mule
None OF these animals was more thar
fourteen and half hands high, nol
weighed more than 800 pounds. They
frequently went without hay or grain foi
four or 1--WE days, subsisting ON waysid,
groupings; and several times they wer,
without water for twenty-four hours. =
Adrian ReXford in American Magazine.