Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-07-22
MULE DRIVER SETH.

No one supposed Seth Hawkins had
spunk enough to fire gun. He had
drifted along through a year or so Of
service without being required to do
much more than to drive tent stakes
for the camp and mule wagons for
the march. The captain kept him put
tering around a little at odd times, and
once or twice he had tried cooking for
his company, but that was really too
dangerous. The boys didn't like his
style. In fact, poor old Seth didn't
seem to fit in any where and he hadn't
sent in any satisfactory reason why he
was living. Not that he ever did any
one any harm! Lazy as he was, | be-
lieve he would have driven his mules
out of the road and up ten-foot bank
rather than run over crippled bird or
anything weak and helpless, but he
didn't seem to have any call for SOL
diering ana the boys used to say they'd
be blessed if they knew why he had
ever enlisted.
One day in SO, if | remember right.
we were making forced march to
join the rest Of our command below
Resaca, and some way-I never knew
just how it happened-Seth was put in
charge of the hospital train and drove
the ambulance filled with the poor fell
lows who had been wounded in the
slirmish the day before. The wagon
headed motley procession of pack
mules carrying the camp furniture, the
commlssary supplies escort
and few stragglers. There were not
more than 20 men-eyen If Seth was
counted-and they logged along slowly,
falling gradually further and further
behind until only a cloud of dust
proved that the regiment was still In
line in front OF them.
Seth was half a doing on the
drivers seat, and the little company
moved on to the clink-clank of the fry
ing pans and kettles dangling over the
i sides of the mules.
Suddenly a shot rang out from the
clump OF underbrush little distance
from the road; then another and an
other! Seth woke up and sprang for
unh.lch the mules. lashing them for
ward. Away they went, until the cloud
of dust L.at weed, then absorbed
J them; while Seth. suddenly trans
/ formed into a man of action, worked
like mad to draw the pack mules up In
living barricade around the wagon con-
tanning the wounded, and even then
under fire from the enemy. The ami
mails were laden with tent canvas and
blankets high enough to reach the top
OF the ambulance, and to form excellent
breastworks for the little company,
massed and put into good fighting
shape by the mule driver, who then
! swung his own rifle to his shoulder,
and for the first time raised its ham
mer for a purposeful blow. There was
some good fighting on both sides; a
bold sally to capture the wagons was
abandoned only after the rebel captain
was killed by Seths bullet; but before
the detachment from the front, warned
by the arrival of the ambulance mules
that something was wrong, came to
the relief, the little band had the John
MES routed.
You will wear chevrons for this, my
man" said the captain, when he
heard of the strategy and repulse. Seth
shifted his tobacco from one cheek &c
the other. and looked uneasy.
Wall dunno" he said. at last: y
dunno as keer to be pestered with
them tarnal things And he swung
up again and cracked the long WHY
over the backs OF his NIUE team.
: The Minnesota board of pardons ha,