The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-07-14
MULE DRIVER SETH.
Bravery of a Soldier Whose Compan-
ions Thought Him Coward.
From the cbisago Journal


No one supposed Seth Hawkins had
spunk enough 10 fire gun. He had
drifted along through a year or so oi
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 putter-
ing around 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. Ia fact, poor old Seth didn't
seem to fit in anywhere and he hadn't
sent in any satisfactory reasons why
he was living. Not that he ever did
anyone any harm. Lazy as he was, l
believe 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 haze any call for soldier
ing, aud the boys used to say they'd
be blessed If they knew why he had
ever enlisted.
One day, in '6S, if remember right,
we were making a forced march to join
the rest of our command below Reseca,
and some way-I never knew just how
it happened-Seth was put in charge
of the hospital train and drove the am
bulance filled with the poor fellows
who had been wounded in the skir-
mish the day before. The wagon
headed motley procession of pack
mules carrying the camp furniture, the
commissary supplies-under escort
and few stragglers. There were not
more than twenty men-even if Seth
were 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 DOING on the drivers
seat, and the little company moved on
to the clink-clank of the frying pans
and kettles dangling over the sides of
the mules.
Suddenly shot rang out from the
clump of underbrush u little distance
from the road; then another, and
another! Seth woke up and sprang to
unhitch the mules, lashing them for
ward. Away they went, until the
cloud Of dust first veiled, then absorb
ed them; while Seth, suddenly trans
formed into man Of action, worked
like mad to draw the pack mules up in
"A living barricade around the wagon
containing the wounded, and even
then under fire from the enemy. The
animals were laden with tent canvass
and blankets high enough to reach the
top of the ambulance, and 10 form ex-
cellent breastworks for the little conf
pany, nnassed aud po.. Into good fight
ing shape 10y the mule driver, who
then swung his own rifle to his should
er, and for the first time raised its ham,
mer for purposeful blow. There was
some good fighting on both sides;
bold rally to capture the wagons was
abandoned only after the rebel captain
was killed 10y Seth's 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
nies 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
10 the other, and looked uneasy.
"Wall, / dunno" he said, at last:
az dunno rs keer to be pestered with
them tarnal things" AMI he swung
up again and cracked the long whip
over the backs of his mule team.