The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-10-19
How An Army Mule Won War Honors

ago?" asked captain of the Third
cavalry. There was general murmur
among the captains auditors that sig
nifed that he couldn't tell TOO much
about the wonderful exploit of the
much maligned animal, and with few
more puffs at his cigar he began:
eve had taken San Juan hill and
our line holding it was too thin for
safety, though the talk about with
drawing came only from people who
gave all the orders but were not at the
front. There was feeling Of nervous
ness and restlessness among the men
that didn't help tho situation. An or
der to retreat would probably meant
frightful panic and oil the officers were
filled with anxiety and sending back
urgent messages that the line should
be held at all hazards, but that rein
forcemcnts must be pushed forward at
once in order to hold the position. This
was the situation when an army mule
began to get in his work.
perhaps it was snake or one of
those big land crabs that startled him,
but whatever it was he beg,n to kick
as though determined to level the
whole camp. Crash after crash sound
ed through the camp in his immediate
vicinity as camp chests, kettles aud
accoutrements were flying in all di-
rections from the force of his rapidly
working heels. Some recruits near by
were awakened and thrown into con-
fusion and they rushed about yelling
and screaming in the full belief that
they had been surprised by a night at
tack Of the Spaniards. In their terror
they began firing in all directions and
in ten minutes the aroused officers had
the whole camp under arms and ready
for the momentary expected attack.
"That blessed animal could not have
been more timely in commencing his
work of destruction. It seemed provi
Dental and I'm fully convinced that
Heaven inspired the act, for the Span
iards did attempt surprise short
time afterwards, but the mule had the
camp under arms and fully prepared
for the enemy ten minutes before the
scared sentries care tearing in with
the news and found to their surprise
and joy that the officers had the men
we'll in hand with their faces to the
enemy.
Coming after the defeat Of the day
before, it must have taken all the
heart remaining out of the Spaniards
to find US all up and ready for them.
A storm Of bullets met the first rush
and they were thrown back, utterly
defeated and demoralized. The attack
was we'll planned, and with our men
worn out with their constant fighting
for days and lack Of sleep it would not
have been difficult to start q panic
that might have ended in the utter
route Of the Fifth army corps. Once
started nothing could have stopped the
decentralization, and with: only the mar
rowest kind Of road on (which to re-
treat, it is not too much to say that
IL is moFs than probable that the whoie
corps would have been crushed. There
were scores of us in camp that night
after the repulse Of the enemy who be-
lieved that just as flock Of geese
frightened the enemy and saved an
cient Rome, our vicious old army mule
had saved the Fifth army corps.
Il think the story If the San Juan
fight is new" continued the captain.
eve learned it after the surrender.
Gen. Linares was present in person
during our charge at San Juan. His
dispositions were made in accordance
with the best military science. His
troops occupied one Of the atrnngee. PC
sitions he could possibly have found.
His orders were &c hold the position TO
the last, aud it was his intention to
strike us on the flank with cavalry
after we had advanced up the hill and
crush us then and there. The cavalry
was there; tho plan was q magnificent
crest of the hill and we didn't know it
was there, the plan was magnificent
one. Linares himself watched the
charge from his place Of concealment.
'At FIRST he was overjoyed at the
prospect, being fully convinced that his
troops from their entrenohed positions
could hurl down and demoralize any
force sent against them. Had he COM
manded American troops I think his
hope would have been sustained, but
his first surprise came when he saw
our men break from cover and begin
with long, steady strides their awful
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