The National tribune., 1910-01-06
GREEN DRIVERS AND STUBBORN MULES.

Thirsty mules. They would leave the
grade and go into those pools regard
less of consequences, and no amount of
5erk-line persuasion or strong cuss
words could check their headlong ca
reer.
THE wagons were loaded to the bows
and in great danger of being upset.
The Captain, naturally kind-hearted
man, lost his temper, and had one man
tied to wagon for INSTRUMENTATION, but
that had no effect upon the mules. They
were masters of the situation, and the
only thing to do was to keep them
headed in the right direction.
The dignity of the Captain began to
come down, and he finally surrendered
to those mules. Sergeant he said,
''get this train along as best you can; 1
am going ahead" and he rode away.
l had the man united from the wag-
on and got the good will of all. I be-
iieyed the meh were doing the best they
knew. but many time that afternoon
I devoutly wished that Mosby would
come and get the train. And this was
the train, or portion OF il, that he did
finally get at BerryYille that eYentful
morning. as related by Comrade EngIer
/ don't remember now how long we
were getting to Harpers Ferry, but we
finally got there, and were parked on
Bolivar Hights. ] was ordered to Join
tions for the brigade. The wagons were
loaded just as they came from Wash
ington, with hard bread, sugar and
coffee. Fresh meat was to be supplied
from the herd of cattle that accompa-
MED the train. The Government did
not furnish embalmed beef for its sol
diers in that war, as it did in the Span
ish-American War. AS / remember it
now, six wagons we're loaded with COM
mLssary stores and seven with forage.
making 13 in all assigned to the First
Cavalry Brigade.
II was dark when we reached
Charlestown. ! was riding in company
with the brigade butcher, Comrade
Maer, of my own company. He pro-
posed that we stop and try to get sup
per. We dismounted, entered a hotel
and inquired if we could be served with
supper. We were answered affirma-
lively, and taken into the dining-room
and seated at long table that was al
ready set with plates to accommodate
SO or 75 persons. No other men ap-
peared about the house while we were
there. and when we had finished sup
per we mounted and rode ahead.
we overlook the wagons, and found
that they were having all kinds of
trouble. Tires were running off and
wheels breaking down. Once more the
Captain rode ahead, telling me to assist
soon as his tracks had become a little
cold l. too. rode forward
AS we came near BerryvilIe the train
seemed 10 be halting ahead / STONED
in little clump of trees, dismounted
and lay down. / knew nothing-fnore
until woke from sleep just in the gray
of dawn. Ny companion, Mari. was
asleep there at my side. got onto nv
feet. and there right abreast of me in
, the road stood the doomed wagons.
Tires were off from some of the wheels
rims and spokes ali gone and the hubs
worn 10 point at the outer end. Mules
were unhitched and feeding at each
end of the wagons.
i gave my horse ration of oats and
began to take observations. Some dis
tance ahead l could hear the noise of
wagons getting into the road and going
ahead, but in my immediate vicinity
everything was quiet and at rest.
l was strongly impressed with the
belief that those wagons should be i'm
readiness to move, but who was to give
orders? Where was the Captain and
the Quartermaster IN charge?
L went among the wagons, woke up
the drivers and urged them to hitch
up and be ready TO move; but that
same spirit Of indifference that had
prevailed with them all the way from
Washington was still on the outside.
l went back to my horse and mount
ed An officer came riding from the
front, inquiring for the officer in COM
mand of the train. / told him did not
know where he was
He ripped out few oaths. and said
II would be left behind If it was not
ready 20 move very soon. He turned
and rode away. and | then rode among
the wagons, urging the drivers to hurry,
They were getting the brides on the
mules. when that first shot from that
small piece of artillery that Comrade
Engler speaks of struck the ground
close by. Then they woke up to see
what was the matter. tried to assure