192
the drivers the drivers urged the mules. The drivers were usually expert, andunderstood well the wayward, sportive natures of the creatures over whosedestinies they presided. On our way to Yorktown our pontoon and bag-gage trains were sometimes blocked for miles, and the heaviest trainswere often unloaded by the guard to facilitate their removal from themud. It did seem at times as if there were needless delays with the trains,partly due, no doubt, to fear of danger ahead. While I was guarding ourpontoon train, after leaving Big Bethel, the teams stopped all along the line.Hurrying to the front, I found one of the leading teams badly mired, hutnot enough to justify the stopping of the whole train. The lazy coloreddriver was comfortably asleep in the saddle. “Get that team out of themud! ” I yelled, bringing him to his senses. He flourished his long whip,shouted his mule lingo at the team, and the mules pulled frantically, butnot together. “ Can’t you make your mules pull together ? ” I inquired. “ Denimules pull right smart! ” said the driver. Cocking and capping my unloadedmusket, I brought it to the shoulder and again commanded the driver, “Getthat team out of the mud! ” The negro rolled his eyes wildly and woke upall over. He first patted his saddle mule, spoke to each one, and then, flour-ishing his long whip with a crack like a pistol, shouted, “ Go ’long dar ! what Ifeed yo’ fo’! ” and the mule'team left the slough in a very expeditious manner.
When procuring luxuries of eggs or milk, we paid the people at first in sil-ver, and they gave us local scrip in change; but we found on attempting topay it out again that they were rather reluctant to receive it, even at that
early stage in Confederate finance, and
much preferred Yankee silver or notes.
On the afternoon of April 5th, 1862,the advance of our column was brought
-s -tm
GET THAT TEAM OUT OF THE MUD 2