JACKS, JENNETS AND MULES 35 



much room. We usually got suitable pastures for our 

 jennets, but the jacks were kept haltered to trees if 

 we were camping in the woods, or to fences, as the case 

 required. Our wagon cover was waterproof, which 

 kept our bed clothing and wearing apparel dry. 



We were now ready to start on our campaign. 

 About the 15th of September, 1865, we were on our 

 route to southern Illinois. Had some of my kind 

 neighbors to go with me for a day or two so as to get 

 my stock accustomed to the road. We started with 

 fifty head — twenty-five jacks and twenty-five jennets. 

 We traveled by way of Clarksville, Tenn., and crossed 

 the Cumberland river above the city a few miles. 

 There we had some trouble with our jennets. We 

 could not take all of our jennets at one time, owing 

 to the size of the ferryboat, which was small and had 

 no banisters to it. After we got the second load of 

 jennets in the boat and had left the shore a short dis- 

 tance the jennets became frightened and commenced 

 jumping overboard into the river and swam ashore. 

 I came very near being run over by the stock as they 

 left the boat. We should have had a better boat for 

 ferrying loose stock! This stock is afraid of water 

 and we have trouble frequently in getting them to 

 cross water on a bridge. Have had to put a rope 

 around the under jaw and tie it to my horse's tail and 

 have two strong men to take a plank or pole and put 

 it behind the jack's rump and have the men to push 

 while the horse pulled by his tail. This has been done 

 frequently in getting the stock to cross branches and 

 creeks where there is no bridge. H you are handling 

 this stock and have to travel much with them you will 

 soon become acquainted with some of their peculiar 



