CHAPTEE I. 



HOW MTLES SHOULD BE TREATED IN BEEAKmG. - 



I HAVE long had it in contemplation to write some- 

 thing concerning the mule, in the hope that it might be 

 of benefit to those who had to deal with him, as well 

 in as out of the army, and make them better acquainted 

 with his habits and usefulness. The patient, plodding 

 mule is indeed an animal that has served us well in the 

 army, and done a great amount of good for humanity 

 during the late war. He was in truth a necessity to 

 the army and tlie Government, and performed a most 

 important part in supplying our army in the field. That 

 he will perform an equally important part in the future 

 movements of our army is equally clear, and should not 

 be lost sight of by the Government. It has seemed to 

 me somewhat strange, then, that so little should have 

 been wTitten concerning him, and so little pains taken 

 to improve his quality. I have noticed in the army 

 that those who had most to do with him were the least 

 acquainted with his habits, and J;ook the least pains to 

 study his disposition, or to ascertain by proper means 

 how he could be made the most useful. The Govern- 

 ment might have saved hundreds of thousands of dol- 



