THE MULE. 29 



get him home or into camp. A horse colt, if able to 

 travel at all, will work his w^aj home cheerfully ; but 

 the young mule will sulk, and in many instances will 

 not move an inch while life lasts. An honest horse will 

 try to help himself, and do all he can for you, especially 

 if you treat him kindly. The mule colt will, just as 

 likely as not, do all he can to make it inconvenient for 

 you and him. 



To show of how little service three year old mules 

 are to the Government, I will give the number handled 

 by me during part of 1864 and 1865. 



On the 1st of September, 1864, Ihad charge of five thou- 

 sand and eighty-two mules ; and during the same month 

 I received two thousand two hundred and ten, and issued 

 to the Armies of the Potomac, the James, and the Shen- 

 andoah, three thousand five hundred and seventy-one, 

 which left us on hand, on the 1st of October, three 

 thousand seven hundred and twenty-ona During the 

 month of October we received only nine hundred and 

 eighty, and issued two thousand five hundred and thirty, 

 which left us on hand, on the 1st of ^N'ovember, two 

 thousand one hundred and seventy-one. During "No- 

 vember we received two thousand one hundred and 

 eighty-six, and issued to the army one thousand seven 

 hundred and fifty-seven, which left us on hand, on the 

 1st of December, two thousand four hundred and thirty 

 mules. Now mark the deaths. 



During the month of September, 1864, there died in 

 the corral fifteen mules. In October, six died. In ]^o- 

 vember, three ; and in December, eight. They were 

 all two and three years old. 



