THE MULE. 73 



and a tolerably good rider. Her ears and eyes are of 

 the very finest kind, and her whole head indicates intel- 

 ligence. Her front parts are perfection itself. She is 

 also remarkably kind. 



No. 5 is the near swing mule, or middle leader. She 

 is what is called a mouse-color, and is the fattest mule 

 in the team. She underwent the entire campaigns of 

 the Army of the Potomac, and is to-day without a 

 blemish, and capable of doing as much work as any 

 mule in the pack. Her powers of endurance, as well as 

 her ability to withstand starvation and abuse, are 

 beyond description. I have had mules of her bufld 

 with me in trains, in the Western Territories, that 

 endured hardship and starvation to an extent almost 

 incredible ; and yet they were remarkably kind when 

 well treated, and would follow me like dogs, and, 

 indeed, try to show me how much they could endure 

 without flinching. 



No. 6 is an off-wheel mule, of ordinary quality. I 

 had to take the spotted mules from the wheels of this 

 team, as they were not equal to the work required of 

 them, and got very sore in front. 



No. 7 is a spotted, or, as the. Mexicans call them, a 

 calico mule. He and his mate were sent to the Army 

 of the Potomac about the time General Grant" took 

 command of it. They were worked as wheel 

 mules in the team until 18G6, when this one, like 

 nearly all spotted animals, showed his weak parts by 

 letting up in his fore- feet, which became contracted to 

 such an extent that the surgeon had to cut them nearly 

 off. We were compelled to let him go barefoot until 

 4 



