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John D. Billings, Hardtack and Coffee: The Unwritten Story of Army Life, chapter 16 (search)
as no redress or relief to be had until his muleship got ready to move, which was generally after every ounce of his burden had been stripped off and placed on terra firma. When the army was lying in line of battle in such close proximity to the enemy that the ammunition wagons could not safely approach it, two boxes were taken and strapped on a mule, one on each side, to keep his balance true, and thus the troops were supplied when needed. At the terrible battle of Spottsylvania, May 12, 1864, a steady line of pack-mules, loaded with ammunition, filed up the open ravine, opposite the captured salient, for nearly twenty hours, in that way supplying our forces, who were so hotly engaged there. Rations were furnished in the same manner under similar circumstances. But now and then a mule would lie down under his burden, and refuse to budge. Grant says (vol. i. p. 106): I am not aware of ever having used a profane expletive in my life, but I would have the charity to exc