Rensselaer Republican, Volume 19, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 March 1887 — Curious Breastworks. [ARTICLE]

Curious Breastworks.

“M. - Quad” tells how the Confederate General McCulloch, in 1863, attacked the Federals at Milliken's Bend. Six hundred mules were secured, and each soldier advanqod behind a mule, thus sheltered by a living breastwork; As soon as the mules came under firie they reared, plunged, and kicked so that they Avere sources of danger instead of safety. The mules were a failure as breastworks. The Federals thought the mule business was a very good joke Ibn the Confederates, but here is one to match it. At New Hope some military genius conceived the idea of breaking the Confederates’ line by driving a big herd of beeves against it. One night about 10 o’clock, when it was very dark, the beeves Avere massed, and the Federals who were to follow got ready to move. The Confederates “caught on,” as the Arabs say, and opening their line, allowed the beeves to through, and then closing, devoted themselves to holding the Federals in check. In that, they were entirely successful. The Confederates enjoyed the Federal beef, and were willing to take more at the same price.