EJ Zander
Sergeant Major
- Joined
- Aug 23, 2011
- Location
- Gettysburg, PA
A painting by Don Stivers:
Thought this appropriate for the forum. I attached the link to a description of the mule teams delivery of much needed ammunition on Day 1.Its a great read.it also has a map of the path they took.
What makes this delivery something special is that it was done while under heavy fire and with mules no less. Mules do not like gun fire not to mention being driven out into the middle of a battle. The teams were kept at full throttle during their delivery only slowing to unload.
Their route was a big arc and took them from where they crested the rise at the Lutheran Seminary out on to the field. They made an arc towards Chambersburg Pike coming back towards town on the Pike.
The teams and drivers were subject to artillery fire. On wagon lost its rear axle . One mule had two of his legs taken off. The teams were pursued back towards town. Atleast one drivers assistant firing on the pursuers out the back the wagon.
I can only imagine what the drivers must have been thinking when they crested Seiminary Ridge and the whole view of the battlefield unfolded before them. Taking into account their knowledge of their mules dislike for that environment and the fact that once they went forward, considerable firepower would be brought upon them as their foe knew what their purpose was.
Exciting stuff.
Heres the link:
http://unionreenactor.com/Gburg assets/MuleTrainHerdegen.pdf
Thought this appropriate for the forum. I attached the link to a description of the mule teams delivery of much needed ammunition on Day 1.Its a great read.it also has a map of the path they took.
What makes this delivery something special is that it was done while under heavy fire and with mules no less. Mules do not like gun fire not to mention being driven out into the middle of a battle. The teams were kept at full throttle during their delivery only slowing to unload.
Their route was a big arc and took them from where they crested the rise at the Lutheran Seminary out on to the field. They made an arc towards Chambersburg Pike coming back towards town on the Pike.
The teams and drivers were subject to artillery fire. On wagon lost its rear axle . One mule had two of his legs taken off. The teams were pursued back towards town. Atleast one drivers assistant firing on the pursuers out the back the wagon.
I can only imagine what the drivers must have been thinking when they crested Seiminary Ridge and the whole view of the battlefield unfolded before them. Taking into account their knowledge of their mules dislike for that environment and the fact that once they went forward, considerable firepower would be brought upon them as their foe knew what their purpose was.
Exciting stuff.
Heres the link:
http://unionreenactor.com/Gburg assets/MuleTrainHerdegen.pdf
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