for resuming the march, than one of our American mules that had rested five hours, and had the same forage.  The breed, of course, has something to do with this.  But the animal is smaller, more compact than our mules, and, of course, it takes less to fill him up.  It stands to reason, that a mule with a body half as large as a hogshead cannot satisfy his hunger in the time it would take a small one.  This is the secret of small mules outlasting large ones on the prairies.  It takes the large one so long to find enough to eat, when the grass is scanty, that he has not time enough for rest and recuperation.  I often found them leaving camp, in the morning, quite as hungry and discouraged as they were when we halted the previous evening.  With the small mule it is different.  He gets enough to eat, quick, and has time to rest and refresh himself.  The Spanish or Mexican mule, however, is better as a pack animal, than for a team.  They are vicious, hard to break, and two-thirds of them kick.

In looking over a book, with the title of “Domestic Animals,” I notice that the author, Mr. R.L.  Allen, has copied from the official report of the Agricultural Committee of South Carolina, and asserts that a mule is fit for service sooner than a horse.  This is not true; and to prove that it is not, I will give what I consider to be ample proof.  In the first place, a mule at three years old is just as much and even more of a colt than a horse is.  And he is as much out of condition, on account of cutting teeth, distemper, and other colt ailments, as it is possible to be.  Get a three year old mule tired and fatigued, and in nine cases out of ten he will get so discouraged that it will be next to impossible to get him home or into camp.  A horse colt, if able to travel at all, will work his way 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, I had charge of five thousand 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 Shenandoah, three thousand five hundred and seventy-one, which left us on hand, on the 1st of October, three thousand seven hundred and twenty-one.  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 November, two thousand one hundred and seventy-one.  During November 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.