other in the air.  While he was thus plunging and gyrating, another lasso would be thrown by another Mexican, catching the animal by a fore-foot.  This would bring the mule to the ground, when he was seized and held by the teamsters while the blacksmith put upon him, with hot irons, the initials “U.  S.”  Ropes were then put about the neck, with a slipnoose which would tighten around the throat if pulled.  With a man on each side holding these ropes, the mule was released from his other bindings and allowed to rise.  With more or less difficulty he would be conducted to a picket rope outside and fastened there.  The delivery of that mule was then complete.  This process was gone through with every mule and wild horse with the army of occupation.

The method of breaking them was less cruel and much more amusing.  It is a well-known fact that where domestic animals are used for specific purposes from generation to generation, the descendants are easily, as a rule, subdued to the same uses.  At that time in Northern Mexico the mule, or his ancestors, the horse and the ass, was seldom used except for the saddle or pack.  At all events the Corpus Christi mule resisted the new use to which he was being put.  The treatment he was subjected to in order to overcome his prejudices was summary and effective.

The soldiers were principally foreigners who had enlisted in our large cities, and, with the exception of a chance drayman among them, it is not probable that any of the men who reported themselves as competent teamsters had ever driven a mule-team in their lives, or indeed that many had had any previous experience in driving any animal whatever to harness.  Numbers together can accomplish what twice their number acting individually could not perform.  Five mules were allotted to each wagon.  A teamster would select at the picket rope five animals of nearly the same color and general appearance for his team.  With a full corps of assistants, other teamsters, he would then proceed to get his mules together.  In two’s the men would approach each animal selected, avoiding as far as possible its heels.  Two ropes would be put about the neck of each animal, with a slip noose, so that he could be choked if too unruly.  They were then led out, harnessed by force and hitched to the wagon in the position they had to keep ever after.  Two men remained on either side of the leader, with the lassos about its neck, and one man retained the same restraining influence over each of the others.  All being ready, the hold would be slackened and the team started.  The first motion was generally five mules in the air at one time, backs bowed, hind feet extended to the rear.  After repeating this movement a few times the leaders would start to run.  This would bring the breeching tight against the mules at the wheels, which these last seemed to regard as a most unwarrantable attempt at coercion and would resist by taking a seat, sometimes going so far as to lie down.  In time all were broken in to do their duty submissively if not cheerfully, but there never was a time during the war when it was safe to let a Mexican mule get entirely loose.  Their drivers were all teamsters by the time they got through.