The Wauhatchie charge in Tennessee on October 28, 1863, made by panicked mules, helped repulse an attack by General Longstreet’s Confederate forces. Part myth and rumor, the long-eared beasts panicked, rampaged straight through the rebel lines and the Confederate troops thought they were being overrun by Union cavalry. General John W. Geary and his Federal troops were the real heroes, courageous and outnumbered, they were responsible for blunting Longstreet’s attack.
The tale of the Wauhatchie Charge or the Tennessee Mules repulsing Longstreet’s Confederates, was enhanced by a report that General Grant had supposedly breveted the mules, horses, for their gallant action and bravery during the conflict. In addition, the New York Times, soon after the battle, printed a parody to Tennyson’s Charge of the Light Brigade;
CHARGE OF THE MULE BRIGADE
Half a mile, half a mile, Half a mile onward, Right through the Georgia troops
Broke the two hundred.
Forward the Mule Brigade! Charge for the Rebs, they neighed. Straight for the Georgia troops
Broke the two hundred.
Forward the Mule Brigade! Was there a mule dismayed? Not when their long ears felt
All their ropes sundered.
Theirs not to make reply, Theirs not to reason why, Theirs but to make Rebs fly. On! to the Georgia troops
Broke the two hundred.
Mules to the right of them, Mules to the left of them, Mules behind them Pawed, neighed, and thundered. Breaking their own confines Breaking through Longstreet’s lines Into the Georgia troops
Stormed the two hundred.
Wild all their eyes did glare, Whisked all their tails in air Scattering the chivalry there, While all the world wondered. Not a mule back bestraddled, Yet how they all skedaddled — Fled every Georgian, Unsabred, unsaddled, Scattered and sundered! How they were routed there
By the two hundred!
Mules to the right of them, Mules to the left of them, Mules behind them Pawed, neighed, and thundered; Followed by hoof and head Full many a hero fled, Fain in the last ditch dead, Back from an ass’s jaw All that was left of them, —
Left by the two hundred.
When can their glory fade? Oh, what a wild charge they made! All the world wondered. Honor the charge they made! Honor the Mule Brigade,
Long-eared two hundred!
Bummer
