Roger Brothers
"good with mules"
Thu Jun 21 21:13:36 2001


Scott,

Though not an ambulance driver my gg grand Pvt. Francis (Frank) McWaters was detailed as a teamster for the 17th Ala Inf. I have a tale that has been passed down about how he was chosen for the job. I don't really think this would have been typical but it's a good story!
According to oral family tradition when Frank joined the CS Army one of his officers asked him if he could handle a team of mules. His reply was "well sir, I don't know but that’s all I ever done". The officer pointed to a team already hitched to a wagon and told him to try them. The mules were evidently "green broke" because as soon as Frank mounted the seat and spoke to them they took off at a dead run. They ran between two large trees just wide enough for the wagon to pass. Frank finally got them under control, turned them and went back to the officer. This display impressed the officer so much that he gave Frank the teamster job on the spot. Frank said latter the mules got the wagon thorough the trees and he had absolutely nothing to do with it!