By Donna Campbell Smith, February 2008
Military
Mules played an important role in military history from the time of the Civil War. They carried heavy artillery and moved supplies and men. The North purchased their mules from dealers, but the Confederate soldiers had to provide their own. That meant mules were taken from the farm and put into military service, leaving the workforce at home shorthanded. This dilemma might have contributed to the South’s defeat in that war since their mule shortage was a serious economic problem.
Mules are still used in the military for packing in supplies and ammunition at locations inaccessible to vehicles, including the mountains of the Middle East. In the manual, Special Forces Use of Pack Animals, it states, “Animal transport systems can greatly increase mission success when hostile elements and conditions require the movement of combat troops and equipment by foot.” The manual describes the characteristics of the mule as having intelligence, agility and stamina, which make them excellent pack animals. Some soldiers are trained in mulemanship in North Carolina. They learn to put on the packs, how to ride across difficult terrain and to care for the mules.
| top |