The Mule Bombs of the Civil WarIn 1862, during the American Civil War, Confederate forces invaded Ne
The Mule Bombs of the Civil WarIn 1862, during the American Civil War, Confederate forces invaded New Mexico in the hopes of marching across the southwest and capturing the gold fields of California. On February 20th the Confederate force made camp 6 miles north of Ft. Craig a Valvarde. In hopes of breaking up the Confederate pickets, one Union officer, Capt. James Craydon, developed an unorthodox plan. Two mules were loaded with barrels of gunpowder, each equipped with a time delayed fuse. The mules were given a slap on the bum and directed to run towards the Confederate lines. Unfortunately the loyal mules wandered back into the Union camp before their bombs exploded, detonating amongst the Union picketts. No one was killed (except the mules), but the blast caused a heard of cattle and horses on the Confederate side to panic and run towards Union lines, where they were captured. -- source link
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