Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1854-08-16
EMBARKATIoN OF CAVALRY.

A Scene.
The embarkation of the horses was not
accomplished without the occurrence of
many exciting scenes, in which were evin-
ced the strength and terror of the horses
and the address and resolution of the hus-
sars, who when foiled again and again in
their attempts to fasten the sling upon
their steeds, seemed never to doubt of
success, and ultimatel y triumphed over
all. Some were blinded by kerchief
tied over their eyes, others were quieted
by kind words, others by caresses, even
kisses, and in this way were seduced to
submission; but a few Of the horses we're
intractible by such gentle means, and a
fore foot held in the hands Of a hussar, or
the twitch, pole with loop of leather at
the end, fastened by twisting it on the up
per lip or ear of the horse, reduced a hot
tempered horse to the desired state. But
one or two desperate encounters happen
ed. We saw mare raise her fore feet
over the shoulders of hussar who was
holding halter at her mouth, and knock
MIN 10 the earth under her. Ho fortu-
nately was not much injured. Another
hussar, while attending the last horse that
was embarked, was bit in the arm bv the
animal as he was being taken into the air
and narrowly escaped making an involun.
ry ascent.
The worst struggle, however, remains
to be told. 1t was with powerful horse ;
we heard it belonged to the sereeant-ma-
jor. His temper being known, the hus-
sars. and riggers who assisted them, stood
warily by as the sling was being applied.
Three or four were at his head, smoothing
y, ooI u, 1 I !
ing him firmly by the halter; but the in
slant he felt the sling beneath him, he
spurned it with his hind legs, and rearing
his fore, drove off all but those who held
the halter, and them he dragged to some
distance from the shi p's side. He was
drawn back and second attempt was
made, but with q similar result. 1t was
some time before he could be brought a
third time under the yard Of the ship, but
when there one of his fore legs was doub-
led up and fastened by rope. This ope-
ration did not tame him, but he paved in
the air with the leg that was free, cleaving
Il way before him, and the attempt being a
failure, the bound leg was liberated
Numbers of men then came round him
and one Of them managed to fasten the
twitch upon him. The pain inflicted by
the instrument seemed to doubly infuriate
the animal; he stood upon his hind legs
plunged forward or kicked and reared al
ternately, throwing from him all but the
three men who held the two ends Of the
halter and the twitch.
His frantic motions at last compelled
those who held the halter 10 let it 60
but the third soldier stuck to his twitch
with a tenacity that was the surprise and
admiration Of all who behcld the contest
At times he was borne of the ground by
the horse, but he never let 90 and the
horse at length stood still, trembling, mas
tered probably by the torture Of the twitch
He was led back to the centre Of the saw
dust, and for a moment or two seemed tC
submit to the desired operation but as
one Of the riggcrs was passing behind him
with the brecch cord, the terrified animal
once more flung out his hoo(s, and in do
irg so kicked the rigger in the abdomen.
The poor fellow staggered on one side and
fell with piteous exclamation. An Off.
Ger ordered him 10 be removed to the doc
tors Office, and instantly he was taken
from the spot i'll the arms of his mates.-
We understand the hurt he received al
though agonizing at first, is not likely to
. be fatal. 1t was bare escape with life
After this serious accident, long rope
was procured, and a moose made at one
end of it. This was laid on the ground
and the horse brought forward and made
TO step into it. The line was then jcrked
and the moose was fastened to the horse
hind hoof. The instant he felt the tram
mel, he kicked, if possible, more violently
than before, and then darted to and frc
with velocity that made it impossible fol
any one to hold the leg rope. The man
with the twitch, however, never let go his
hold on the horses nose, and, after a ter.
rible scene that made the spectators fly tc
a distance for safety, the gallant soldier
had the satisfaction to see the anima
stand exhausted by his exertions. He
was brought back to the ships side once
more, and rope fastened to the hoof was
brought between his fore legs over and
around his neck. and secured. BY this
means the horses power to resist was ef.
fectively diminished the twitch was then
applied to the ear instead Of the nose.
The effect Of this treatment was magi-
cal. The horse did not stir while the
sling was fixed and hooked to the tekel
The signal was given the soldiers retir-
ed; the laborers ran off with the yard
the horse bounded forward twice, and
then sprang into the air with the stay rope
at an angle of thirty degrees from the
yard back ho swung, and osciIlated once
or twice, beating the air futilely; even