Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-05-15
Extracts f,om the Life Of Jefferson.
BY HENRY 5. RANDALL, L. l. d.
NJ. Jegersons Horsemanship and Horses.

he ever retained tn partially of n Nirgnan foi
this sport, and rarely lost n convenient opPofta
nifty. even when President. Of witnessing prom
ising race. Ills marked fondness Of horses
commenced and ended only with his life. His
preference was for the Virginia race horse lif
did not ride, md was scarcely willing to drive
any other. Two three pages OF his farm book
are devoted TO the pedigrees OF those purchased
1 or selected from his breeding stock, for his own
use. lie ustmlly kept several fine brood mares;
and we shall find CORVALLIS, in his predatory
excursions ia Virginia, carrying away the ser
yiceAble ones. and cutting the Threats fthe 9TH
ers. and Of all the colts, Mr.. Jefferson was very
| particular in the care of his horses, and when
| Young, was fasfidious in the last degree IN re
! gnrd to their appearance. When his riding
| horse was led. if his polished coat shown not az
! faultessly as mirror he rubbed il with white
pocket handkerchief. and if this was soiled, the
| groom was condemned and admonished to be
! more particular in fuiurcl As saddle horses, he
preferred feet high melted amin Is, however,
| tameess their temper. Colonel Thomas Jefier
/ son Rondolph. in letter to us says: "a bold
| and fearless rider, you saw Mt glance from his
| ensy and confident seat, that he was master of
| his horse-whch was usually the fine blood horse
| of Virginia. The only Impotence Of temper he
ever exhibited was with his horse, which he sub
ducd 10 his will by fearless application OF the
whip ON the slightest manifestation Of rcstiye-
ness. He retained to the last his fondness for
riding on horseback; he rode within three weeks
of his death, when from disease debility and age,
he mounted with difficulty. He rode with conf
dence, and never permitted servant TO accom-
pany him. lie was fond of solitary rides and
musing and said that the presence of aservant
annoyed him."
This aversion to the common Virginia custom
of being followed by servant, very strong.
His right wrist was dislocated in France; and his
left one. many years afterwards, by fall on his
terrace, and they never 50 far recovered as to be-
come strong and firm, As he persisted in riding
high mettled horses, his daughter, Mrs. Randolph,
often besought him to allow servant To accom-
pany him, but without avail On one occasion,
in attempting to cross Moore's Creek, near its
confluence with the Rivanna, by ford not re-
Gently used, his horse descending the steep bank
suddenly stuck fast in newt formed bar of mud,
and Mr. Jefferson was thrown over his head into
the stream. With his crippled arms, he found
it difficult to save himself from drowning. Mrs.
Randolph now added tears to entrcaties, but the
reply WINS "that he would give up his rides alto
getler If it necessary for her comfort, but he
would not he followed by servant" lie dis
pcnsed with his rule only on distant journeys
Until after mid fehc rarely drew rein for bro
ken ground, and, when in haste, unhestatingly
dashed through the Rivanna, even when the usti-
ally quiet stream was swollen into II wide and
rapid river by rains. Instances of his fearless
horsemanship, and anecdotes of his superb horses
The General" ''Caractatus," "Tarquin,"
"Diomed" "Arcturus,' ".Dacobin," "Celer,"
eagle" etc-are yet rife in family tradition
and recollection. The fleet, eager, fiery Eagle
was his last one, and was ridden by him almost
daily until "within three weeks OF his DEATH
though he often required assistance to mount him
from II terrace nearly on level with the horses
back. Yet this animal was spirited that u
young kinsmun of Mr. jefferson, who rode with
n company to meet La Fayette at his last visit to
Monticello, found ii necessary to quit tho caval-
| cade, the horse became nngoyernably excited
| by the noiso and crowd. On one OCCASION when
Mr. Jefferson was old and decrepid-long after
the last accident to his wrists--a messenger ar
\ rived To inform him that his grandson had met
/ with disaster.nnd lay seriously injured mt Char
h lottcsvc. The weather was dark and lowering,
/ night was setting in and he was more than usu-
/ ally feeble. He directed Eagle to be brought to
/ the door. His family entreated him not to set
out at such tune; but his order was repeated in
H n tone which brooked no further opposition. The
/ moment he in the saddle, he struck the noble
| horse, which bounded forward ut fuH run. His
Il lnmily held their hreaths with suspense, expect
u ing he would draw bride at the notch" where
Il the mo lntain begins to descend abruptly. Blu,
/ the clutter fhoofs from the rocky passes showed
Il them that the fearful race was continued II,
/ swept by the returning messenger like an arrow
-
/ such ground, would have appalled, the boldes
/ young horsemnn in Virginia
/ On beautiful day in the latter part of Febru
/ airy, (the opening of the Virginia Spring ISL
| the author rode up to Monticello, having for hi
/ ccerone nm old manumitted slave, who hal fo
Il forty -ives years belonged To Mr.. Jefferson
4 Wormly had been first u door yard servant, ant
/ subsequently gardener. lie had dug the gray,
of his master and others of his household, and nov
[ was the Oldest living chroncer of the early histo
/ ny of Monticello. Like most of his color, he ha,
u strong attachment for horses. After few min
ntes' inquiries, his taciturnity gave way to ANNA
I ton on his taVorite theme. He could distinct,
| remember, and described the points, height, colo
pace, and temper, &c, of every horse as far bael
! as Arcturus, which Mr.. Jefferson brought hom
from Washington. crag of serpentinc iut
| ting into the narrow road built high on tn
sides of steep rayine was selected by the fer
| stranger horse as n shying butt-as if consciou
that it was dangerous for his rider TO administe
| correction on such spot. Mr.. Jefferson tolera
| ted this once or twice, but ON its being repeated
punished the rearing and pungng animal witt
whip and spur until he was 'glad to put his for
| feet on the rock and stand still" Higher up
ormley pointed out the path, or rather the roug
untrodden course, ON the side of Carter's Noun
tain, where Mr.. Jefferson rode away when a de
tachment of Iarletons Dragons were sent to cap
ture him, ''hut not till the red-coat were climb
ing the mountain An inspection of the deser
ted and diapidated stables called forth other in
cdents; and finally returned So as to pas
Moore's Creek at the ford, where Mr.. jefferson
was thrown over his horses head into the strean
as already mentioned. According to Wormley'
recollections, he was saved by his horse whcl
extricaiing itself from the mud, purposely or b,
accident approached SO near TO his master, tina
| he seized the rens and was drawn to the shore