Delaware State journal and statesman., 1861-10-04
From "Porer's Spirit of the Times,n
GEN. MoCLELLAN'S WAR HORSE-DAN.
WEBSTER.

'Gamara ia dainty steed.
"strong, black, aud of noble breed,
"tull Of FIRE and full Of bone
with all his line Of fathers known
"Rne his nose, his nosrls thin,
| "But blown abroad by the pride within
| Ellis mane Ii like river flowing,
/ And his eyes like embers glowing
| SIN the darknes of the night
"And his pace as swim as light.
barry COrnioaR
Everything pertaining to our great Generals,
whether it be a matter of personal history, their
size style of dress, personal appearance, habits
OF life, camp equipages or whatever else that is
indicative of the men is sought after, end eager.
y perused by thousands Of their couutrymen
all anxious to learn any little incident in connec.
tion with them, from which to form on opinion
Of their fitness for the position which they oc-
cupy. This induces me to send you descrip.
tion of the favorite field horse of GEN. Mcclellan.
which he rode during his campaign in Western
Virginia, and now has in his stables at Washing
ton
For several months past had missed from our
streets, avenues and drives, one Of their chief
ornaments, either in the saddle or harness, and
was at a loss to account for the absence, in any
other way than that he had ''seceded;" a mum.
Der OF certain Southern gentlemen, to my know
ledge, having strong desire to possess him, and
had at several times offered nearly as much for
him as the Southern Confederacy had for the
head of sold Abe" but on inquiry Of his former
owner, IL. q. Creveling, Esq, Superintendent
of the st. Louis Transfer Company. / ascertained
that on the contrary, he had absolutely refused
to secede, and had taken the field in the staff of
Gen. Mcclellan. He was presented to the Gen.
eralby number Of gentlemen of Cincinnati in
connection with Mr.. Crevelng, who donated one
half of his value receiving only five hundred
dollars for him when he had repeatedly refused
thousand
Dan. Webster, or Handsome Dan," the fami.
1iar nbrin k,, 10
women and children throughout the city, is a
gelding Of beautifully dappled mahogany bay
color, with three white feet and a star, very
heavy flowing black main and tail, the latter a
regular "spout." He lis sixteen hands high, and
weighs, in ordinary flesh, 1850 lbs. He was
sired by Gen. Jackson dam of Sir Arohy and
Messenger. He has fine, bony, intelligent head
delicately tapered ear, aud proud, beautifully
archtd neck, capital shoulders, very long and
muscular arms. whose symmetry could not be
improved were they carved to order his chest
is broad and deep, his legs fno fiat and bony,
with his hooks and knees well down to his heels.
and his fetocks almost to the ground, with a
round, we-ribbed barrel of tremendous length.
and line and hips remarkable for strength and
beauty indeed, his line points, and evenly
balanced proportions made him, in the fullest
sense Of the term, model horse not only for
symmetry, but for speed and stoutness As a
Held horse, never saw his superior being very
"topy" when in action, with proud and nervona
step, his head as high as his riders when mount
ed, and his throat latch and the tins of his fore
feet almost on perpendicular line when in re-
pose.
He possesses many singular characteristics
common TO no other one of his species | have
ever known; for instance, he will not stl,nn his
feet to knock off fly if there were thousand
on him, seeming to entertain feeling of contempt
for all lesser animals, and his confidence 10, and
affection for, the human species is such, that he
will not under any circumstances, suffer his at. |
tentOn to be distracted from his master by any |
minor object. To his own species he paws no |
attention, passing among them without deieniue |
them the slightest notice, even when turned |
loose in the same yard or field. He will follow |
his master up any flight of stairs, or along any |
precipice where he can get foot-hold, relying |
on his masters judgement for his safety will |
stand anywhere he is left without constraint. |
and is as brave as lion and as discreet as a |
judge. May he bear his noble master on to
yictory-conquering and to conquer-until this
foul rebellion is crushed out and peace and |
union restored to our distracted country, is the
aspiration of IScIDESrAL.