Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-10-25
THE VERMONT CAVALRY
HORSES.

/
gress The first thing that drew our at.
tention, after we were a few rods within the
enclosure, was the inspection of horses as
they were brought in. We found Colonel
PLArT on the ground. with some sharp-eyed
assistant inspectors. Near by, branding
irons were kept hot in a temporary stove OF
| charcoal, to be used when the word was
! given. The process, as we saw it Tor a
| dozen or more, was as follows The horse
when brought forward by the owner, (or
by some one for him. and stripped
of everything but his bride or halter, was
made to take few turns, which IN some
instances was the only prelude to a quick
order from the Colonel "take him away
we don't want him, when the discarded
candidate for cavalry honors, without fur
ther delay took up his line of march for
the outer gate, to return to his tormer less
ostentatious employment in civil lie. In
other cases the horse was put to a lively
blow from q whip, took quick turn ON his
feet and returned to the stand-to be tol-
lowed by brief, keen examination-OccaslOn-
ally by an application Of the rule. which
would tell if hc fell short of the regular
height. and the order went forth take
him Wayne don't want him m"-or-
strand hIra" In the latter case, he was at
once branded on the nigh ftre foot and on
the nigh fore shoulder, with tho letters L.
S. From a coil of rope near 10y, piece was
cut off and knOtted round his neck for a
halter, and he was Led off to be picketed
with the long rows of his fellows. OF those
which we saw examined about one half were
rejected This however, we learned, was be-
yond the average. Taking the whole thus
far brought forward, one fifth, OF more-per-
baps one.-fourth, or near that, have been re-
iected. In some instances, we were told half
or more of those brought forward by con
tractor are rejected, and in others, nearly all
are approved.
Having satisfied our curiosity 50 far, we
next took a walk through the ranks of the
accepted horses and finer looking set Of
animals Of that number for the purpose, We
do not believe can be seen in any cavalry
regiment in the nation. OF course twO-forty
horses were not to Be looked for there.
Short b.clcd well knit, strong limbed horses
Of good size and spirit, ar1 sound every
way, are The animals for cavalry service
Blacks, browns, bays and sorTels, with a
very few greys, were the colors. Whites are
not allowed. a small portion only are al
lowed to be mares all must be between
fifteen and sixteen hands high, and their
ages between five and nine years. The in
spection began on the llth inst, and by last
night, 18th INST, about $50 had been apr
proved.
As the horse trading business generally is
fruitful in hard stories, it is not to be Won
dered at, if, in a case like this-the purchase
of thousand horses for the Government
many Of all shapes, sizes and colors are
found in circulation. Were We to print
quarter of them, we should be doing quite
large business in the sensation line, we
doubt not. We can serve the Public more
usefully, we think, by giving the plain facts,
as we saw them, or as given to US by Col.
PLArr himself, in answer to our inquiries,
The War Department furnishes Col.
PLATT the specifications, as to the character
of the horses to be purchased, and fixes the
acreage maximum price which the horses for
the entire regiment must cost the Govern
ment That price is $ll0, and if they cost
less than that, on the average, the Govern
ernment is the gamer. Col. PLATT, as Co
lionel of the Regiment, is charged with the
business of collecting, inspecting and ap-
proving the horses, and has no pecuniary
interest, directly or indirectly, in the bus-
ness. His pay. as an officer, is fixed by the
Government and that is al he has or can
have for his services. lie employs trusty
and discreet man to visit the different coun-
ties of the State from which the men for
the regiment come, who contracts with such
individuals as choose TO do 50, for hOrs IS few
or many. and agrees with each man on the
acreage price he is to receive, for such horses
as are approved out of ms lot. Neither this
contracting agent, nor any who are employed
to assist IN the inspection, are allowed
any profit, commission, or bonus whatever
Their decision is to be free of all
pecuniary bias. Ia fact, the opinion OF the
inspectors goes for nothing, unless Col.
Plat himself approves it. No horse is ac-
cepted except by his order, and on his own
personal inspection. For what horses are
accented he gives an order TO the Quarter
master to pay 50 much per horse--accordlng
to the price agreed upon with the contractor
who brings them-the Quartemaster pays
the money on the order. and the transac-
ton is ended. Previous to the acceptance
| of the animal, the contractor and not the
Government is at all expense and risk ioI
him. After the U. S. brand is once on him
the Government owns him and supports
him. If however, it should appear that in
any instance there had been q concealed
unsoundne,s in the animal-known to the
contractor when be brought him forward -
he Is bound to take the animal back and t.
refund the money.
Ii is difficult to see what better mode coul(
be pursued for the purchase of thousan'
horses for cavalry regiment, 60 secure
good horses and at fair price, and to Civ
fair chance for share of sales to all part
OF the State. As for the contractor, wheth
er be brings forward ten, twenty, or fft.
horses, he knows what sort of horses the,
must be, and what he is to have for such a
are taken. and that it is not for him to de
lido ON their aD,roval If ba brcs tharn a