Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1862-12-25
INSPECTION OF ARMY HORSES.
The following has been received at the head
quarters of the army %. .""

THE REPORT or MIR. RARir. 3t
The following has been received at the head
quarters of the army
WAsHIsGTos, d. c., Dec. 10, 1862.
GENERAL: Pursuant 10 your orders, / visited
the Army Of the Potomac, on the 10Th instant,
TO inspect the horses and mules in the cavalry,
artillery, and teams of the army. .ra,.r5 -ytr' +,
' The movement Of troops on that day. and the
engagement at Fredericksburg that followed
during the six days that I remained with the
army, gave me but little opportunity 10 see the
management of the horse department In detail,
though had the opportunity 10 sec them on
duty. ...y .'-.s .iE ...f
Having gone there very unfayorably impress
ed, with accounts drawn from the dark side of
the picture, by those taking the rejected and
disabled horses of the army, as their stand
point, ! found these animals In better condition
than had expected. The mule teams, with
some exceptions, were In good condition, and
donbt II ever an army, under similar circum-
stances, was better provided for In this respect.
The cavalry horses suffer most, and many OF
them were then scarcely flt for service The
duties that they had 10 perform--excursion
TINT sometimes require from twenty-fOur TO
thirty-siS hours without food or rest-fhe heavy
weight they have to carry, and the unskilful
manner In which they are ridden. makes II al
most impossible 10 be otherwise. except they
were treated with the greatest care. The artil-
lery horses suffer much, but are a grade better
than the cavalry. r,.r.. . Ets
The greatest abuse and destruction Of the
horses in the army is, | believe, in the want of
skill, judgment and care of the individual man
TO his individual horse. A more dilgent look :
Ing after this detail by the officers In charge
would be highly beneficial; the good effects of
which has been seen, In some Instances, where
diligence has been exercised with Judgment BY
officers attending to this important but much
neglected duty. '.''N
Every man who is permitted to ride o horse
should be compelled by duty, If he has not the
humanity and moral principle to see that the
horse has every care In his power TO give, that
he is properly groomed, watered and fed.
The manner in which food Is given, where
only sufiiciency Is allowed, Is highly i'm
portant, as much is wasted and trampled under
foot. 'tpa aH.r ...a
believe that for cavalry service on a winter
campaign q saddle-blanket to cover the back
and loins Of the horse, TO lie LEFT on when the
saddle is removed, wonld be OF great service.
The Arabs, who live more with the horse than
any other people, and who are older In horse
manship than any other nation In the world,
never remove the saddle from the horse's back
| always blankets attached that cover the bacl;
and loins Of the horse. They argue that this
vital part, when heated by riding, should never
be made TO feel the ehect1 of cold. F.gag ,f.;
! do most deeply deplors
the detection OF spirit, suffering and loss oi
! life consequent upon the eygencies of war
| but while war RACES, this law must continue.
! In an army Of $1,000 horses, subjected 10 Tho
service and exposure Of the army, there mus
necessarily he large percentage of disabled
and diseased horses constantly accumulating
il IL ever SO with the soldiers Of the army, whc
are gined with intelligence aud reason, an(
whose ir6t law of nature Is self-preservalion
aud for the comfort and welfare Of whom til,
greatest energies Of the people and the officer
! Of the army are eyerted.
How eau It be Otherwise with the horse Ill
is not inyineible 10 exposure, which he car
scarcely bear as wen as man, and with whom
he must suffer alike, If not more, In time o
war.
am happy TO see the extensive hospital
lately erected in this city 10 restore disabled
horses. ] believe they are conducted on IN,
best and most economical principle, and will
have no doubt, be the means Of restorin,
thousands of horses TO the army, that will b.
hotlcr on their second service than they wcr
on their first. ..t ".
Hoping that the Government will, as an ac
of humanity as well as economy, use every ei
fort in its power for the protection Of this no
bio animal, I remain, General, very truly, you
Obedient servant,
(Signed) ..... JSo. :. R.RRY.
To Major General HALLEcK,
Commander-in- Chief, U. &. A, - ''at
Washington, ID. c.