Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1862-08-13


more especially journalistic horse. The ar
guments used in this controversy were clubs
of the largest possible size, sharp-pointed
sticks, spurs at the rate Of several day, build
ing fires under his tail, and. on occasions Of
emergency, telling good-sized trees upon him
as a starting impetus. He was patient under
these Affections, and never suffered anything
to disturb bis equanimity except the last two
alternatives, which were always reserved for
an impending battle or sudden movement
to the rear He was the best horse in the
world to lead an army with, for he was sure
to be behind and out Of danger, but the very
worstf for a retreatf for obvious reasons. Twas
finally obliged to succumb to his pertinacity
from a scarcity of timber and spurs, the sol
diers having used the former for fuel and his
rider having demolished all of the latter that
were available in ten regiments. sold him
to an army chaplain who was too much re-
duced by bad whiskey and the Tennessee
quickstep to exert much physical force, and
he was taken prisoner while going at mad
gallop of fourteen miles in fifteen hours, with
several thousand howlng Texan rangers in
the rear.
I then determined to live upon wits, so far
as horsehesh was concerned. So found my
self sometimes in possession of borrowed
animal, sometimes riding mule, sometimes
bestriding picked-up horse from the woods,
and not unfrequently disgracing myself and
my profession by resOrting to the corral of re-
jected and brollendown Government horses.
Sometimes l had saddle and no horse; 9TH
er times had horse and no saddle; again
l had both, and no bride; and, as a conse-
quence, during the majority of the time 1
wandered about disconsolately, carrying q
saddle and bride, and looking for horse, or
leading a horse and searching wrathfully for
a saddle and bride.
OF my next attempt at ownership can say
but little. 1 had reason to believe him all my
fancy pictured him. "a had unlimited style
and action, enlarged capacity for getting over
the ground, and generally prepossessing de-
meanor; but the next morning after I became
his owner the picket rope was found cut, and
the horse gone, while to the stake was attach
ed a paper containing an original drawing Of
schOolboy horse on high prance, mounted
by a man composed of two rotundities for
head and body, and four straight lines for legs
and arms Underneath was the pithy an
nouncement, "Of for Dixey." The picture
was remarkable for the expression Of the
countenance, where the artist had forgotten
to insert the usual organs Cf vision and taste,
and for the three erect hairs which composed
the tail of the horse It was almost remark
able for the effect produced on my mind, on
finding it in place Of my valuable horse. By
a singular coincidence, a Secesh deserter, who
had been pressed into the Rebel service, hung
several times, and periodically starved to
death, and who brought information that the
Rebels were greatly disaGected, and had moth
ing but corn bread and mOlasses to eat, disap-
peared, and never was heard of afterward. It
was insinuated that he was q spy, but 1 be-
Teve Gen. Halleck does not allow spies with
in his lines-at least that was why he turned
the newspaper correspondents out. Ilostfor-
ty dollers by that operation.
I now rejoice in the possession Of chief d
@upre of horse-Aesh. paid $40 for him
saddle, bride, and all-and feel safe in say
ing that Uncle Sam hasn't money enough to
buy him. He left the Texan Rangers As
on the occasion of the late battle, in
of his rider having met a cannon
ball and stopped to cultivate his acquain-
lance, while he went on in pursuance of pre-
vious orders, and never paused until he had
gone clean through our ranks, and found a
mule in the rear, which he proceeded to mas
ticate with all possible speed. He brought
along several specimens of his master in the
and holsters, which he seemed to
regard with sanguinary affection; and being
inspired with sight of the remains he i'm
went on the rambage among the
luadrupeds in the vicinity, and put them all
ior5 de combat with his teeth and heels. He
was captured and bestridden by an ambitious
who was Immediately carried into
he midst of an artillery fire, which singed the
lair off his head with fright but, being finally
toned down by the application of several lariat
'opes and rail fence all around his feeding
place, he lost the battle fever, and became o
sensible horse, barring a desire to do mischief
md fight mules. He never loses the oppor-
unity to go the wrong road, TO bolt fereely
md unexpectedly in the direction of the enc
ny's pickets, to run over general officers and
heir stalfs, to kick up his heels despitefully at
military persons of great airs and dignity, and,
.bove all, to indulge il the delight of his heart
-thrashing mule. With these and numer-
,us other amiable qualifications he has en-
Ieared himself to my heart and money can
lot buy him.
When a change of scenes it is fit to bring
bout a change Of names. In memory of that
historic spot where for months have burned !
he midnight oil, and eaten hard bread and
aeon, 1 subscribe myself SHILOH.
The lovely neutrality of Great Britain had
mother illustration few days ago in New
brunswick. The printing Office OF The St
'roix Herald was destroyed by a mob Rea-
m. Il has hee,n in favor of the North while |