The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-11-05

NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN HORSES -
The idea 80 commonly expressed at the
commencement of the present war that
the Southern cavalry are superior to those
Of the North is ably discussed By s. B.
Buckley in late number of the Country
Gentleman. He says that comparatively
few horses were raised in the slave
States, excepting Virginia, Kentucky,
Missouri, Tennessee, add Texas, and if
the planters wanted 10 improve their
stock of horses they went North for The
material, and il q wealthy gentleman
wished nice, elegant horses for carriage
or family use he went or sent North TO
buy them. The annals of the turf show
that Northern horses haVe--beat the
Southern, even in speed as we'll ss trot-.
ting, and they certainly are their equal,
if not more than equal in their power of
endaraace. Indeed, this was al admit
ted at the South previous 70 the. rebellion.
Mr.. Buckley ascribes the supposed supe-
rioity of the horses of the Southern
cavalry TO the more considerable and ju-
dicious treatment which they receive both
at home and after they enter the service.
He says: Wtl,Aa a.
AZ the South, riding and travelling on
horseback is, or lately was, much in
vogue, and more especially in all the re-
gion not intersected by railroads; but
they rarely urge the horse TO a greater
speed than fast walk or moderate
pace the last being preferred and cen-
sidered the easiest. Thus moving, they
will average from thirty TO forty miles
per day for weeks, and even months in
succession, with little or no damage to
the horse. Those in the Southern SER
vice are generally owned by their riders;
and in cases where they are not thus
backed, theirowners are in the same COM
pAny or regiment, to see that their horses
are rode carefully, and that they are we'll
fed and cleaned at highland, before
mounting, that the. blankets are evenly
and smoothly fixed beneath the saddles,
80 as not TO hurt the back of the horse
In proof of the correctness of this po-
sition that the inferiority Of the horses of
the Northern cavalry is owing 70 mis-
management and abuse, he cites the ex-
ample of the Sd Indians cavalry, whose
men own their horses, and consequently
ieel personal interest in having them
well fed and properly cared for, nor do
they, without reason, ride on gallop or
a run on every frivolous occasion; and
adds :.au A. ~
Their horses are now in as good con-
dtion, with very few exceptions, as
when they entered the service, nearly two
years ago. l was recently told by an
intelligent private of this regiment that
their dead and disabled horses amounted
to less than fifty, besides which small
number (about 20) had been captured by
the rebels. There is, believe, but one
other regiment in the United States SER
vice where the ownership Of the horses
is vested in their riders, and this is fir m
PennsylVania. s.llu-----
Mr. Buckley closes with few remarks
at the manner in which horses are gen.
orally used in the army of the Potomac.
Uncle Sam owns the horses, and I'M
clio Sans boys, old and young, officers
surgeons, priVates, and contrabands, think
that he is rich enough to buy them all
another horse whenever required. So
they gallop up hill and down hill, and
very often this gallop is increased TO a
run, as I have witnessed at Aqua,
through the sands Of the Potomac, or ov I
buo hllla Al Nuat NlNlultys ENtn IN tne
vicinity Of Washington, persons have
been IN danger Of being oyerrun by these
fast riders.
When first arrived at Washington
several months ago, supposed those fast
men on horseback were bearers of i'm.
portant dispatches, and that some greal
military movements were ia progress, bu
all remained quiet in the army, and
soon 10 ssh ca that this go ahSad.ativenes
ON horseback was q mere army custom.
The STEUBENYILLE BmpaE-The new
railroad bridge to be erected over tn
Ohio river at Steubenvillo will DO entirely
built of iron, thus making II one OF tn
most substantial of the kind in tn
country. twill consisted eight spans
four of 225 feet, three Of 2lO feet, AM
one Of $40 feet, making total length 0
1890 feet. The channel span, which i
the longest, viii have an elevation of 81
feet above the water. The width of tn
bridge from edge TO edge will be l6 fee
4 H.. "a