The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-06-02
OUR ARMY HORSES.

The Northern and southern Cavalry
Compared-Formcr Superiority OF the
Lattcr-The Causc-H0w Government
Horses Are Purcha sed--The Prices Paid
Quality OF the Horscs--Thc Inspecting
and Contracting systcms-IIow They
Work-Hoyv tho Government 10 Plua-
dered-Thc Necessity OF Properly Quail
fed Inspectors, Sc.
THE UNION SID REBEL 0AvALnY COMPARED.
y The superior efficiency Is the southern cavalry
over the Northern has been repeatedly asserted
aud until very recently IL almost impo.s
bio O. gainsay tho fact. Tho well mounted light
horsemen Of Morgan have swept Ike a hurricane
ths critic regions OF Western Kentucky, pundsia
and destroying the property Of Union loving citizens
easily evadng every attempt 10 capture them by their
superior activity. In the North have hal repeated
evidence Of the fact In the dahn. raid OF Stuart
and his cavalry into the stale OF Pcansyiyanii
and tho fgtily Of the Efforts male by slower aud
worse mounted troops to them or white thus engaged
In their predatory excursion. II Is true that great
change has been effected In this OF the ser.
vice, stDl is worth while devoting portion Of
attention to investigation of the cause Of
such infcriorty in this important our military
service. IL most certainly no, in the materii Of
soldiers for In the qualities " bravery. cooncss aud the
caacity TO endure fatigue Union troops have proved
themselves 10 be fully clua not superior, their
rebel opponents. We must therefore look a little fur
ther Tor the Of the former Southern superiority
ana think Il will not be diBcult to arrive AZ the
actual cause.
THE CAUSE.
Previous to the breaking out Of ths present unhappy
war, long continuance Of profound tran utility od
naturally ndulg, in eolins Of national security and
relaxation 81 that vigilance which Ia asserted 70 be
the inevitable price OF liberty. We had totally
gnor ed the old IN kim, ain time OF pence prepare for
war" one of tho elects Of this mistaken policy is
visible for consel iencc Of neglect lnd
selves almost entirely without breed Of horses which
IL best adapted Tor cavalry purposes. This IL To be
attributed In q great 10 the decline, In the
Northern states OF racing national as,mc, AMI,
the necessary consequence, the loss IN our breed OF
horses, OF tho SPEED, courage aud endurance which
are the characteristics OF the thoroughbred tho
highest aud most perfcc, deveiopnea, Of the spe.ies
The affections Of people became cen,erei IN to,tns
Instead of racing and the North bee ns flooded with
breed u h,rse thu, utterly viueicss 10 war;
either FOR cavalry artillery, however valuable they
may b. for the pursuits Of peace Such class horses
can never be face tn, nrry front or cnnon Or to
ch-ree no scrried ranks Of giisienng bayonc,s Hool
wiael. :, ana they would reccl and run away IN such
circumstances where the stock ci thoroughbred would
start arrn aud like the rider defy the whistlng storm
Of death.
Recently some isolated attempts have been made IN
remedy the evil by the importation n some or the best
blood u Grea Britain into the Northern states But suf
ncent time yet elapsed for any effects OF such en-
terprseio be pcrccptbc Even the number OF scch
thoroughbred sires North does not exceed dozen
while In the South they boon sown broadcas, for the
past century There racing long nm institution
nourishins and prosperous and the eject Is their
..vsirv bong much better mounted. "whsrsvsr NE