The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-01-01
Great Stampede Of Government
Horses near Washington.

From the Washington Star, Dec -
The stampede of the horses in the stock
yard at Camp StOneman (Giesboro Point)
night before last, is described as a very
exciting affair. 1t appears that the horses
were not fresh ones, but had been worn
down at the front and recruited and were
sent to this camp preparatory to again be-
ing sent to the front, and that among them
a large number had been placed in the en-
closure on that evening. The enclosure
was a rail fence about five feet high,
and was regarded as strong one; but
the horses, when they got to frolicking and
crowded against it with such force as to
throw it down. At the time-near eleven
O'clock-the watchmen were on duty, but
the horses breaking down the enclosure
in two places, and were bursting forth in
such immense force, they found it impos-
sible to stop them. Indeed, the stampede
was made in such mass and with such
violence that it was foolhardy expert
ment for any number of men less than an
army to attempt to stop the frightened
animals, and away they went in two
masses, numbering over five thousand al
together-one taking the road towards
the city, and the other down the country.
The people living along the road as
well as the cavalry patrol hearing the
racket, were apprised of the affair some
minutes before they saw the approaching
host of horses, and attempted at first to
check them, but Intellectually, and away
they went, some as they became exhausted,
taking to the fields and woods Great
CONSERVATION was occasioned, especially
along the Marlboro road, and we hear
that some persons who came out in the
road narrowly escaped with their lives.
Three young men who were on the way to
the city, and met the drove, one man,
wiser than his comrades, rode into q fence
corner, leaving the others to continue
their way, when on came the drove, max
tremendous dust, and the tramp of their
feet sounding similar to thunder.
The travellers were instantly engulphed,
but manfully kept their horses headed to-
wards Washington until they had plunged
three or four files deep in the rear of the
advancing column of horse flesh, when
finding that it was impossible to go further,
and that their lives were in danger, they
with difficulty turned their horses heads,
and putting spurs to them, they were soon
in the front rank, the others closely press
ing upon them for some miles, when they
managed to escape by by-road.
Some of the pickets on the roads in
Prince Georges, it is said, hearing the
sound, thought that it was an advance of
the rebels, and fred their pieces and ran
to the forts for refuge.
The most exciting scene, however, was
at the Navy Yard bridge, where the
guards attempted to stop them, and in a
short time they had the bridge blocked up,
when those behind crOwding on and not
getting through, divided and jumped into
the branch, where number were drown
ed, others swimming the branch in safety.
A large number attempted to swim the
branch above the bridge, and some were
also drowned here A number of citizens
were soon out, and the boys went in and
extricated many of the terror-stricken an
finals.
There are still about six hundred of the
horses Missing, over eleven hundred hav-
ing been picked up in the city yesterday,
a large number at Bladensburg, and a
still larger number at Marlboro and Port
Tobacco, which it is thought will be sent
to the depo. to-day. Lieut.. Ball, who has
charge of the depot, believes that the loss
will be less than one hundred horses, when
the scattered ones are all collected, but
others are of the opinion that the loss will
prove to be nearer Oze thousand.
ParsOn BrownlOw Heard From.
At a meeting held in Cincinnati on
Wednesday evening last ParsOn Brownlow
spoke as follows:
l assure you, my friends, that l feel in
no condition to speak this evening. ]
came here tonight to listen, as l hoped, to
glorious old John Brough, of Ohio
remember hearing him for three long hours,
in Fifth street market place, giving those
copperheads the devil, and rubbing it in
(laughter); and came here to night il
hopes Of hearing him repeat the operation
understand that this is war meeting
and that you are assembled here for thu
purpose Of drumming up volunteers In
- T A., Il a