Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-11-04
LincOln's HOrsemanship.

THE Tribune, in an art criticism on the
"Lincoln Statue" so called, in Union
Square, says that an equestrian statue was
not to be thought of" because Mr.. Lin
coin was no horseman, like Washington or
Scott" While it may he true that an
equestrian statue to represent civilian and
'sremarBably homely man" as the critic
chooses to characterize the late President,
would not be altogether appropriate, yet
the reason for not creating such a statue
cannot be that lie twas no horsenan." 1t
isaaSgreat mistake. President Lincoln was
great horseman. If it can be asserted,
trIily, that Abraham Lincoln ever did any
thing gracefully, it would apply to his
horsemanship more than to any other act
of his life. The writer will never forget
the first test in the art of riding applied 10
MIR Lincoln during the war; nor will Gen.
Mcclellan forget. 1t was in November,
1861. General Mcclellan was in command
,ofthe Army of the Potomac, and grand
review of 10000 troops was to be made by
the President. Some of McClellan's staff,
knowing that the General was a
man of great endurance and eX-
pertness in the saddle, laughed at
theidea of Mr.. Lincolns attempt to keep
upwith him in the severe ordeal of riding
down the lines They rather limited that
lllC NbulNl lllbNp ldlIiNtll W NNot
Lincoln's capacity as a rider There were
those on the field in Virginia That day,
however, who had, seen Lincoln in the sad
die in Illinois, and they were very con-
tident.
They knew their man. A splendid
large black horse, very spirited, was select
ssl for the President to ride. When the
time came he walked up to the animal,
, andsthe instant he seized the bride to
Q mount it was evident to horsemen that he
knew his business He had the animal in
hand at once. No sooner in the saddle
than the coal black stccd began to prance,
and whirl and dance as if he was proud
of his harden. Bus sthe President sat as
undisturbed and fixed to the saddle as if he
and the horse We're one. Lincoln was
,spurred and the horse was curbcd in the
bit, both of which facts the animal felt as
keenly as the rider knew it, The test of
, endurance soon. came. Mcclellan, with
hislnagnifcent stah, approached the Presi-
dent, who Joined them, and away they
dashed to /, a,tlistAh Ahfe.p6inf olfthe field. The
artillery began 70, thinder the. drums beat,
and the bands struck Ilp. ''ffail to -tile
Chief" and the troops cheered Lincoln,
holding the bride In one hand, raised his
hat and much.of the time held it in the
other hand. His horse, startled at thesud-
den simultaneous outbreak of cannon,
drums and voices, became restive, hut not
unmanageable. He seemed to realize the
fact that his rider understood his business,
O. dmndly did Lincoln receive the salute
appearing as pndistuIbed by the dashing
movements of the proud spirited animal
upon Which he sat, : if he had passed
through such an ordeal with the same
splendid creature before, Next came the
test of cndurance--a LONG dash over rOurll
,pntrayoled ground, With here and there q
ditch or a hole to be jumped, or siding
to pass, but Lincoln kept up well Will
Mcclellan, who made good time, as every
body noticed. Lincoln was at home in the
saddle; everybody saw 1t. Finally, the
riding downt the lines was performed amids