New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-10-09
ABRAHAM LINCOLN AN EXPERT
HORSEMAN.
How He Was Tested in the Field.
From the New York Evening MALL

From the New York Evening Mall
The Tribune in an art criticism on the
Lincoln Statue" SO called, i'll Union
Square. saws that an equestrian statue Was
not 10 be thought Off because Mr. Lincoln
was no horseman. like Washington or
Scott" While it may be true that an eques-
trian statue to represent a civilian and - a
remarkably homely man. as the critic
chooses to characterize the late President,
would not be altogether appropriate, yet tie
reason for not creating such statue can not
he that he was no hOrseman.' 1t is Il
great mistake. President Lincoln was "a
great hOrselnan. Ii it can be asserted truly
that Abraham Lincoln ever did any thing
gracefully, it should apply TO his horseInan-
ship more than to any other act of his life.
The writer will never forget the first test in
the art of riding applied to Mr.. Lincoln
during the war ; nor will General Mcclellan
forget it. 1t was in November, 1861. Cen
eraI Mcclellan was in command OF the Army
of the Potomac, and grand review OF
10000 troops was to be made by the Prcsi-
dent. Some of McCIcllan's staff, knowing
that the general was a man of great endur-
ance and eXpertness in the saddle, laughed
at the idea OF Mr.. Lincoln's attempting to
keen I'D with him i'll the severe ordeal OF
riding down the lines. They rather limited
that the general would move rapidly to test
Lincoln's capacity as a rider. There were
those on the field in Virginia that day, how
ever; who had seen Lincoln IN the saddle IN
Illinois, and they were very confident.
They knew their man. A splendid. large
black horse. very spirited, was selected for
the President to ride. When the time came
he walked up to the animal, and the instant
he seized the bride to mOnnt it was evil
dent to horsemen that he knew his business.
He had the animal in hand at once. No
sooner in the saddle than the cOaIblack
I,.-bi III 11,L Al
as if he was proud of his burden But the
President sat as undisturbed and fixed to
the saddle as if he and the horse were one.
Lincoln was spurrcd, and the horse was
curbed in the bit both Of which facts the
animal felt as kcenly as the rider knew it.
The test of endurance soon came. McClel-
Ian, with his magnificent staff, approached
the President, who joined them, and away
they dashed to a distant point on the field.
The artillery began to thunder, the drums
beat, and the bands struck up Hail to the
Chief" and the troops cheeIed. 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 the sud
den Simultaneous outbreak Of cannon,
drums and voices, became quite active. but
not unmanag eable. He seemed to realize
the fact that his rider understood his bust
ness.
Grandly did Lincoln receive the salute,
appearing as undisturbed by the dashing
movements Of the proud spirited animal
upon which he sat, as it he had passed
through such an ordeal with the same SPLEEN
did creature before. Next came the test of
endurance, a long dash over very rough.
untravcled ground, with here and there a
ditch or a hole to he jumped, or a Siding to
pass. But Lincoln kept np well with Nc
Ciellan, who made good time, rs every body
noticed. Lincoln was at home in the saddle;
everybody saw It. Finally the riding down
the lines was performed amidst the Haunt
ing OF standards, beating of drums. loud
cheering OF the men and rapid discharge OF
artlllcry, every now and then startling the
best trained horses One horse fell under
a major general, an old army officer. who
was injured. The President went On: his
graceful charger, fired by the tumult,ous
scene, snorted and paved the earth as if he
would like to tear it to pieces Lincoln SAT
easy unto the end, when he wheeled his
horse into position to witness the vast
columns march in review. Mcclellan WAS
surprised, as were the members of his staff
at the wonderful horscIIanship Of President
Lincoln. 1t was astonishing how much the
officers and men applauded Lincoln.
Many q time, during the war, did he 90
to the front, and, mounting some old war
charger, dash off among the soldiers, some
times with Mcclellan, sometimes with Burn
side, sometimes with Hooker, and often
times with Grant. In Washington, When
he resided at the soldiers Home, few
miles from the White sIiolse. Mr.. Lincoln
Oftener rode OUT and back i'll the saddle