New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-07-05
The story of n Horse.

Major General George Il. Gordon, late of
The volunteer army. contributes to the Bos-
ton Transcript the suhjoined:
It was in the spring Of 1852. while Banks
division was marching Up the valley OF the
Shenandoah. that l captured my horse.
was in command Of a column in advance.
As We approached a picturesque little town
called Woodstock, found Ashby's cavalry
with some batteries of horse artillery il our
front. We were descending hill which
led through the town when we heard the
spang of shells bursting around Us. Il was
the work o. a moIent to bring up my ten
FOUNDER parrots and settle that battery;
then dep,oyipg the Second Massachusetts,
Infantry as skirmisher5, l ordered a move
menc forward through the town, following
it W with TIE remainder of the column. A
sklrmisher of the Second came suddenly
upon negro leading horse OF: Of e stable.
"Hu.ioa." says the skirmiahec, "where
are YOU going with that horse z!
Don't stop me-" replied the negro, dds
is NY narster's best horse, anC Il taking
him to him
Where is your master9'
why dare he is sir. wild Marse Ashby's
cavalry: dare, sir, on de hill youder.'
Wei, you can't 60 there with the horse.
I'll take care OF hin; hand him ever, re-
Piled the soldier.
And so the horse, saddled aud bridled.
was passing by Ms 20 tie rear. when |
learned the facts o. his capture. Directing
the soldier t, bring him to ne after the
hght was over. We moved OF and sent
Marse Ashby and his cavalry whirling UP
tae valley.
Having occasion towards night to visit
General Banks at his headquarters, distance
about three miles. l called tor tEis horse,
jumped on his back, ard let him take his
own gait. Though 1t was a still hight, |
found from the way il which tie air was
rushing past nv face that NY horse must
be going at great speed: and this impression
was strengthened by hearing behind me the
rapid gallop of horse, attempting IL vain
to pass. Presently l heard EXPLANATIONS
from the rider. "Jerusalem.' then sounds of
urging to greater speed, until my pursuer
was on run. My horse had not broken his
gait, which was a singular mixture of
trot and pace; for although lie moved his
legs Oh one side of his BODY together 1.-THE
characteristic of pace), yet his fore feet
were thrown out with such proud aud
lofty shock that it bore every resemblance
to trot. pulled up my horse to slower
gait, when IL moment my pursuer was by
my side exclaimiag:
mister, what scr. Of horse do you call
that p
why very good horse, is he not!"
Good horse! with emphass), l cal my
horse good horse, and | have been on a
tight run to catch you and couldn't do it,
and you only trotting."
The man belonged to New York cavalry
regiment, Sc he told me, was private, and
on duty as orderly, carrying dispatches to
General Banks 1t was very amusing to
see bis look of astonishmeut and hear his
delicate apology as he found te had been
chasing colonel of infantry IN the dark
but. Il 90 think that horse is a sumner"
he still insisted.
/ next tried the horse with those of our
cavalry, and found he heat them all in leap
ing: indeed, General Hatch, commanding
the cavalry, acknowledged there was no
horse in his command that could compete
with him. His jump was not flying leap,
1t was really jump. He approached the
fence or bar slowly, ana preferred to do SO
at a walk, then slowly rising On his hind
legs threw over his fore feet, following
with the rest of his body with a muscular
energy that would unseat careless rider.
| found l could travel across the coun-
try without stopping TO take down fences.
have often seen our p:ckets stare
with amazement as i galoped towards
them. taking all the fences il my path. 1
never lowered anything but the riding raj!
OF a Virginia fence, and | did that for INV
own comfort, though l think the horse
would have gone over 1t with urging. Ii
Was LOT long before general attention was
attracted to my horse. One could not see
without admiring him. His weight was
over eleven hundred, and his height in pro.
portion to his weight. His nostril was of
enol nous size; his ear was large. but well
made and expressive; Lis tail was hand
some and full; his name soft but not thick,
though slightly flowing; his color was a
dark bay, with black streak running from
his name along his back to the roots OF his
tall. Ia repose ne was quiet; but mount
him AID witness the change. Then his neck
arched, his immense nostril dilated, his
teeth impatiently champed the heavy
cavalry BIZ; every nerve was strung for
instant aud intense action. You felt in
every fibre of your body that mass of
muscle and nerve, and you knew tina. there
was strength. will and courage that could
be broken only with his life. 1t was hard
days work you would have if you were
restless and inpatient when you monn:ed
for your days march. So finely strung was
this horse that an approach to composure
was only possible when the rider was calm
After our fight with jackson at Winches
ter we were ordered to cross the Blue
Ridge to join Pope for. his campaign. On
cur first days march we passed the house