New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-04-04

hour anu f0rty-nv0 minutes, including
rest of twenty minutes 1T Pelham bridge
and frequently rode twenty-five miles on
in the morning and back in the aftern DON
lOp (mOstly on the grassy sides) was fifteel
miles an hour.
VI course these YOre extreme cases; bu
she never showed fatigue from them, ant
| che did good service nearly every day
winter and summer, from her twelfth to hel
fifteenth year, keeping always in good con
ditiOn, though thin as a racer, and lOokinl
like colt at the end of the time. Horse
men never guessed her age at more thar
half of what it actually was.
Beyond the average Of even the most in.
telligent horses, she showed some almOs
human traits. Above all was she fond o.
children, and would quiet down from hel
widest moods to allow a child to be carried
on the pOmmel. When engaged in this
serious duty it was difficult to excite her OF
to urge her out of slow and measured
pace, although usually ready for any ex
travagance. Not the least marked of bel
pecuiiarities was her in0rdinate vanity. On
country road. or among the wOrkmen oil
the park, she was az staid and business like
as . parsons cob; but let carriage OF
party of visitors come in sight, and she
would give herself the prancing airs of a
circus horse, seeming to watch as eagerly
for some sign of approval, aud to be
made as happy by it as though she only
lived to be admired. Many time have 1
heard the exclamation, "What beautiful
hOrse!' and Vix seemed to hear it, too, and
to appreciate it as keenly as l did. A trim
down the Fifth avenue in the afternoon was
an immense excitement to her, and she was
more fatigned by it than by twenty mile
gallOp. However slowly she travelled it
was always with the high springing action
OF fast trOt, or with that long stepping
sidelOng action which the French call a
aeur pistes; few people allowed us to pass
without admiring notice.
Her most satisfactory trait was her fond
ness for her master; she was as good com.
pany as a dog-better, perhaps, because she
seemed more really part of ones self, and
she seemed always to respond to my chang
ing moods. l have sometimes, when unable
to sleep, got up in the night and saddled for
q ride, usually ending in long walk home,
with the bride over nv arm and the old
mares kind face close beside my own in
something akin to human sympathy; she
had a way of signing, when things were
especially sad, that made her very comfort
ing to have about. So we went on for three
years, always together and always very
much 70 each other. We had our little un-
happy episodes, when she was pettish and
was harsh-sometimes her feminine freaks
were the cause. sometimes my masculine
we always made it up, and
were soon good friends again, and, on the
whole, we were both better for the friend
ship. am sure that l was, and some of
my more grateful recollections are con-
nected with this dumb companion.
The spring of 1861 opened new life for
both OF us-a sad and short one for poor
Vix.
never knew just how much influence
she had in getting my commission, but,
Judging by the conduct of the other field
officers OF the regiment, she was evidently
regarded as the better half of the new
The pOmp and circumstance
Of glorious war suited her temper exactly,
and it was ludicrous to see her satisfaction
n first wearing her gorgeous, red bordered
'habrack; tor Q long time she carried her
head on one side to see it, She conceived a
lew affection for me from the moment
when she saw me bedecked with the daz.
Ling bloom that preceded the serious fruit.
sge of the early New York volunteer organ
cations.
tlast the thrilling day came. Broadway
vas alive from end to end with flags and
White cambria and sad faces. Another
thousand were going to the war; With
'wiss bugle march and chanted Marseillaise,
We made our solemn way through the
rave and anxious throng. To us it was a
lay OF sore trial; but with brilliant, happy
'ixen it was far different; she was leaving
70 friends behind, was going to meet no |
peril. She was showing her royal, |
tylish beauty to an admiring crowd, and |
he acted as though she took to her own |
special behOOf every cheer that rang from |
)niOn square to Cortland street. 1t was
he glorious day Of her life, and as we dis
counted at the jersey ferry she was tremb.
ng still with the delightful excitement
At Washington we were encamped east
the Capitol, and for a month we're busy
citing settled in new harness. Mr.. Lin.
DIN used to drive out sometimes to our
vening drill, and he always had pleasant
ord-as he always had for everyone, and
> everyone had tor him-fOr my charming
thoroughbred, who had made herself per.
city at home with the troops, and epioyed
very display of the marvellous raiment of
le regiment.
On the fourth Of July we crossed the
OtOmac and went below Alexandria, where
Q lay in idle preparation for the coming
saster. On the fifteenth we marched, in
lenker's brigade, of Miles division, and
g passed the night in hay field, with
INFUSION of horses feed and riders bed,
at brought Vixen and me very closely
slley this side OF Centreville, while the
finnish at Blackburns Ford was going
IA skirmish now, but battle then.
Or three nights and two days we lay in the
lshes, waiting for rations and orders. On
lnday morning McDowell's army moved
It; we all know the rest, Miles thir-
en- thousand fresh troops lay within
yht and sound of the lost battlefield-he
unk and unable, even if not unwilling, to
ke them to the rescue, and all he did was,
To in the evening. to turn back a few
'opers of the Black Horse Cavalry, the
oral effect of whose unseen terrors was
living our herds painting back to the Poto-
&c. Late in the night we turned our backs
our idle field, and brought up the rear of
3 sad retreat. Our regiment was the last !.
move out. and Vix and l were with the
ar guard. Wet. cold, tired, hungry, unpur-
I'd, we crept slowly through the scattered
brls OF the broken up camp equipage, and
mall crossed the Long Bridge in pitt
8 rain, as Mondays evening was closing
oh! the dreadful days that followed, ,
en dozen resolute men might have !
zen Washington, and have driven the !,
ny across the Chesapeake, when every =
ng was filled with gloom and rain and
I'VE uncertainty.
again the old mare came. to nv aid NV :
lment was not pleasant one to be with, +
its excellent material did not redeem it's q
y bad commander, and / longed for
vice with the cavalry. Fremont was =
ng to St. Louis and his chief of staff was .
king for cavalry officers. He had long
'wn Vixen, aud was kind enough to tell Q
he wanted her for the new organization,
las | was her necessary appendage) he :
cured my transfer, and we set out for u
West. 1t was not flattering to Vix to .
taken on these grounds; but it was fiat 8
ng to Vixen, and that was quite as a
asant.
rrived at st. Louis. we set about the =
anization of the enthusiastic thousands =.
, rushed to serve under Fremont. h.
atever there was of Ostentatinus disnlar y