The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-04-03

TRAvELLER.-The Huntington Advertiser
gives the following history Of Traveller"
the war-horse OF General R. E. Lee:
"It may not be generally kaown that
Traveller IS West Virginia horse. he was
raised by Captain j. w. Johnston, of Green
brier county, and was cold to General Lee
when he was 10 command in this part OF the
State about the time of the battle Of Scary.
Traveller was ridden in one OF the battles
of West Virginia By the colone! of the Sixth
regiment in Wise's Legion, who was killed,
but retained bis seat, and bis faithful horse
turned and carried bis riders ireless body
back to camp. General Lee bought him di-
rectlv after that battle"
To the Kdna,oha Chronicle
The foregoing account of General K. Il.
Lees famous war.horse "TraVeller" Is not
entirely correct. The horse was bred by Mr..
Johnston, near the Blue Sulphur Springs,
Greeubrier county, West Virginia. II was
of the "Grey Esgle" stock, and, as colt,
took the first premium, under the name Of
Jeff Davis" at the Lewisburg fairs for each
of the years 1869 and 1860. It was four
years old in the spring or summer of 1861.
Captain James W. Johnston, son of Mr.
Johnston above mentioned, sold me the horse
for SITS, Confederate States notes, in the fall
of 1861, when the Wise Legion, with other
troops under General Lee, we're encamped
on Sewsll mountain, opposed by General
Rosecrans. :E
While on Sewell General Lee frequently
admired the horse, and more than once jest
ingy remarked to me to take good care of
his colt, as be expected to need it before the
trouble was over. l. as qusrtermaster of the
regiment (Third Wise, or Sixtieth Virginial,
had full privilege Of the rear, and kept
"Jef." we'll stabbed and groomed at least
five miles from the enemy. In December,
1861, the regiment to which was attached,
then known ss the Sixtieth Virgins, Colo
mel Stark, was ordered to the South Carolina
coast, whittier General Lee had already pre-.
ceded US. OF course "Jef" was taken
| along. Upon meeting with General Lee at
Pocataligo, S. c., be again inquired about
has colt In his usual winning way.
then offered him the horse as gift,
which be promptly declined, in the friend
liest manner, however; at the same time re-
marking that if would ,riLlingly sell him the
horse be would gladly use 1t Tor a week or
| two to learn its qualities, &c. / then left
jeff" at General Lees stables. In about
| a month alter one Of his staff officers re-
turned the horse to me, with note from
General Lee to the effect that the animal
suited him, but that he could not longer use
| so valuable horse in such troubious times
| unless it were his own; that if / would
not sell, please to keep the horse, with many
thanks that If would sell, the officer
would pay me my price and take my
receipt for the amount, &c. took and re-
celpted for 5000 Confederate States notes,
and "Jef" became the property OF General
Lee. This was February, 1852, In the
spring ,0t 1868 General Lee wrote me note
stating that his horse had survived the war,
that it was known as "Trsyeller recol.
lect well how he spelled the word, with two
ops ''L and asking for the pedigree. OBJ
tanned the pedigree from Captain J. A. John.
ston and forwarded it to General Lee. These
details are mentioned to recall the simple
dignity and honesty Of the man even IN 50
trivial matter as horse trade.
Respectfully,
JOSEPH M. BRoUN, Hamlin, W. Va.
Aarca u, 1876.
Z. S.-As to the colonel who was killed on
SeweIl and whose horse brought back to camp
his almost lifeless body suspended by his belt
to the horn or pommel OF his saddle. possibly
reference is had to the sad fate of Colonel
Spauiding, then commanding the Third
Wise. Upon bis order I equipped hina. for
his msd ride with C.'S. horse. "Jef" or
!" Traveller " is not entitled to the honor OF
the exploit mentioned. J. d. B.
A MAN ANY WIFE PAETEp.-A reversed