Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-10-05
HE HAS MADE HIS LAST CHARGE.
Death of Sheridan:s Famous Steed Vim
chester, that Bore HIM to the Battle
Field T,centy Niles 4sc0y.
[Ghicau0 Tinooe I

Death OF SheridnnSs Famous .Steed Vim
chester, that Bore Hin, to the Battle
Field T,centy Niles Ascay.
Chicago Times.
The famous charger that carried Gen.
Sheridan to Winchester, "twenty miles
away" died in his masters stable, on Michi-
gan avenue, at an early hour yesterday
morning. The part played by this animal
IN one of the bloodiest battles of the rebel
lion has been respectfully recognized in
books of history and in patriotic verse.
Read, the poet, by few strokes of his pen,
lifted the beast into a fame almost as endur-
ing as that which has been earned by its
rider.
winchester, the cognomen by which the
horse has been known since the war, was let
black in color, with a small white star al
most in the centre of the forehead sort
OF "lucky star" He stood sixte n and half
hands high, and was trim built and active.
and proud spirited. When Sheridan took
command of the Second Michigan regiment
IN 1862, Capt. Campbell presented him with
the animal, which was then spoken of as a
3-year- old colt. His owner dubbed him Ri
enza, after the Mississippi town of that
name. He carried his master through the
battles of Stone River, Chickamauga, Mis-
sion Bridge, and score of other engage
ments IN the Tennessee campaign He
pranced around among the mules and ordi
nary steeds at the battles of Opaquin,
Fishers Hill, Cedar Creek, Peters
burg, Trevillian Station, the Wilderness.
Spo sylvania, Coal Harbor, Gordons-
vile, Waynesboro, Five Forks, letters
vile, Sailors Creek, Appamattox Station and
Aappamattox Courthouse, and score or
more of other combats. In fact "Winches-
ter faced the guns in ninety engagements.
and. with single exception, never t1inched
or turned tail to the enemy. In the battle of
Stone River solid shot passed under him.
grazing the skin of his belly. He became
tractlous and unmanageable, the general be-
ing obliged to dismount. The appearance
OF the animal on the field without rider
was the foundation for report that his own
er had been killed. The horse was wounded
by pieces of shell in the battles of Opaquin
and Irevillian, but not severely in either
instance.
History describes the ride to Winchester as
furious and headlong race. Gen. Sheridan
said last evening that he had ridden the
horse at full gallop, at times breaking into
run. Two staff officers, Gems. Forsyth and
OKeefe, and the escort of twenty cavalry
men, rode with him, but the horse swim
chester showed more spirit and "bottom''
than any of the other animals. The general
said that the actual distance ridden was six
teen miles, the poet, Read, having used about
four miles of 'poetical license.'' He spoke
feellngly of his old black steed, saying he
had been unexcelled in speed, courage,
docllity and nobleness of nature. The gen
eral said he had not been upon s.Winches
ter's" back since the war closed. He has re-
CURED his hostler to give him the tenderest
attention. The horse suffered more or less
from rheumatism for several years past. A
boy was allowed to take him out for exercise
the other day, and, as he was trotted at
pretty lively gait became overheated. and
this combined with an enfeebled constitu-
ton, caused death.
The skin of old Winchester is to be
prepared and preserved in the best art of the
taxidermist Prof. Ward, of Rochester, N.
y, will set him up.