Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-02-09
GENERAL MEADE's CHARGER.

Olu age. out Win tne autumn OF III:
days came infirmitics. the unfailins
Inheritance of horsetlesh as of pooI
humanity. No roll Of musketr,
pcaled forth over his newly mad,
grave, no ciang of arms or roll OF
cannon announced that the brave
old war horse had been laid to rest
beneath the ,snarlcd apple tree wlicl
stands nut" sentinel alongside bis
place of sepulture. After playing 4
prominent part in a score of deadly
trays. oft wounded by bullets aimed
at an even ncbler mark. the veteran
lived to survive his heroic master a
full decade, and on Saturday il dose
OF poison from a friendly hand laid
General Moade's favorite charger to
rest.
1t was in the rear of the blacksmith
forge of John J. Davis. who plies his
trade alongside his comfortable home
stead, near the old Abingdon meeting
house, that the curtain fell on the
last scene of Baldy's notable career
Before General Mcade's death he gave
his old charger to the blacksmith on
the condition that lie would never
sell HIM into scrvituGe. and that
when he WAS no longer able to per-
form the light duties that Davis
imposed upon him friendly bullet
or a dose of poison should lay him to
rest
The gift was the outcome of a
flattering incident in Baldy'5 career.
General Meade often occupied during
the summer months house Just
outside Jenkintown, and his old
favorite was always stabbed there.
One day a groom took the horse to
Davis forge to be shod The black
smiths daughters, hearing Of the
distinguished visitor to the smlthy,
deftly twined a garland of flowers for
the warrior horse, and decorated with
the wreath he returned to the Gen
erals home. When returning to the
city he sought home for his favorite
charger, and as Davis had said he
should be proud to take care of Badly
if ever his master parted with him,
the old fellow found a new home at
Arlington. He lived to be more than
thirty years old, and but that of late
an affection of the forelegs has in
creased to such an extent that he
could no longer get up without assist
ance, he would have been welcome
to his comfortable stall until in the
natural order of things he departed
for the happy hunting grounds A
few days ago, however, it was decided
that the kindest act that could be
performed for Baldy was to put him
quietly out of the way. The services
of Dr. Ben Davis, the well known
veterinary surgeon of Jenkintown,
were called for, and Saturday at mid
day the old horse was led out of the
stable for the last time. There was
grief in the Davis household as Badly
stood shivering in the cold, peering
curiously at DIR. DAVIS as he placed
a halter around his head and pro-
cecded to lead him to the place of
execution. Mrs. Davis could not
stand by and see the death struggles
of the brave old fellow; and as the
mournful cortege, composed of the
veterinary surgeon, well known
physician. and representative of the
Press, accompanied Badly across a
field in the rear of the forge to the
foot Of an apple tree, beneath which a
deep hole had been dug to receive his
body, not word was spoken. True,
it was only a dumb animal that was
about to stagger, fall and die beneath
the deadly action of the potent drug
yet the mind would conjure up a
widely different scene. in which
Badly, gay in the trappings of war,
with proudly arched neck. heaving
tlanks and painting nostrils. bore
amid the clashing OF sabrcs and the
hot fire of musketry. the hero OF
Gettysburg Pennsylvania noblest
son.
The horse looked up with a puzzled
air as DR.. Davis clambcred up into
the tree and made the halter fast tx
one Ct the branches. securing his
head high up in the air. Baldy il
life was as trustful as brave. and he
swallowed with all confidence the
two ounces of cyanide Of potassium
that was poured down his throat
He took just as readily half pin,
of vinegar. The latter liquid in
stantly freed the prussic acid in tho
first potion. Badly braced himself
fore and aft. shuddered then con-
vulsively. and rs the doctor loosened
the halter he fell to the ground. A
few more struggles, and the old wal
horse stertorieusly breathed his gal
liant life away
Badly was bred in the ranks. lie
was handsome brown horse, with
four white feet and a white blaze on
his face. He was deep in the brisket
had a grand forearm, rare set OF
legs, and Il small, well-shaped head
neatly set on an arched neck. II
there was a fault in his conformation
as viewed yesterday, it was his I'M
usual length of barrel, but his truly
formed legs We're in his best days
we'll able to carry him to victory and
glory. The horse was originally the
property of General Baker, who rode
him in the engagement at Drains
vile, Va, and in the first battle OF
Bull Run. General Meade bought
him for $50 at Washington, and be-
strobe him on two days of the seven
day battle that began at Mechanics
vile. He carried the General in the
second battle of Bull run. and received
a bullet in the near hind leg. AT
Antietam he again carried his master
bravely in the fight until fellcd by a
bullet that passed clean through his
neck. The General dismounted and
left his charger. as he thought. dead
upon the field. Later on. however
on again traversing the ground near
the spot where the horse fell. the
horse was found by John Marley,
Meade's body servant, quietly brows-
ing on the field Of battle. At Gettvs-
burg both Baldy and his rider were
wounded. A bullet pierced the
saddle flap and lodged in the horse,
passing between two of his ribs. An
unsuccessful search was made for
this bullet yesterday. The rib where
the bullet had detiected was visibly