The Osceola times., 1883-03-24
MAGGIE LUCAS"
The story of Morgan Raider and his
Mare.
Louisville Commercial

Louisville Commercial
Maggie Lucas, mare that went
through three years of the hardest SER
vice of the war of the rebellion, is "a
years old. The name and tail of the
hardy little animal are deeply streaked
with gray. She has lost the sight of the
left eye and is somewhat deaf, but she is
as frisky and lively in the barn-yard as
most animals twenty-five years her
junior maggie Lucas" is an historical
mare. She was ridden by Mr. John H..
Whallen through all the daring raids of
John II. Morgan. and for three years was
ridden in the courier service, the most
toilsome and dangerous branch of war
service. Her owner, Mr. Whallen, paid
the old mare a state visit the other day,
and spent an hour amid the recollections
of the past, and in resuming the almost
human intimacy that once existed be-
tween the intelligent animal and himself.
She was found at Millers farm, five
miles from the city on the Eighteenth
street road, where she has been kept in
ease and comfort for years, and where
she will remain until death claims her
gallant spirit. AT first she did not recog-
nize her cid master, who was wrapped
up in heavy overcoat, and frisked
away from him with the spirit of colt,
but with the heavy movement of age in
her limbs. But when she was cornered
and he called her name in her ear, she
looked up quickly, and then, recogniz-
ing the well remembered voice, laid her
head along his arm and stood gentle and
quiet while he patted her head and
talked OF the adventures they had seen
together.
Mr.. Whallen obtained the mare in
1862. He was at that time boy of IA
years and had been in the service year.
He was courier and had many a long
and rapid ride to make, but the gallant
mare never wassick and seemed never
to tire, going all day in '1ope." She
was in all the skirmishes and fights in
Indiana and Ohio and Kentucky, and
was ridden away by her owner from
Granville, Tenn, on the day that Nor
gan was betrayed and killed.
AT the close of the war Mr.. Whallen
surrendered at Mount Sterling, and
wishing to keep his mare, he left her in
the country, and after surrcndering his
arms, returned to her. He was arrested,
however, at Lexington, because he had
not surrendered the animal, and she was
confscated. He made every effort to
keep trace of her, determined TO buy her
as soon as he had made enough money.
In this he was disappointed, as she was
sold and he could not find her. Years
passed, and one day while he was stand
ing on the river bank at Portland he
saw colored man ride his mare on the
ferry-hoat. He recognized her at sight,
and, hurrying down to the boat, walked
up TO the colored man who was astide
of her and said:
"Uncle, you've got my horse there,
sure"
"Bless your soul, honey" said the old
man, "Tve had this mar nine years and
bought her in the bluegrass"
"Well, she used to be mine,' persisted
Mr.. Whallen "that is, | think it is the
same mare. If it is, she won't carry
double"
With this he put his hand on the
mares rump and she kicked vigorously
"And," continued Mr.. Whallen, "this Is
her name," and he called cut behind
her, maggie p In an instant the mare
whirled around, almest unseating her
rider.
Mr.. Whallen gave $26 and side sad
die for the mare, and used her for sew
eral years in his buggy. Then, as she
got old, he sent her to the country,
where he pays $50 year board for her.
For long time he had difficulty in pay
ing his own board, but the mare was
never allowed to suffer, and he intends
TO keep her in comfort and ease until
death ends her life.
If Maggie Lucas is alive in June she
will be taken to Lexington to the reunion
of Morgan's command. Nearly every
soldier knew her and her boy rider well
When she dies Mr.. Whallen intends to
have the frame and hide preserved, and
will keep them in remembrance of her
faithfulness and intelligence. The fu-
neral will be memorial occasion, and
all of Morgan's men will be invited to
attend to hear the Grafton of some one
capable of doing justice to so suggestive