Huntsville gazette., 1883-03-17
One OF Morgan's Raiders.

Maggie Lucas, q mare that went
through three years of the hardest serv-
ice of the war of the rebellion, is thirty
four 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-vard as most animals twenty
five years her junior "Maggie Lucas''
is an historical mare. She was ridden
BY MIR. John HI. Whallen through all OF
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 in
timacv that once existed between the
intelligent animal and him self. She
was found at Mr.. Miller's 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
recognize her old 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,
recognizing 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
lad seen together.
Mr.. Whallen obtained the mare in
1862. He was at that time boy of
fourteen years, and had been in the
service year. He was a courier and
had many long and rapid ride to make,
but the gallant mare never was sick and
seemed never to tire, going all day long
in a slope" She was in all the skir-
mishes and fights in Indiana and OHIO
and Kentucky, and was ridden away by
ner owner from Granville, Tenn, on
the day that Morgan 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 surrendering 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 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-boat He recognized her at sight,
and hurrying down to the boat walked
up to the colored man, who was astride
of her, and said:
"Uncle, you've got my horse there,
sure.''
"Bless your soul, honey" said the
old man, "I've had this mar nine
years, and bought her in the bluegrass.
swell, she used to be mine" per-
sisted MIR. Whallen; s'that is, l think it
is the same. If it is, she won't carry
double"
With this he put his hands on the
mares rump and she kicked vigorously.
"And,n continued Mr.. WhalIen, "this
is her name," and he called out behind
her, "Maggie." In an instant the mare
whirled around, almost unseating her
rider.
MIR. Whallen gave twenty-six dollars
and side-saddle for the mare, and
used her for several years in his buggy.
Then, as she got old, he sent her to the
country, where he pays eighty dollars
year board for her. For a long time he
had difficulty in paving his own board,
but the mare was never allowed to
suffer, and he intends to keen 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 re-
naembrance of her faithfulness and in
telligence. The funeral will be me-
mortal occasion, and all of Morgan's
men will be invited to attend to hear the
oration OF some one capable of doing
Justice to SO suggestive theme. Lou
tacilte Commercial