Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-08-08

sHINGTON, D. c., 81
GEN. GRANT AND HIS HORSES.
The cid soldiers Love for = Mettaed
Sfeed.
SOME INTERESTING PERSONAL "REMINISCENCES
BY ADMIRAL AMMEN-wHAT THE GENERALS
MOST TREMENDOUS OATH WAS "DoGGED"-3
THE BONES OF CINCINNATI.
One of Gen. Grants most pronounced charac-
teristics was his love of horse flesh. He de-
lighted to handle the reins behind a good
trotter or to stride a melted saddle horse Rear
Admiral Ammen, who was a friend of Gen.
Grant in his boyhood days as well as late in his
life, In speaking of him and his horses, said:
Cincinnati, the generals war horse, was a
noble animal, and Gen. Grant priced him very
highly. When was in command of the Mo-
hican visited Gen. Grant at City Point. He
invited me to visit the lines towards
Petersburg. He sent Gen. Babcock with
me, and gave me Cincinnati to ride.
I was my first acquaintance with
then. / had ridden horses all my life but 1t
was new experience to ride that animal.
When l returned the first thing Gen. Grant
asked was, How did you like the horse?' I
have ridden ever since was boy replied.
but never backed anything like that before
That's just what think said the general. He
gave me the impression of a combination of
Immense power with extreme docility. Gen.
Grant kept him until 1876, when he was nearly
see he had been through good deal. The gem
eral then gave him to me that he might pass
turned him on o tn peace n afa farm
near Beitsville. I went to Columbus few
months after Cincinnati was turned over
to me- in company with Gen. Sherman to at
tend an encampment and when returned
found poor Cincinnati dead. One morning my
brother found him with one of his torelegs
broken. He had tramped about in a circle ali
night long. My brother shot him to put HIM
out OF his misery. No one knew how the acct
ture which would cause q broken leg. AT first
had a suspicion of foul play, but dismissed
1t from my mind, because l would not think
any one could be such a knave. The old horse
was buried right there, and his grave has never
been disturbed. think shall write to the au-
thorities of the National museum, and offer
them Cincinnati's bones, which know are in
good state of preservation
WAS General Grant q good horseman?'
First rate" was the reply. "He understood
horses thoroughly and could manage them
"Did you ever know General Grant to be dis
mounted by his horse?"
Not after he became grown: but while he
rel mare got the best Of him nV When he was sot
youngster. Our families were very near neigh
bors out in Ohio, and he and l were compan-
a little sorref mare that no one else could han
die; had taught her many tricks and no
body else seemed to understand her. One
to ride the s sorr ao She heea had erm thro%n
Who had her s and eT
afraid to let you have her, for she might do you
some injury But, after insisting, he finally
days rode with blanket strapped on a horses
back, without any stirrups. Young Grant
hadn't been gone long before father saw the
something serious had happened He hastened
in the direction from which the horse came
ana soon found young Grant, dripping with
1t seems that the tricky mare had started off on
a break meek gallop, and did not slack up upon
nearing nearing a stream; When she reached the bank,
though, she suddenly threw out her fore feet
and ducked her head. The boy rider went
Swimming through the air and made very
pretty dive. That was hardly a fair throw,
though. What kind of a boy was he? Well, he
was quiet and unassuming. He was not at
all boisterous and did not have to stand on his
steam. He was even tempered and not at all
aggressive; but ii pushed too far did not hest
tate to stand up for himself, and he made good
him from about 1929 until 1886, and after that
didn't meet him for twenty years or more"
DISCOUNTED IN THE HOLY LAND :
Upon making further inquiries THE STAR re-
porter could learn of only one instance of Gen.
Vim NA"h0 OCAuB 1dHly OlSuOunL9O DY q res:
tive horse. 1t was during his journey round the
world. In going from Jaf1a to Jerusalem Cen
eral Grant rode very high strung horse. part
Arabian. He delighted in a horse with plenty
of life, and this one just suited him. On the
road they met a native cavalcade that set the
generals horse afire. He reared and plunged.
but finally he was dismounted. He landed on
his feet, however, and no harm was done. The
general gems took it as good joke, and stood good
A TALK WITH ALBERT HAWKING
In order to learn some of his peculiarities in
connection with horses, STAR reporter
hunted up Albert Hawkins, the Presidents
coachman. That fuuctionary has horror of
reporters, and generally shuts his mouth like
trap when they open fire upon him. At the
mention of Gen. Grants name. however. he
beamed good naturedly upon the STAR man,
man certainly was fond of horses" said he.
land he wasn't easily fooled about them
either. He knew all the points about a
month almost, by look at his teeth, and he
could fault him every time, if there were bIem-
i ISM sa didn't come to the general" continued
he went to the White House, but staid with
him all the time be was there. He never gave me
fault with anybody but. once. The second
thine thine o It fon meant az hors good bye The Old
he wouldn't have any but good ones He had a
stock farm near st. Louis of 700 acres, and on
~ L heard
say once that he had twenty-five colts drop one
spring.. Then he kept upwards of thirteen
horses In the stables here. When they would
get used up he would ship them to st, Louis and
bring on others TO take their place. He would
send four Or five at time out there Did he
treat them well: Yes, indeed. But it was this
way with him. He knew just what a horse
could do. He found that out the first thing. and
he expected him to do it. If he had horse that
could trot in 2:35 he made him get there. He
wouldn't stand any il-treatment of horses Int
an ugly horse he would help punish himself
ne never showed any anger though, and these
stories about his not swearing are true. tell
he's foOling round horses or cattle, / never
heard him get any nearer to an oath
than 'dogged.' That was a great ex-
preston of his. Some friend would
say, General, let's do SO and so' NO. PIl he
logged If do Mrs. Grant would saw. sIyss.
come ride in the big carriage this evening" NO
I'll be dogged if do he would reply, and after
q bit you could see him driving out 18th street
behind pair of good travellers. He didn't like
family carriages. buggy suited him, or a
good riding horse. He was good rider. too.
and never saw horse that could get the best
Of him. He had three horses that he was par
ticularly found of. They were CINCINNATI.
Egypt, and jeff Davis, but Cincinnati was hi,
favorite. He was fine animal, and the old
man rode him from go to the close of the war.
He was his war horse He was full of life and
yet gentle. have seen him with the general
on him at the navy yard when they were test