Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-06-14
KILPArRICKs WAR HORSE.
\ Few Cold Facts "Knocl Out" a
Good Deal of Fiction.


Good Deal of Fiction.
A paragraph is going the rounds OF the
press that Gen. Kilpatrick's old war horse
"Spot' is to figure in the Port Jervis,
n. Y, celebration of July 4neXt. The par
agraph, which has also appeared IN the
MORNING NEWS, says: "It IS said that
this horse passed unscathed through all
the battles fought by the army OF tue Po-
tomac and marched with Sherman 10 the
sea, fact that might be held TO Indicate
that his rider managed to keep him out OF
danger with remarkable skill and success
II the world mad not often been told that
Fitzpatrick was a very brave man."
Now what if it should appear that
"SpO" was in none OF the battles OF the
Potomac, and that he was never on north
ern territory until the close Of the war?
Ia short, suppose it should turn out that,
instead OF "marching with Sherman to
the sea-" he only marched with Sher-
man from the sea. That the latter is far
the most probable let the following mar
ratiVe answer:
There is now in Savannah an elderly
widow lady Of estmable character and
fine intelligence who, with her husband,
a well-known physician, resided on their
plantation in Bryan county at the time Of
Sherman's carnival at the sea- IN the
locality known as Bryan Neck, between
Midway and Bear rivers. This is the
Identical spot first reached by Sherman on
the sea, and from which he signaled the
Federal feet with bonfires and the DIS
charge OF cannon.
Having read the paragraph above re-
ferred TO, this lady, few DAYS ago, gave
the writer an account Of "Sherman's ar
rival at the sea-" Gen. Kilpatrick's Oc-
cupatiOn of her residence in Bryan Neck
as his headquarters, and the utter DESC
latiOn which reigned there after his de-
parture. A large plantation stocked
with cattle, hogs, horses. provisions, inn
plements, furniture and everything per-
tanning to wealthy planter and pop
ular, successful physician, had been so
entirely swept away that the owners
were fain TO preserve their lives by gath
ering up the scattered waste corn where
the horses of the Federal cavalry had been
lavishly fed.
1t was on this farm that Gen. KIlpat-
rick first beheld his famous war horse,"
then without name. The doctor, for so
will now call the lady's. husband, had
bought the horse from member of the
Bingham Hussars, which company had
been stationed in that vicinity, and his
remarkable cOlOrs, combined With admit
rable qualities, gave him notoriety and
high value In the estimation OF his new
master. 1t was not strange, therefore,
that Gen. fitzpatrick should make choice
of this gallant steed to bear him on in his
field OF glory.
The lady describes the horse as a light
cream-colored stallion, thickly dotted
over with brown spots of small SIZE, with
prominent eyes and scant short name,
which will enable those who may see him
at the Port Jervis celebration to identity
him as the same animal 1t may be
further stated that the animal was well
known to many prominent gentlemen
who survived the war, several OF whom
are now residents OF this city, and may
be named il necessary. But it seems that
"SpOt did not long remain in tue possess
sion Of Gen. Fitzpatrick, for it is main
tanned that soon after. in nocturnal me-
lee with Gen. Wheeler, of Confederate
fame, Spot was recaptured, and kllpat-
rick narrowly escaped in his night
clothes; nor did the latter regain possess
sion OF his prize until after the close of
the war, upon claim as his personal
property.
This claim, says the lady, led to corre-
spOndence between her husband and Gen.
Wheeler, in which the true history of the
horse was developed; but the doctor, hav-
ing then no means of pursuing his rights
in fact. having in that disOrganized state
Of the South no rights Federal officer
WAS DOuUu 10 TbSpeCl-u6 y i6itIS4l U Tue
inevitable, and s'Spot" was surrendered
to become a famous "war horse" 1t may
not be improper to add in conclusion that
at the time of the Federal visit to the doc
/ tors plantation he was a Eon-combatant
| and had been a cripple, going on
crutches for more than two years before
the close of the war. He was daring
! hOrseman, and in a gallant ride had been
so severely injured by a fall from his horse
that ne remained on his plantation, recOg-
nized and protected for long time by
Capts. Swan and Emerson, of the Federal
gunboats Ladona and g. w. Rogers, sta
toned off SapelO and St. Catheriue's
sounds. These may still be able to give
some account of him when his name is
proposed. 1t was understood that their
protection of his person and property, be-
fore and after kilpatrick's visit with
Sherman. was based upon his frank ac-
ceptance of President Lincoln's prOcla-
nation pardoning and protecting all who
would lay down their arms and return 10
Federal allegiance. j.. q. b.