Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-18
AN HISTORIC HORSE.
THE Little SOrreT' That StOnewaII
jackson Rode.

sIfses Prom the Richmond DfsDatch.
cold sorrel," Stonewall Jackson's war
horse, died at the Confederate Soldiers
Home, near this city, at 6 O'Clock Monday
morning. He was Jackson's favorite
steed, and often had he carried his master
on forced marches; often had he borne
him to battle; often had. he been in the
midst OF whizzing bullets; often heard
the crash of cannon and the roar Of mus
kerry; often he had felt his name str0ked
by the great chieftain; often been ted with
StonewalPs own hand; and seated ON his
back on the evening of the iatetul May 3,
1868. jackson received the wounds which
closed a wonderful career and gave to the
Confederaey shock from which 1T never
recovered. The horse survived the rider
nearly twenty-three years, and tittingly
closed his life at the Soldiers Home, where
he was petted and nursed as tenderly as
a child; where war-wOrn veterans Wept
at his death, and where his form. when
passed from the taXidermisis hands, is to
remain and long be an interesting link in
the history of one of the greatest Of the
worlds soldiers
THE HORSES HISTORY.
Of the horses early history nothing is
known. He was bought by Jackson after
had been riding a bay stallion that be-
longed to his medical director DIR. Ii un-
ter Mcclure, and had meanwhile told
his chief quartermaster, Maj. John A.
Hartman, to look out for horse for him.
There had been a carload OF hOrs es
destined for the United States army at
Washington, captured by JacksOn's army
from train Of cars near Harper's Ferry,
and a number Of these were brought to
V.u frnu xnyhf ssh fn L.
selected this very horse, and paid to the
quartermaster the valuation set upon the
animal-$l50, it is said.
FOR A LADY.
The horse was but IS hands and inch
high; but though understzed, was COM
pact and hardy moved very quickly, and
was remarkably gentle.
The General had long wished to buy
horse for his dear wife, and his idea was
that this one would serve the present
needs, and when the war was over would
admirably suit her.
Those we're days when Confederate
hopes ran high. The Confederacy bad
won great battle. IL had shiYered 10
pieces the best army Of the Union, and
put their capital in terror. The infant re-
public was In constant expectation Of re-
cOgnitiOn by the great powers Of Europe,
and il was the general expectation that
bOstilities would cease time enough to al
low the men TO 60 home TO seed wheat. II
is hardly probable that Jackson was as
wildly sanguine as some others. but even
his great military mind could not Dene-
trate the future and fOresee a long and
weary war--a war Of exhaustion and
starvation. IT any rate, - often told his
wife that he bought 1.-THE little sorrep' for
her.
When Gen. Jackson was a Lieutenant
In Ue United States army and was sta
toned at Fort Hamilton, ". Y, he owned
horse named Fancy, aud was very much
attached TO him, and 50 he called ''the
little sorrel" after him.
"LIKE FOX IN NOTION"
Jackson said Of "the little sorrel"-af-
forwards come TO be called "0ld SorreiD
that he had never known a horse OF
easier gait. A seat on him "Was like be-
ing rocked In a CRADLE" be said. A men,
her Of his stat describes ''the little sorrel"
as having "a dog trot and lOpe that looked
like fox In notion" He never was a
stylish horse; never would have excited
the admiration, or even attracted the at
tention, Of horse fancier; but, Though
JackeOn had two fine hOrses-Superi0r,
q magnificent bay presented MIN By the