The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-01-20
Horses the soldiers Loved.

an affair Of the fret consequences.
Horses the Soldiers Loved.
Several horses became famous II
the War of the Rebellion from their
association with famous command
en- Probably the only SURVIVOR oi
them all il ~old SOrrel, Stonewali
JacksOn's charger. General jackson
rode him through all the battles IL
which be took part, and was on hls
back when be received the wound
from which he died. After passing
through various hands. Old Sorrei
was seat TO Mrs. Jackson, WHO afle--
wards gave him to the Military In
stiiute at Lexington, Virginia de
l. about thirty years old, and MS
maine. tail and fetlocks have neaTiy
all disappeared, one hair at time
through the persistence OF relic
hunters. The horse Is still spirited,
although stiff in his joints. de Is
a general favorite and IL greatly pet
ted a. the Military Institute.
In the Ordnance Museum on Gov
ernor's Island is the stuffed and
mounted skin Of the celebrated
charger that bore General Sheridan
70 Winchester - twenty miles
away.n He was foalsd in the fall OF
1883, at Grand Rapids Michigan
and died on October %, 1873. de
was taken into the army by an OIL
Ger in the % Michigan Cavalry, OF
which Sheridan was Colonel, and
gss presented To Sheridan by Cap
tain Campbell in the name Of the
officers Of the regiment General
Sneridan vas on hls back in nearly
every battle which he fought from
the beginning to the end Of the war.
lie was never wounded and had no
superiors as fed borse. Among
other marks be had three white feet
which are supposed by superstitious
people 70 bring iil-luck to the rider.
the superstition will haze to be
changed slightly in view OF the fort
unes OF Sneridan's horse three
white feet must now be construed to
mean ill-luck to the enemy. Sher-
idan's horse was dark-not in the
sense Of Presidential candidate-
and in the heat OF battle his hair
turned 10 a brilliant black, doubtless
owing to Precipitation.
Dick, a fsvorite war horse, died
in O-wego. y. Y. last January He
was foaled in 1852, in Mexico, that
little village whose old academy has
sent many noted men out into the
sOrld-GoyernOrs. scholars. states
men, poets and scientists. Dick was
as carefully trained az the child Of
fond parent When, 10 1861, the
war broke out and the gallant Fwen-
ty-fourth New York was organized,
0sweg county citizens looked around
for a horse to send with sdjutaut
Robert Oliver, Jr., to the front Col
onel James Doyle and William K.
Phelps selected Dick. When the
regiment had proceeded "a far a.
E mira, Colonel Doyle overlook it
aud had the satisfaction of seeing
Dick mounted 10y Adjulant Oliver.
Dick went TO the front with the boys.
who petted him as they night IA
vorite dog. The horse speedily ac-
quired an understanding Of the dam
gerous and important work assigned
to him.
He showed himself an intelligent,
well-disposed animal, sharing some
Of the rations and almost drinking
out of the same csnteen with the
soldiers. When his human friends
suffered he seemed to knov 1t and
to sympathize with them. Great
battles came on in their turn. The
fields of blood, the fight Of shells. the
rain Of balls, had no terrors for him.
With flashing eyes and skin covered
with foam he dashed through the
horrors OF battle fearless of the roar
Of artillery and Of all the terrible
sights and sound around him. He
fought Fl figuratively speaking, at the
second Bull Run. Charlottesville,
South Mountain. Falmouth, Antie-
tam, Rappahannock Cr,s ing. and
Fredericksburg. Although Dick was
wounded at times be never flincned.
Robert Oliver, Jr., returned to o.
wego lieutenant colonel. He died
in 1871 and Dick was left as legacy
to Robert Oliver, bis father. Every
comfort that horse might enjoy has
been gratefully rendered to Dick.
On every Fourth OF July following
the war he Was brought out and
mounted By Mr.. Oliver as Marshal
Of the day, 10 receive the plaudits
and cheers of thousands. On such
occasions the old horse seemed TO re-
gain all MS former fire. The martial
music, the war flags and the CLEAN
of arms seemed TO bring back the
past to him. He was war horse
t. the last and died suddenly and as
painlessly as if he had been stricken
down by a bullet through The heart