Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-02-06
CAMP. May so. 1868.

grey horse:
CAMP, May so, 1868.
"Please have my horse shod for me. wish
YOU would have all of his shoes taken oil
and his feet pared even with the sole of the
frog, SO that The frog will touch the ground
before the shoe is put On. Then have the
shoe formed to fit the foot, and not the foot
rasped down 10 fit the shoe. | do not wish
the hoof rasped, except just at the edge
where il comes in contract with the shoe.
The crust eff the foot is the hard part. If
ycu take that off the hoof breaka and cracks.
am very much obliged to you for fitting up
my wagon so well. Very respectfully,
r. E. LEE"
This taak was allotted to Nlaj. DuGey by
reason OF his connection with the Ordnance
Department The fact that Gen. Lee re-
posed so much confidence ID him is matter
in which Major Duffey takes pardonable
pride.
Mai. Duffey describes With keen regard
for detail the handsome pair OF spurs which
Gen. Lee owned. They were broad and fiat,
of very handsome design and were Of sterl-
ing silver. The heels represented swan
head and neck were most handsomely formed
and arranged so as to receive four different
sets of rowels, having five, eight, sixteen
and thirty-two teeth respectively. The
rowels were of various colors-gold, straw,
light blue and deep blue. They were so
contrived, by means of small screw, that
they could be changed at will, thereby en-
abling the General to use either pair at his
option. The straps, which were mounted
with solid silver, including the buckles,
were Of the finest light buff leather, the very
best that could be had. The entire outfit,
including nicely manufactured small screw
driver to be used in changing the rowels,
are incased in o neat mahogany box, taste.
fully lined with light blue velvet. made ex'
pressly for their reception.
son the day after the second battle of Ma.
nassas," says Meior Dufey, General Lse
was standing near the Stone Bridge tine
structure which crosses Bull Run four miles
above Centrevile), surrounded by mum.
ber of his officers, with the bride rein OF his
famous grey thrown over his arm. a column
of cavalry, afterwards ascertained to be our
own men, appeared on the top of the hill
bevond the run, and our Infantry pckete,
mistaking them for the enemy, fired vol
lev OF musketry into them. The yoiiey
frightened the Old Grey snG, plunging
forward, he threw tbe General violently to
the ground with such force as to break some
of the small bones OF his right hand. The Gen'
eral was so disabled by the accident that he
was unable to ride his horse, and was com
pelled to use the aubuence-the one cap
tured from McClellan's army IL the battles
about Richmond. After the army returned
to Virginia and was encsmped in Fauquier
county, Gen. Lee sent fer me and begged
the loan of pair of spurs, at the same time
informing me that he had lost bis OWL.
They were afterwards found hanging IN
the Mcclellan ambulance. [ loaned the
General pair OF common spurs and inform
ed him that l would have g pair made to
order. / Immediately issued my orders,
gathered the necessary materials and then
superintended the making of these silver
spurs. When they were completed I car
ried them to the Generals tent and pre-
sented them to him. The presentation was
made in the presence of several English
gentlemen, visitors to the Army of North
ern Virginia, and they seemed very much
interested in the workmanship admiring
their unique and handsome appearance.
One OF them, after close inspection, asked
General Lee If they were not imported.
b, gentleman replied the General, you
think we are but poor rebels and barbara
ans. You make great mistake. They
were not only made in the Confederacy, but
here. on this field, with the rough tools
we nse In repairing artillery and small
erme' ~