Connecticut western news., 1890-01-15
Artillery Horses.

Chronicle says it is surprising how quickly horses learn the bugle calls. After we had been in service some time, he writes, my first sergeant once asked me what that call was, as the bugle blew some command. s'That's a pretty question for you to ask," 1 said. "How in thunder do you know how to march?' "I don't know" he said, "but my horse knows" Let the first note of the feed or water call be blown and there will be terrible kicking and neighing.
 Once, in a terrible storm, our horses and those of several other batteries broke loose, and there was wild rush the artillerymen to get horses in the morning. All was excitement, and the horses were hard to get, but when I ordered the bugler to mount 8 stump and blow the feed call the horses all made such rush for our battery that the men could hardly get out of the way quick enough.
 When it comes to battle 8 horse seems to know everything that is going on, but he docs his duty nobly, and seems to be in his element. He enters into the spirit of the battle like 8 hu- man being. He shows no fear of death, and it is singular that if his mate is shot down he will turn to look at him and seem pleased. A horse in my battery was once struck by a piece of shell, which split his skull 90 that one side was loose, but ewaaked up by the side of the gun and watched the firing, and when shot was fired would look away in the direction of the enemy as if to see the effect of the shot. When she'll would burst near by he would calmly turn and look at it. When he saw his own team going back for ammunition he ran to his own places and galloped back to the caisson with the rest. When the lieu tenant pushed him aside to put in an- other horse he looked at the other one sorrowfully while he was being har- messed up, and when he seemed to realize that there was no further use for him he lay down and died. The lieutenant strongly inserted that he died of broken heart.
 At the time that Adams's, Jackson's and Preston's brigades charged me at an officer was killed and the brigades were driven back. But the fallen officers horse had not been taught to retreat, and he did not. He was large, fine animal, his nostrels were extended wide, his eyes fairly b;azed, and he clutched the bit with his teeth as he came on. He came like the wind, and with his saddle bags flying he looked as if he were flying himself, instead of running. Everybody gave him wide berth, and I called to the infantry that would give $100 to the man who would catch him, but no one tried it, and he is running now for all I know of him.
 Close Quarters.
 An English resident of India relates that he once had occasion to make a short journey by rail in June, and was invited by 8 friend, who was in the railway company's service, to ride with him on the engine, ssthe coolest place on the train.' The invitation was gratefully accepted.
 We started late in the evening, and I soon found that Tom was right about the engine being the coolest place. The speed of the train created breeze which rapidly absorbed the abundant moisture which mans body throws off when the thermometer registers 90 at midnight.
 Nothing worthy of remark occurred till the driver ordered the fireman to fill up the furnace. Then, as the logs were being thrown in, out dropped 8 lively cobra on the foot-plate. It was not very large specimen--about four feet long, perhaps-but it's bite would not have been the less fatal on that ac- count.
 There were four of us human beings on that foot-plate, and this new pas senger made the place somewhat crowded. Neither of us had a stick, or our embarrassment could readily have been relieved. AS it was, all we could hope for was that the reptile would slip of the engine and drop upon the track.
 But the creature manifested no such intention. Perhaps it knew that there was rule against getting off the train while in motion, or, more likely, it en- joyed the heat of the furnace. Pretty soon it raised it's head, and I foolishly made kick at it, taking care not to put my foot within striking distance.
 It was an unfortunate demonstration. The creature was not frightened, but at once accepted the challenge and ad- vanced upon us. We were besieged.
 The driver sprang out on the side o1 the engine, holding on by the hand ail which runs along the boiler; the fireman went up the pile of logs behind him like mountain cat; Tom vanished from the scene on the side of the en- zine opposite to that the driver he'd