Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1891-11-28
GENERALS IN THE SADDLE.
Mcclellan the .:eau Ideal of - IIorseman
-LoBgstreet IA Colossus on His steed.

Major General George B. Mcclellan
was one Of the handsomest mer on
horseback in the Federal service. He
sat in the saddle with grace and ease
peculiarly his own. All his APPOINT
ments were in the most correct taste,
and his horses were full blooded
animals. Wearing highly polished
riding-boots. coming up nearly to his
hips, aud wrinkled from the inslep to
the knee. he would 20 splashing over
the roads until horse. rider, aud boots
were covered with Virginia mud. pro-
badly the stickiest substance in exist
ence. His servant always had clean
pair of boots for the General on his
return TO quarters after which the man
would speud +, couple of hours clean
ing the 9th pair. The soldiers at
Yorktown used to say that Little
Mack" could collect more mud in an
hours time than any other General in
the army. Mcclellan always rode at n
slapping pace. and saw that his staff
were well mounted. for nothing more
displeasod him than their inability 10
keep up with him. He was very cool
on the battlefield. aud used to ride
from point to point in the calmest
manner. Without attempting the
cavalry seat or style. Mcclellan had at
all times perfect command over his
charger. His knowledge of horse-fesh
is shown by the invention of the Me-
Clcllau saddle. the easiest for man or
beast ever made.
General William Tecumseh Sherman
was a nervous aud somewhat careless
rider. He wore his stirrup feathers
very loug, seeming to be almost all
the time standing in the irons. This
appearance was intensified by his
habit of rising in ms stirrups on reach
ing turn in the road or some ad-
yantageous point of observation.
While always careful of his animals.
Sherman did not appear to have that
fondness for them that Is so common
among good horsemeu. He was con-
stantly on the go aud his eye seemed
TO be everywhere except where his
horse was lreading.
Shcrman's rein was rather a loose
one. for he trusted, apparently. to the
natural sagacity of his steed rather
than TO his own guidance. Seen at the
head OF column of troops. or giving
orders for their disposition on the iield.
Sherman presented remarkable
figure. Riding along the road he was
constantly gazing about him noting
the lay OF the land passed over. as if
internally planning how battle coula
be fought there.
Lieutenant General James Long
street was magnificent on horseback.
His bulky figure and enormous beard
gave him the appearance of IA Colossus.
and he had to have powerful horses to
carry his weight through the fatigues
Of n campaign. Men who fought
under him have told me that Long
street had always Il gracious manner.
and he was nnvarying in the obser-
yances of poiteness. lie had swing
ing seat. rs most heavy men have. /
had glimpse of GcHsral Longstreet
at Gettysburg. The Third Corps had
met with a reverse at the right of Lit
tie Round Top. and my corps, the
Fifth, ran up from its re- erse position
10 take the place Of Sickles' men.
Through. the smoke of the battle after
we had climbed up and retaken the
k'ti'c isVuhu lOp, btotHeI UiuCeE
loaned me his glass and pointed out
the Confederate corps commander.
Longstreet looked grand as he sat
calmly on his horse evidently, giving
directions for another forward move-
ment. which we were soon after COM
PEELED TO meet.
Major General Joseph Hooker was
probably the best looking mounted
officer that ever rode at the head of
Federal army. He was true soldier
of the old tpye. had an easy carriage.
firm seat. and sat in the saddle as
straight rs an arrow. Sometimes the
simile Is used las straight as an In-
dian," bat an Indian never sits on
horse straight. however he may walk.
Major George Il. Hiiiiam, ia The Rider
and Dricer.