Morning journal and courier., 1891-11-26
EmInent General. in the Saddle.


 Major George F. Williams in ''The Rider and
 Driver"
 Major-General George B. Mcclellan was one of the handsomest men on horseback in the federal service. He sat in the sad dle with a grace and ease peculiarly his own All his appointments were in the most correct taste, and his horses were full-blooded animals Wearing highly polished riding boots coming up nearly to his hips and wrinkled from the insiep to the knee, he would go splAshing over the roads until horse, rider and boots were covered with Virginia mud, probably the stickiest substance in existence His ser want always had a clean pair of boots for the general on his return to quarters, after which the man would spend a couple of hours cleaning the other pair The sol diers 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 slApping pace, and saw that his staff were well mounted, for nothing more displeased him than their inability to keep up with him. He was very cool on the battlefield, and used to ride from point to point in the calmest manner Without attempting the cavalry seat or style, Mcclellan had at all times a perfect command over his charger. His knowledge of horseaesh Is shown by the invention of the Mcclellan saddle, the easiest for man and beast ever made.
 General William Tecumseh Sherman was a nervous and somewhat careless rider. He wore his stirrup feathers very long, seeming to be almost all the time standing in the irons This appearance was intensified by his habit of rising in his stirrups on reaching turn in the road or some advantageous point of observA- ton. While always careful of his ani- mals, Sherman did not appear to have that fondness for them that is so common among good horsemen. He was constant ly on the go, and his eye seemed to be eve rywhere except where his horse was tread ing. Shermsn's rein was rather a loose one, for he trusted apparently to the nat ural sagacity of his steed rather than to his own guidance. Seen at the head of a column of troops, or giving orders for their disposition on the field, Sherman presented a 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 3 battle could be fought there.
 Lieutenant General James Dongstreet was magnificent on horseback His bulky figure and enormous beard gave him the appearance of a Colossus, and he hAd to have powerful horses to carry his weight through the fstigues of A campaign. Men who fought under him have told me that Longstreet had always a gracions manner, and he was unvarying in the observAnoes of politeness- He had swinging seat, as most heavy men have I had glimpse of General Longstreet at Gettysburg. The third corps had met with a reverse to the right of Little Round Top. and my corps, the fifth, ran up from its reverse position | to take the place of Sickles' men Through the smoke of the battle, after we had climbed up and retaken the Little Round Top, brother officer loaned me his glass and pointed out the confederate corps commander. Longstreet looked grand As he sat calmly on his horse, evidently giv- ing directions for another forward move | ment, which we were soon after compelled to meet. It is related of him that he new CT seemed Hurried in the heat of the bat tie, and issued his orders in the most mat ter-of-fact way. He was 6 grand horse man and entirely at home in the saddle. Major General Joseph Hooker was prob ably the best-looking mounted officer that ever rode at the head of a federal army. He WAS & true soldier of the old type, had an easy carriage, firm seat, and sat in the saddle as straight ss an arrow. Sometimes | the simile is used 'Ess straight as an Indi- an," but an Indian never sits on a horse straight, however he may walk.