The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-11-04
2ENERALSIN THESADDLE
MEN IN BOTH ARMIES
wBo WERE GOOD HORsEMEN.


rnposing Figures on horseback
Grant was a Hard Rider and Sheridan
vas Centaur.
From the Rider and Driver.
All Of the federal and confederate gen
ais VINO won fame during the civil var
we're good horsemen. Most Of them learned
me art Of equitation under competent
,..chers at West Point; but even those who
.o,s TO military command from civil life sat
i, the saddle with more or less grace and
dignity.
Gen. Grant was from boyhood an ardent
t,vsr Of good horses, and while he was in
command Of all the United States armies
Ss had large number of exceedingly foe
s,,mais at his disposal. IL is an equine
,riom that merciful man is merciful to
his beast but though Gen. Grant had as full
a.. share Of mercy in his heart as most men,
h. was so earnest and stubborn as a soldier
that he never hesitated to sacrifics human
or animal life to gain a decided end. He
was. n fact, cruel to be kind. He sat in the
saddle rather ungainly-that is to say, he
had an exceedingly good seat, out his utter
Indifference regarding the uniform of his
rank somewhat detracted from his appear
.Dce as horseman. He never wore sword
or a sash after becoming a brigadier, even
on parade days for review. While on the
march or campaign Gen. Grant carried his
fat.brimmed hat down over his eyes and
wore coat supposed to be one that had
done duty at Vicksburg. 1t certainly
looked like it. Grant always went at hand
gslop when following the movements of his
troops, an unlighted cigar firmly clenc1ed
in his powerful Jaws. When the Army OF
the Potomac was pursuing Lees forces,
after the evacuation of Richmond and the
Petersburg siege works, Grant wore out no
less than SIX horses inside of three days.
So furiously did he ride from point TO point
itfrequently happened that all of his order
lies we're left behind. Indeed, very few Of
the headquarters staff could keep up the
pace. Grant once covered fifty miles in
four hours on three horses.
Gen. Lee had a very graceful carriage in
the saddle. While in motion he sat erect
and composed, but he seldom rode at
faster gait than a canter. He had curious
habit of laying his hands on the pommel on
hating to converse with any one. Leaning
gently forward Lees attitude was at once
courteous and engaging. l CHANGED to meet
the great confederate leader on two occa-
SONS Being wounded prisoner after the
battle of the Wilderness. | was lying under
a locust tree by the roadside. when Lee
came slowly riding past. Quietly hating,
be leaned over me and began asking ques-
tons concerning the federal army. On my
politely declining to answer some Of his
queries the generals face grew sad. He
bowed slightly, acknowledged my right to
refuse, and then rode on in deep thought,
for had told him that Grant was present
aud in real command Of the Army of the
Potomac.
Maj Gen. Meade was one of the most per-
feot riders In the service. He sat erect at
all times, and it was an inspiring sight to
see him gallop past a halted corps. In an.
aver to the tumultuous cheers that Iuvaria-
bly, greeted him on such occasions, he would
lit his braided cap, and, holding it high
above bis head, pass through the ranks of
lis men like a meteor. Meade took good
care that his charger we're capable Of speed
aud endurance, anu he was very careful of
them.
Maj. Gen. G. K. Warren was en- ungainy
horseInan. His engine ring studies and
tendencies rendered him careless of his
equation. OF course he could sit on a
horse, and gallop, but if he had q position
10 reconnotre out of the saddle would he
go, in order to chamber on top of a rock
scarcely any higher than his horses back.
There IN foot, with solid ground under him,
Warren could plan at leisure and with ease.
Neither was he particular regarding the
sort OF horse flesh at his command. His
rank gave him right to the best, and the
quarterma3ter always saw that he vas well
mounted. de paid 10 attention to the mat
ter The animals might be changed daily
and the fact entirely escape Warren's atten-
ton so long as the old saddle remained. To
him horse was military necessity, and
do not believe be rode on horseback twenty
miles after the war ended.
Maj GeI. Burnside was al imposing
figure on a horse. His remarkable mus
tsches and whiskers, with the folded Burn
side hat on his head, made him easily recog-
nlzable He always wore full dress, even on
the march, while huge pair OF snow~white
gsuutlets lent additional magnificence to
bis costume. As rider Burnside was easy
and graceful, aud he seemed to love being
In the saddle.
Mag. Gen. Mcclellan was one ofEshe hand
soonest men on horseback III the federal SER
vice. He sat in the saddle with grace and
case peculiarly his own. All his appoint
ments we're in the most correct taste, and
his horses were full-blooded animals. Wear
ing highly polished riding boots coming up
nearly to his hips, and Urinkled from his in-
step to his knee, he would 60 splashing over
TOE roads until horse, rider and boots were
covered wltn Virginia mud, probably the
stcklest substance in existence. His ser
lor the general on his return to quarters.
AFTER which the man would spend couple
OF hours cleaning the other pair The
solulers at orktown used to say that Lit
&le Mac" could collect more mud in an
noun Tune than any other general in the
army. Mcclellan was passlonatelv fond of
horses and preferred to have them coal
black.
zen. Sherman was a nervous and some
what careless rider. He wore his stirrup
feathers very long, seeming to be. almost ali
Tue Htne, standing in the irons This ap-
pearance was intensified bv his habit of ris-
ing IN MS Stlrrups on reaching turn in the
road OF some advantageous point of obser-
faGion. w nile always careful Of his ami
mals, Sherman did not appear to have that
Guinness Ior them that is 50 common among
good horsemen. He was constantly on the
90 ana MS eye seemed TO be everywhere
except where his horse was treadinp. Sher-
mans rem was rather loose one, for he
trusted, apparently, to the natural sagacity
VI MS steod, rather than to his own guild
ehce. Seer at the head of a column of
troops, or giving orders for their disposition
on the field, Sherman presented a rernarka-
o ngure Riding along the road he was
constantly gazing about him, noting the lay
VI tle land passed over, as il internally plan
ttls now battle could be fought there After
nn retirement from the army, Gen. Sher-
ulan seldom mounted horse, for be said he
way getting too old, and had had enough Of
such exercise
MAI. Gen. Hooker was probably the best
looking mounted officer that ever rode at the
s aesa OF the federal army. He was true
euiQler of the old tvDa bod an aarv oar