The Red Cloud chief., 1894-02-23
T3Il!II!W 3W 81! 22 ~ ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

he was tall and gaunt; he re-
,eived no rations or forage from the
quart he never ate. l have
five or six men mounted on such
= horse at one time, their ankles tied
together to keep them from dismount-
ing without orders, while a guard
walked to and fro neal by to see that
they rode properly. l had several
horses ia the war, but the horse that
l liked the best was the "horse that
smelled the battle afar off," the far
Their the better. The cavalry horse
was not appreciated in camp. The
time and trouble expended in his oare
which was q compuls DRY duty, that
might otherwise have been devoted to
. quiet game Of 'draw" was a con-
slant source Of disgust to his fellow
sufferer, the soldier. In consequence
he acquired so many appellations rem
dered forcible BY adjectives Of brim.
stone hue, as to render his identity
matter Of speculation even INTO him
self. It was on the long marches that
his value was recognized; then it was
voc to the mar that did not cherish
his horse as the apple Of his eye, for Q
cruel, vigilanu and relentless enemy
was ever lowering in the real Of the
marching column. In sounding the
praises Of the cavalry horse We must
not forget his brother Of artillery
fame, or his long cared cousin on the
mothers side, the "brevet hsrse" Of
army fame; his relative, the ~"jackass"
was not . war necessity, although he
was ably represented on numerous oc-
casions. Sometimes a war hsrse IL
called q Charger" l had a chavE
once. He charged q whole battery,
entirely withou. orders. 10 fact I did
all in my power to prevent him. I
felt sorry for my noble charger for
"he never came back" l have Q
lots Of cavalry chargers-iu the illus
trated papers. But there was q being
10 the army who could out charge the
charger. 1t was the "Sutlsr." He
charged me three dollars once for q
bottle Of whisky, q small bottle at
that. There was a bond of fellowship
between cavalrymAn aud his horse,
ssmented by their constant compan-
%psnionship and mutual suffering. MY
horss and 1 had many things IN COM
mon. He never shirked his duty.
neither did I. He Was never looking
for q detail as company clerk, neither
Was l. He joined the service expecting
all the stern realities Of war; 50 did l.
He never went to the rear when the
battle was on to see if the chaplain
had q letter for him; neither did I.
Whom he enlisted he did not lump
any bounties; neither did 1. When
the war was Owe he did not expect
any pension, and neither did l. lie
did not tear himself away from his
best CIR, leaving with her his tin.typo
with . background of dismantled guns
asd flags, and . foreground Of dead
generals in full uniform, as I did.
only to fud OF my return that she had
married a fellow who stayed at home.
He received a grooming twice a day;
we'll, mine would average that-thst
was when the captain would comb me
down. ] would "ften share with him
my rations of corn aud beans, aud he
would as willingly share with me his
ration OF hay, but 1--WE revsr drank
from the same canteen"-he belonged
to the temperance society.
There was this difference between
us, that while the dumb animal 70,
oe'ved only his %rations Of forage for
his service, with perhaps a little lini-
ment thrown ia now and then for bis
of hind spawn, the ''hnman animal"
received, besides his forage thirteen
dollars q month for stopping rebel bull.
lets. We can never forget the soldier
heroes with whom We touched elbows.
Who are gone, and so year by year our
foot steps growing less firm lead us
nearer and nearer to them, and moro
tender grows the sentiment which
prompts us to scatter flowers anon
their graves-let Fs give a passing
thought and drop a tear in memory Of
the patient dun hero who also gave
his strength and life, THAT the nation
might live, may there be no cruel bits
or spurs, no lariats or picket ropes
no ''boots and saddles" in the horse
heaven where he is at rest; may he On.
JOY full measure of grain end roam at
I'LL in pastures that are green and
fresh forever.