The Portland daily press., 1895-12-28
ARMY HORSES UNDER FIRE.
One Horse That Was Better Soldier Than
Any Man in the Regiment.
(From the Chicago Times-Herald. }

(From the Chicago Times-H erald.)
Here is one told me by James f. Lyon
of the First Cavalry, who had no supe-
rior in yalor, and will carry to his grave
a limp and quarter of pound Of lead.
He said
''We had in our company young Ger
man named Schultz. His horse was his
especial pride. Sometimes Schultz went
to sleep without rations, but his horse
never. No matter how scarce or how
hard it was to get forage, the young Ger
mans horse always had an evening feed,
a thorough rubbing down, loving pat,
and goodnight, Frank in two Ian
guages-broken English and German.
Many time have 1 seen Schultz sklr-
mish for a lunch for his horse when we
halted to make coffee, instead of prepar-
ing his own lunch. While the rest of
US stayed in our tents and read or played
cards. Schultz would keep Franks COM
pany for hours, sometimes talking Ger
man to him, and sometimes English.
Some Of our horses showed lack of care
Franks showed overcare; was always in
good order in camp; he glistened like
new plug hat, and seemed as fond of his
master as his master of him. When the
Atlanta campaign opened, in May, 1864,
there was not prouder soldier or a pref
tier horse than Schultz and Frank in the
First.
"Our first fl ght of note in that cam
paign was at Varnell's Station, May 9.
Somebody-never mind who-made
mess of it. Our little brigade, the Second
of the First Cavalry Division, consisting
Of the Second and Fourth Indiana and
the First Wisconsin. commanded by Col.
o. Fl. LaGrsnge-was thrown against
Gen. Joe Wheeler's entire command and
we fought it allss day. We started to
charge. but were halted in piece of
woods and were ordered to fight on foot.
We were already under fire and in con-
siderable confusion, and only a portion
of the command heard the order, so it
happened that some Of us fought as
cavalry and some as infantry. Schultz
remained mounted and did heroic service.
Early in the fight his pet was shot.
AS the animal made but little fuss over
it and steadied down quickly his rider
thought it was only slight wound and
remained in the battle all day, having
travelled many miles, the won
derful animal seeming to enter into the
spirit of the work as completely as his
master. That night at 8 O'Clock the bri-
gade campea.
The moment Frank was unsaddIed he
lay down. Schultz thought il was be-
cause the horse, like himself. was tired,
and, after patting him aud telling him
in both languages what splendid fellow
he had been that day, and thank him
for carrying him safely through Que of
the hottest battles, the h1sied himself
with supper getting. In the forage bag
were several extra ears Of corn. After
his own repast of black coffee, crackers
and unco0ked white pork, such ban
ouet as many a soldier has been more
thankful for than he was for the feast of
last Thanksgiving, Schultz helled the
corn and took it TO Frank. The horse did
not welcome him as usual, did not rest
his head on the masters shoulder and
look, if he did not speak, thanks for such
master. He didn't hear Schultz an
nounce in German that he was coming
with n double ration. frank was dead
and stlffening, showing that soon after
lying down life had departed.
'sWhen Schultz realized that his pet
was dead he threw the corn down,
dropped by the side of the animal, ten
derby laid one hand on his neck and with
the Other gently rubbed his head. as he
had done many times before, and sobbed
like a child. In talking about his loss
couldn't tell me he was badly hurt and
ask to go to the hospital, as | would have
done had / been shot. He carried me all
day as If he thought it was his duty, and
that things would go wrong if he didn't
and when the battle was over and was
getting supper he lay down and died.
That horse was a better soldier than
/ am-than any man in the regiment.
Not one of us would have fought all day
with such hurt as thet No one would
have expected it of us, yet I expected it
of Frank, and he did not fail me. 1 shall
never think as much of anything again
as long as I live.' With this outbnrst the
poor fellow broke down again, and none
of bis comrades made light of the young
Germans sorrow. They knew it was
sincere.
That was a story about a good horse
an good soldier. Now let me tell
alb out one of the trials of good soldier
with a bad horse. The late Gen. John
A. Kellogg, who fought his way from
lieutenant of company to commander of
q brigade, bought magnificent roam
few days before Gen. Grant began the
closing campaign. It was high-spirited
creature, tall, powerful ard speedy.
kellogg was greatly pleased with his new
possession. His staff had to do a good
deal of fast riding for week before the
closing scenes of the great contest began.
The General seemed to want every one
In the Fifth Corps to see his handsome
roam. so he rode from camp to camp max
ing social calls, his staff, made up largely
OF new riders bobbing and jolting after
him. There was not man of Kellog's
military family but regretted the birth of
that roam. He was jolting their. young
lives away.
The day Of reckoning came at the bat
tie of Grayelly Run, or, as some call it.
White Oak Road, March 81, 1865. Kel-
logg massed his brigade in a piece of
woods. About 10 o'clock it became neces-
sary to move quickly to better position
and get into line of battle for immediate
business, fer division of the other
folks was coming, that way practising Oh
their famous "Yell'' song. Just as the