The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-01-15
A CASE OF REAL WAR HORSE.
WOULD BE NO coNscRIPT.
How Patriotic Horse Put to Flight Band
Of Rebels.

Probably no incident during the war Of tho
rebellion which was result Of the existance
of war, was more interesting than one occur
ring In the village OF LIsburn, Pa, on the
Sunday preceding the battle OF Gettys-
burg.
As the Army Of Northern Virginia advanc-
ed on IFS march 10 irretrievable defeat at
Gettysburg nearly all horses, cattle, and In
deed stock OF all kinds In Southern Pennsyl-
yania were driven of by the owners and hid
den among the mountains to prevent them
falling into rebel hands
A farmer named Michael Hart, who lived
near Lisbuin, had sent away all his horses
except one, "a valuable animal, sorrel In color,
large healthy and well trained to work
wherever hltched. On the Sunday named
this horse was as usual In his stall, not
dreaming that within few hours he was to
become the most famous and popular animal
In all that region. Suddenly his owners
premises were invaded by Il party OF six or
eight reltel cavalrymen In search OF horses.
Two OF them dismounted and without any
ceremony entered the stable and led out the
horse.
In order 10 protect his horses from annoy
ance by flies, Mr.. Hart had his stable dark
ened. SO that the horse could learn nothing
about the character OF his visitors from their
dress, but ou reaching the yard and seeing
that the men In charge Of him and others
near were armed, dressed In grey, and that
the flag they carried was not the one he was
accustomed to seeing, the noble animal seem
ed to appreciate the situation at once, and
began to exhibit unmistakable evidence that
be was strongly In favor OF the suppression
OF the rebellion. lie made vigorous war
among the Johnnies then and there. He at
tackled the two dismounted men, who fed
for life, surprised and frightened, to their
horses and mounted. The Unionist horse,
fully aroused, continued his attack upon the
| whole rebel force, using hoofs and teeth In q
| way that was terrible to behold.
The wholly unexpected and unprecedented
| attack, its suddenness, together with the en-
ergy and rage that characterized it,threw the
| gray-coats into such panic that they SEEM
Ell to forget that they were armed. Putting
| spurs to their horses they rode up the main
| street Of the village In body at wild
gallop. Mr. Hart's horse among them, eyes
| flashing, ears thrown back, nostrils distend-
ed, screaming with rage and using teeth and
| hools wherever they could do the most
good.
The chase was witnessed by the people of
the town from the sidewalks, who did not
| fail to encourage the beast with ringing
| cheers.
At the distance OF about quarter OF milo
from the starting point the infurated animal
| seized one OF the horsemen with his jaws by
the the thigh, and retaining his hold, ap-
|
horse, succeeding In which effort there would
have been one less living rebel on Pennsyl-
| vana soil.
The grey-coat realized the danger to the
extent that he thought OF his revolver. He
| drew ii, and aiming at the horses head fired.
The bullet imbedded itself in his neck, in
flicting a painful but not necessarily fatal
wound. The old fellow released his hold
| upon his enemy, who was seriously hurt and
turning, walked back 10 his stall quietly, but
with an air and manner which seemed to say;
"Im for the Union, hoofs teeth, head and
limbs"
The hero of this episode continued to work
as usual, but died during the next summer.
The bullet was not extracted from his neck,
1t was generally supposed that his death was
caused by the wound he received. Rev. DIR.
Talmage, In writing Of his fathers old family
carriage horse, says: "If there be better
world than this to which good horses &c
after death, old Billy has certainly gone
there" and most assuredly this patriotic old
fellow has for long years been a companion
of the animal whose good conduct the great
divine loves to remember.-M. NJ. Horton
New Cumberland. Pa.