The record-union., 1898-01-31
BLACK PRINCE.
STORY OF a FAMOUS CoNFED-
ERATE WAR HORSE.
Carries His Master to Safety
Through Storms of Federal
and Confederate Bullets.

Through Storms of Federal
and Confederate Bullets.
In a secluded valley about midway
between Dalton and Ringgold there is
a grassy mound marked by rouSh
stone on which is rudely chiseled the
name and date of burial Of the swiftest
charger in the Western army OF the
Confederacy. 1t is the last resting
place of Black Prince, a thoroughbred
owned and ridden by a Confederate
Major for two years. The grave was
dug by Johnstone's troopers, in the
winter of 1S63-264, and the name was
picked on with the point of bayonet.
Black Prince was a Kentucky thor
oughbred. with coat as black ana
glossy as q, ravens wing, a white star
jn his face, clean -limbed, and with an
the points that marked a noble pedl-
gree. He was a descendant of an Arap
stallion imported several years before
the war. and short time prior to MS
entry into the army he won $1,000 in
a race at Lexington, and was regarded
as one of the fieetest horses on the
track. But he was high-spirited, ana
his l0lfaCLaDlltly DO@bN1 ~ -
ious. which lessened the admiration
which his other qualities would have
won for him among racing men. IL
was almost impossible for the jockey
to control him. and under the. excite
,oent of close race he had way OF
taking the bit between his teeth ana
running at his own sweet WILL HIS
master was an inveterate gambler, and,
al or Cnl6 the
horse to a farmer for a good deal less
than his real value.
II was not long after that, in the fall
of 1862. that the farmer decided 10 as
pose of him to the Confederate army,
which was then operating in the west.
A young Major, who was skilled nd
er, saw the horse and took a fancy TO
him. He finally. paid $500 in gold Tor
the horse. This sum amounted 10
good deal in those days Of doubtful cur
rency, but the Major belonged to reg
iment of volunteers. the very elite or
middle Georgia planters, and he took
great pride in being we'll mounted.
sI don't wish to deceive you" said
the farmer: that horse has got the
very old Satan in him, and if you are
not careful, he Will break your neck
and his own, too, before you have had
him a month That is my only reason
for parting with him; he is SO high
strung and intractable that he is un-
fit for work about the plantation
II have never seen the horse yet that
] couldn't manage" replied the Major,
land / am willing to assume all risks.
At first the horse was hard to man
age, as he had been spoiled by ignorant
farIn-hands. but in less than month
the Major had him as docile and obedi-
ent to the touch of the rein as any
horse in the entire command. His eX-
citability required that the rider should
keep a close watch on him during
fight. but the Major soon learned all
his ways, and humored and petted him
until the animal would follow him
about the camp like an affectionate dog,
and the bond Of sympathy existing be-
tween horse and rider grew stronger
after they had gone through many close
places together.
One day the Major rode out all alone
to reconnoiter, and. becoming abstract
ed. forgot where he was going, until
suddenly, riding out into a little clear
ing, he found that he had wandered
within full view of the Federal camp,
which was nearer to him than his own
camp and, to add to the danger of mis-
position, he observed an officer, mount
cd on a splendid gray, with two aides,
riding along the brow of a hill less than
half a mile away. The Federals
caught sight of him just as he saw
them, and, wheeling around, he dashed
down the road at the top Of his speed
in the direction of the Confederate
camp.
The read was rough, and We heard
the popping of the pistols as the aides
fired at him at long range, and turn
ing mis- head he saw that the Federal
officer had started along a cross road
to intercept him, leaving his followers,
who were not so well mounted. Bend
ing low on the neck of Black Prince,
he gave the animal free rein, and over
the rocks and fallen trees they went
like the wind, the distance betwea an
him and his pursuer lessening at every
bound He knew that he must ride
around the head OF small stream that
lay between him and his own camp,
as the ground was boggy in the bot,
tom, and that unless he could reach
the point where the roads forked ahead
of the Federal officer, he would be
brought TO bay, and even If he escaped
being unhorsed, he would be held up
until the aides could reach the spot
and effect his capture
1t was wild ride for life and liberty.
and right nobly did Black Prince do
his duty as he cleared every obstacle
that lay in the rugged path. In about
the same time that it takes 10 tell t
he had shot past the danger point. and
turning his head the Major whipped off
his cap and waved a salute to his pu~-
suer, which the latter returned as ne
reined up his gallant gray within a
hundred yards of the crossing of the
roads The Federal officer was Gen
eraI Mcpherson. and that was the last
time that the Major laid eyes on the
dashing young officer until he saw him
fall in that dreadful charge on the I'D
of July, in the suburbs of Atlanta.
After that Black Prince became more
of a favorite than ever, and every man
in the regiment looked upon him as a
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