The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-07-16
NOTED BATTLE HORSES.
STEEDS THAT CARRIED FAMOUS
MEN IN MANY CONFLICTS.

blach war
Horse Gen. Grants Military Chargers.
Horses in war suffer more fatalities
than men. Out of themany thousands
who have given their lives, perishing
in their duty toward their masters,
only few return home to spend their
lives in the ease and honor they de-
serve. One warhorse, however, which
has made splendid record for him.
self, and now has his virtues, name,
and noble deeds engraved on fitting
tombstone, was the little chestnut the
great Duke Of Wellington rode at the
battle of Waterloo. Copenhagen, named
after the capital Of Denmark, from
which country and city he came, was
spirited thoroughbred, standing fif-
teen hands high, and $4,000 was the
price paid for him. Copenhagen served
under Wellington during the Spanish
war, and for eighteen hours he carried
his master at Waterloo. After this he
was sent to the dukes home, Strath-
teldsaye, in England. to take his ease.
A member of the Royal Academy Of
English painters was paid to make a
handsome portrait of Copenhagen,
which the duke loved and petted to
the day of his death. The last years
of the faithful horse were, however,
sadly embittered by the teasing of
thousands of curious persons who
came to visit him in his paddock, and
his groom would clip hairs from his
tail and name to sell for a few shil-
lings to the visitors. When the duke
heard of this he put Copenhagen in o
big cage, where he lived in peace
His funeral was we'll attended, and at
Strathfeldsaye his tombstone, ordered
by the duke himself, is still to be
seen, in excellent preservation.
Nine years after the Emperor Ma
poleon died at St. Helena an old white
horse persisted of old age and pneu-
monia in England. The skeleton of
this animal is set up in the Royal
United service institution in White
| hall yard, London, and to all visitors
it is pointed out as Marengo, the
charger Napoleon rode at the battle Of
Waterloo. Marengo came originally
from Egypt and was left to wander on
the dismal battlefield when tie empe-
ror was forced to fly for his life. An
English officer found and took him,
and he was sold to an English general.
in English pastures, cared for by rev.
erent grooms, this noble horse passed
the latter years of his life far more
peacefully and happily than his great
and unfortunate master. His portrait
also was painted by a famous artist
and now hangs in country house in
England.
General Robert E. Lee and General
Ulysses S. Grant, General Stonewall
Jackson and Sheridan all brought
their favorite chargers safely through
many bloody battles, and both Gen
eral Lee and Jackson were outlived by
their warehouses;. Cincinnati, General
Grants most famous horse, was pre-
scented to him by a man also named
Grant, but not related to the great
commander. Cincinnati weathered the
war and died as sincerely lamented as
he had lived respected.
A sober brown horse, the one he
rode at the surrender of Lord Corn
wallis, was hung with elaborate mourn
ing robes and, led by groom, fol-
lowed quietly behind the coffin of his
dead master, General George Wash
ington. A true Virginian, Washing
ton was splendid horseman but he
never settled his affection on any one
horse. Two OF three times he lost his
horses in battle, and on one particu
larly handsome white horse, Dolly, his
portrait was painted.
. None of his chargers weathered any
number of severe engagements, as did
Old Sorrel and Traveller, the horses Of
Robert e. Lee and Stonewall Jackson.
Traveller carried his master through
nearly all the battles atwhich he COM
manded, was never himself wounded,
and mourning attended the generals
funeral. It is said he whinnied sadly
when the coffin was borne before him,
and shortly after in grazing about his
peaceful pasture he stuck a nail IL
his foot and died Of lockjaw. He, like
Copenhagen, had honorable burial
and, unlike most warehouses;, he live(
out his full allowance of fifteen years
: 1t was on the back of Sorrel tina
Stonewall Jackson received his deatf
wound, and the plucky little horse
then passed into the keeping OF hi
master father in law, a clergyman. II
J 1885 he died death natural to veneer
able horsefesh after having seen nearl,
ten terrible battles, and his body, yer,
skillfully mounted, now stands in
glass case in the library of the Sol
diers' home, Virginia.
There are very few American chill
dren who do not know that Genera
6heridan's most noted black warriors
| oolIa5 Rianzi He too outlive