The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-08


among heterogeneous collection OF war
relics and memorials OF the Military Serv-
Ice Institute museum. Is an immense
glass case containing figure once slori-
fed In the imagination OF the people
and now again made conspicuous by the
controversy raging around the event thar
made It famous. II IL the figure Of Gen.
Sheridan's eoal-black charger. winches-
ter, the greatest equine hero in our his
tory-the magnificent animal that carried
Little Phfr' from Winchester to Cedar
creek. twenty miles away" Except that
his hide has faded from It's original black
70 a dark mouse color. Winchester fur
nishes splendid proof OF the taxidermists'
art. and to this day the inanimate re-
mains retain the commanding bearing.
graceful arch of neck and poise OF head
that stamped him In life.
Gen. Sheridan's horse was one OF the
first and most valuable exhibits pre-
scented TO the Military Service Institute
museum, which was organised shortly
after the civil war by the officers Of the
regular and volunteer army for the pur-
pose OF collecting and preserving relics
and memorials OF all this country's wars,
Sheridan, who was greatly interested In
the work OF the organization. had VIM
chester stuffed. at his own expense. by a
noted taxidermist OF Rochester, and pre-
scented him to the Military Service In
stitute museum The gift was made IN
the spring Of iS77. about six months after
the death OF the horse in Chicago. Tho
identical saddle and bride with which
the horse was equipped on the day his
rider and he immortalixed themselves
still adorns the animals remains and
contribute to their historical value,
Winchester was originally presented to
his master by a Michigan cavalry regi-
ment Of which "flttle Phi' was colonel.
and by whom he was idoiixed. Many tales
have been told Of tho affection that ex-
listed between the little general and his
big black charger; In fact. some OF the
most interesting and cherished bits OF
army tradition center about the attach
ment, between these two striking figures
OF the famous ride. But for terseness
the remark OF one Jimmy Donovan.
little. wizened lrishman upon the re-
tired list OF the regular army. who served
for time as sheridan's orderly. can
hardly be improved upon. ''Thot big
black horse" said Jimmy. solemnly.
were tn only man In tn army thot
Gen. Shiridin wouldn't swear at"
The glass case in which the horse is
kept contains small placard. upon which
Is printed Sberidan's own certificate
which accompanied the remains when
they were presented to the museum. The
notice reads as follows:
Exhibit No. s7S-'winchester.' sheri-
dams War Horse.
The ilfe-like remains Of the savorite
charger of tho Lieutenant general, who
has furnished the following description
and list OF battles at which the horse was
present, including tho historic Ride TO
Cedar Creek. Va:
F." Winchester was OF Black Hawk
blood, and was foaled at or near Grand
Rapids. Mich late In the fall OF 1853. ac-
IN ta hAef Of Inf In,
He was brought into the service by an
officer Of the Second Michigan cavalry.
of which regiment ! was appointed colo
mel on the 25th day OF May, 1852 Shortly
afterward. aud while the regiment was
stationed at the little town OF Rienxi, In
the stata OF Mississippi he was presented
TO me by Capt. Campbell, in the name OF
the officers OF the regiment. ana from
tina; date until the close OF the war he
was ridden by me In every engagement
In which I took part.
AT the time he was given me he was
rising three years old, so that he must
have been In his twentieth year when he
died, on October 2, 1878. lie was an ami
NAL OF great intelligence and of inn
mense strength and endurance. lie al
ways held his head high. and by tho
quiekness OF HIS movements gave many
persons the idea tina; he was exceedingly
impetuous. This was not so, for l could
NJ any iitut CnBiTti nun by u HffL
and q few words, and he was as cool and
quick under IRE as one Of my old SOL
dIers. l doubt II his superior as q horse
for field service was ever ridden by any
one.
Il append herewith a liz. OF engage
menis with the enemy during the late
war in which l rode him tSignedl
p. H. SHERIDAN"
The list IL as follows:
Battle OF Chaplin hills. Perryvillc, octo-
Der 4, 1862
Battle Of Stone river. Murfreesboro.
December 81. isG2
Engagement at Easlssyine, Tenn,
March, 1888,
Engagement at Fairfield, Juna n. 1883.
Capture Of Winchester. Tenn. July !.
Engagement a, cowan's station. July
T. 1854
Engagement at University. July 4, issS.
Rattle o. Chickamausa. September 10
and %. isss,
Battle q Missionary ridge. November
Battle OF the wilderness. Va, May to
: iss4
B.stls Of Todds Tavern. Va. May s.
1854
Action at Beaver Dam, Va. May 8. iss,
Battle OF yellow Tavern, MAY ~. iA9i
Battle nf Meadow bridges and Rich
mona, MAY ~ A1+t.
Action al Hanover Town aGd Tolo-
poiomy creek. May =. iS+
Battle Of HAYES shcF. Va. May p. 1884
Battle Of Metodeavis creek. Va. May
d. 1884
Battle e Cold HAreor. Va. May 81 and
June T. iNt
Raid 10 Charlottesville and return. Jane
and "A. 1874.
Aciion a. Manory's ford cross roads.
Actie, Al TurstAu'a station. Va Jun.
a iss4
Action a, 8, Mary's easreh, Va. June
~. 1894.
Action ~ DArhytowE. Va, July - 1874
Action al Lees nliiis. Va. JAY -. lts4
Artinn AZ kesnst0wB ard TpN Gate.
August ~. 1854
Action "a kRbletuwn. August q. 1854
Action Al HerfgYille ESpfssnbsr a isE9
fiAttls % Opceuan creek. September -.
1874
hAtts a, FasAsrs hill September a.
1854
Battle az Touan brooks. octabsr , isss.
Battle AZ Cedar creek % Winchester.
October r. 1874
Easagerssns al Mldd!siows. November
T. 1884,
Rais freu Shenandoah gsiisy via Char-