Evening star., 1901-05-31

rather difficult horse for any one but his
master to ride or control. A Maryland
friend, wishing to make fine appearance
before Baltimore belle, borrowed NAYS
steed, but bearing too hard on the bit
when in front of the lady's residence in
Cathedral street, Tom began bucking final
ly tossing the lover into the street and
galloplng back to his stable.
One who we'll remembers them assures
the writer that it was a beautiful sight to
sec Capt. May prancing along the streets
o. Baltimore on his magnificent Kentucky
charger Tom passed many tranquil years
on Maryland farm, where he was buried
With military honors. Before this was
done his four hoofs were cut off with a
view to making drinking cups of them as
memorials OF one of the two most famous
American horses Of the Mexican war In
some way the project was postponed the
colonel, as he came to be called in later
days. passed away in 1864 without it's being
carried out. His widow, who preserved
them for thirty-1ve years, with the same
purpose in view, died In May 1899, without
having the hoofs transformed into silver
mounted cups. This the writer may be per-
mitted to mention that he the more regrets
for the reason that he was to have been
the fortunate possessor of one of them.
Albert Sydney JOhnstOn's Fire-Eater.
Albert Sidney Johnston, who fell in the
first days fierce struggle at Shiloh, held
the highest rank Of any soldier killed dur
ing the civil war. He was great lover of
animals and when appointed a cadet to the
United States Military Academy in 1922
owned beautiful saddle horse, which he
presented to his sister, saying: Il cannot
sell Charlie; he might fall into hands where
he would be badly treated; but you will al
ways be kind to him." Young Johnston
had invariably displayed unusual kindness
to his horse and dogs, often leading the
former when he believed Charlie had be-
come fatigued.
In the war of the rebellion he owned sew
eral chargers, but his favorite was large
thoroughbred bay which he called Fire
Eater. Like all his horses, he was large
and powerful, for only such could carry
man of Gen. Johnston's majestic proper
tions He was six feet two inches in height,
with massive figure, suggesting reSem-
blance to Washington, and when astride of
Fire-Eater was the beau ideal Of an army
commander, his appearance acting as an
inspiration to his soldiers. Whenever they
caught sight Of him in the saddle their
shouts were irrepreSsible.
On Sunday morning, April o, as ne
mounted Fire-Eater, about daybreak, ne
said to his staff. Tonight we will water
our horses in the Tennessee river" Early
in the afternoon, as the general was leading
successful charge against the Union
troops, who were falling back to another
line, delivering volleys as they retreated,
mimic bullet caused mortal wound. from
which the commander Of the confederate
army died within half an hour. having bled
to death for lack Of proper surgical atten-
ton. one OF MS StaH states. MY own
horse having run off when 1 dismounted, I
mounted Fire-Eater, General Johnston's
horse, but found him SO badly crippled that
1 dismounted to examine, finding that he
was wounded in three legs by musket balls.
I rode him to the rear, where we left Cen
eral Johnston's orderly with two fresh
horses, left Fire-Eater with the orderly,
mounting one of the fresh horses and pro-
ceeding to report to General Beauregard."
Besides the fatal wound Johnston had pre-
viously received during the day three slight
wounds.
Col William Preston Johnston, late pres
ident of Tulane University, New Orleans,
in a recent letter to the writer, says: "Af-
ter my fathers death I rode Fire-Eater to
the end Of the war. I was captured with
President Davis, and when we approached
Macon 1 was sent into the city on parole
to request General Wilson not to separate
the president and his staff. He granted the
request, but directed me not to leave the
hotel. My horse was hitched outside, and
I never saw or heard Of Fire-Eater again"