Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1903-04-15
A HORSE IN BATTLE
HOW He FEELS WHEN IN The MIDST
or a FIERCE ONSLAUGHT.

Writer OF ~, rise stories Describe.
the Expcriens es OF an Arab Char
ger I'm the I'm. AZ. of stuart. CIV
airy-Tbe GaI1op 20 hattie.
Probably no one will ever know lust
how a horse feels when going into bat
tie. There is no way OF finding out.
So IL Is likely that no one Will dispute
the correctness OF the description which
Sewen Ford gives I'm Horses Nine"
published by Scribners.
The horse I'm question Is Pasha, n
half blood Arab hunter that has been
pressed into service in Stuart's Black
Horse cavalry. The story runs:
Early the next morning Pasha was
awakened by the distant growi OF
heavy guns. By daylight he was on
the move. thousands OF other horses
with him. Nearer and nearer they
rode TO the place where the guns were
growing. Sometimes they were on
roads. sometimes they crossed fields.
and again they plunged into the woods
where the low branches struck ones
eyes and scratched ones TANKS. At
last they broke clear Of the trees TO
come suddenly upon such scene as
Pasha had never before witnessed.
Far across the open field he could
see troop on troop OF horses coming to-
ward him. They seemed TO be pour
ing over the crest OF low hill, as IL
driven onward by some unseen force
behind. Instantly Pasha heard. rising
from the threats OF thousands OF rid
ers on either side and behind him. that
fierce. wild yell which he had come TO
know meant the approach OF trouble.
High and shrill and menacing il rang
as 1t was taken up and repea ted by
those in the rear. Next the bugles be-
gan to sound, and i'm quick obedience
the horses formed in line Just on the
edge OF the woods. n line which stretch
ed and stretched on either flank until
one could hardly see where il ended.
krom the distant line came no an
swering cry. but Pasha could hear the
bugles blowing. and lie could see the
fronts massing. Then came the order
TO charge ut gallop. This set Pasha
TO Juggling eagerly at the bit. but for
what reason he did not know. He
knew only that he was part OF a great
and solid line OF men and horses sweep
ing furiously across Il field toward that
other line which he had seen pouring
over the hill crest.
He could scarcely see at all now
The thousands Of hoofs had raised a
cloud OF dust that not only envelopcd
the ON rushing line. but rolled before
IL. Nor could Pasha hear anything
save the thundero0s thud Of many
feet. Even the shrieking OF the shells
was drowned. But for the restraining
bit Pasha would have leaped forward
and cleared the line. Never had he
been SO stirred. The inherited men,
cry OF countless desert raids made 10y
his Arab ancestors was doing its
work. For what seemed n long time
this continued. and then in the midst
OF the blind and frenzied race there
doomed out OF the thick air. rs IL il had
appeared 10y magic the opposing line.
Pasha caught glimpse OF something
which seemed like n heavng wall OF
tossing heads and OF foam whitened
necks and shoulders. Here and there
/ CLEANED red. distcnded nostrils and
straining eyes. Bending above was an
other wall-a wall Of dusty blue coats.
/ OF grim faces and OF dust powdered
hats. Bristling above all was a threat
ening crest OF waving blades.
What would happen when the lines
metz Almost before the query was
thought there came the answer. With
an earth Earring crash they came to-
gether. The lines wavered back from
the shock OF impact. and then the
whole struggle appeared TO Pasha 10
/ center about him. OF course this was
not So. But it was fact that the most
conspicuous figure in either line had
been that Of the cream white charger
IN the very center OF the Black Horse
] regiment.