The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1905-04-28
An Army Horse Under Fire.

German Camed SnultZ. HIS horse Wat
bis pride. Sometimes Shultz went "a
sleep without rations, but bis horse
never. No matter how scarce or how
hard It was TO get forage, his horse al
ways had an evening feed, thorough
rubbing down. loving pat, and a
good night, Frank Many 4 time
have I seen Shultz skirmish for a
lunch for his horse when we halted to
make coffee, instead Of preparing his
own lunch. While the rest of us
stayed In our tents and read or played
cards, Schultz would keep Franks
company for hours, sometimes talking
German TO him and sometimes En-
gllsh. Some of our horses showed
lack of care; Franks never, and SEEM
ed as fond Of his master as his master
Of him. When the Atlanta cam paign
opened In May, 1864, there was not a
prouder soldier or prettier horse
than Schultz and Frank 10 the 1st.
"Our first fight Of note In that cam
paign was at Varnell's Station, May
8. omsbody-nover mind who-made
mess Of Ii. Our little brigade, the
I'd Of the first cavalry division. was
thrown against Gen. Joe Whesler's en-
tire com mand; and we fought it all
day. We started to charge, but were
halted In piece Of woods and were
ordered to fight on foot. We we're al
resdy under fire and 10 considerable
confusion, and only portion Of the
command heard the order, so it hap
peBed that some Of US fought as cay
airy and some IS infantry. Schultz
remained mounted and did heroic
service. Early in the fight his pet was
shot. As the animal made but little
fuss over IL and steadied down quickly
ais rider thought 1t was only slight
wound and remained In the battle all
day, the wonderful animal seeming to
snter into the. spirit Of the work as
completely as his master. That night
at o'clock the brigade nped.
"The moment Frank was unsaddled
he lay down. Schultz thought 1t was
because the horse, like himself, was
tired, and after patting him and tel
ting hin 10 both languages what a
splendid fellow he had been that day,
and thanking him for carrying him
safely through one OF the hottest bat
ties, he busted himself with supper
getting. In the forage bay were sew
eral extra ears Of corn. After his own
repast Of black coffee, crackers and
uncooked white pork, such banquet
as many soldier has been more
thankful for than no was for the feast
OF last Thanksgiving, Schultz shelled
the corn and took 1t to Frank. The
horse did not welcome him as usual,
did not rest his head on the master .
shoulder, and look, II he did not speak,
thanks for such master. He didn't
hear Schultz aunounce in German
that he waa coming with double ra-
tisn. Frank was dead and sbiffening,
showing that soon after lying down
life had departed.
, When Schultz realized that his pet
was dead he threw the corn down,
dropped by the side Of the animal,
tenderly laid. ons hand on his neck
and with the other gently rubbed bis
head, as he had done many times be-
fore. and sobbed like child. In talk.
Ing about his loss the next day he
said: my poor Frank couldn't tell
me he was badly hurt. He carried me
all day as If he thought it was bis
duty, and when the battle was over
and I was getting supper he LAID down
and died.
"'That horse was better soldier
than 1 am-than any man in the reg
lment. Not one OF US would have
fought all day with such q hurt as
that. No ono would have expected It
OF us, yet Frank did not fail me-
With this outburst the poor fellow
broke down agAin, and none OF his
comrades made Iiaht of his sOrroW."