Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1907-04-17
The Bones of "Traveller" Soon
tn He Mounted

The Bones of "Traveller' Seoh
to be Mounted
The bones OF Traveller" General
Lees fave rite warehouse. will soon Dc
properly mounted, and the skeleton
placed on exhibition, most likely in the
proposed Lee museum at Lexington.
This announcement will catch the
ear of every Confederate soldier and
of thousands of others in every part
Of this land, who know nothing OF the
war by experience.
Traveller, Is one OF the most nota'
BILE of all the great warehouses; OF MIS-
tory. He was fine specimen OF the
GRAY Eagle stock, and with General Lee
IL was a case OF love at first sight
His beauty. springy step, wonderful
endurance ard great strength caugho
the commanders eye az cnce. 8enerai
Lees affection for the horse and the
amiable disposition OF the Confederate
erayn himself made Traveller pet Id
the lee family circle, and, as Miss Lee
savs he WAS lnourned almost as a men,
Der of the family, when, after escap-
ing all the dangers of many battleneias'
he died ip the land Of peace aid plenty
Of a very unromantic. but none the lass
fatal, case OF plebeian lockiaw
Miss Mary Gusts Lee. only surviving
daughter of General Lee, has written
this exceedingly interesting account OF
Trsvelles's death;
Il am asked to give some account OIL
the death of Traveller There is not
much to tell, though it was pathetic
that horse who bore the brunt oil
the whole Civil War, endured so mucn'
and ran 30 many risks, when he Nigh
have looked forward to a peaceful anu
honored old age. should have beer
taken off by lockjaw.
HE did not long survive his master
1t was in the June following Genera
,ee's death that his end came. wa
sitting in the yeranda OF our home IL
Lexington with my brother, Genera
Custis Lee, when Traveller, always
privileged character, but OF course
special pet since his masters deatn
came browsing around In the yard AM
: seeing some one on the piazza ao
yanced. whlnnying, for the lump Q
sugar that he always expected sn
tered the house to procure him one AN
when returned with 1t, found IL
brother examining his foot saying
This horse seems to bs lame A ver
e small nail or tack was extracted, an
O the wound was so slight that 1t al
g not even bleed.
after eating his sugar with relish
and being caressed to his hearts col
e tent. he moved leisurely away. In tr
d course OF day or two the hostler r.
J. ported him unwell. We had no veter
r. marian in Lexington, but the doctc
- was summoned. and the two doctor
who had attended nay father during b
u last illness devoted themselves assid'
& ously to the sufferings OF his famo'
3, war.horse; and his sufferings BEGAN
2. 80 very great. Everything that SIX
ard devotion could do was dons +
, was chloroformed, liquid nourishmeI
u forced down his throat. and when
10 coula no longer stand upright,a feath
Ip bed was laid on the stable floor to 81
" him all the relief possible.
Our little town, indeed the who
neighborhood, was intensely symp
thetic. Not only the gentlemen OF Il
lie town, but the farmers around, came
t, offer suggestions and condolences.
i. was all If TO avail. The efforts to
lieve him merely prolonged his suff'
ings. which, when all hope was gone
~ advocated being put an end to at on
L But my brother could not bring MI
" self TO that, though poor Travelie
We groaps and cries were heartrending
the extreme, and could be plainly hea
in the house. 1 don't think any OF
were able to sleep that last night, al
II was really a relief when all "
We over. When went to look at n
p, after death, from bling q powert
on welI-grown horse, he seemed to nj
lid dwindled away to the size OF CT
and am sure we almost felt that
lost a member of the family. Tr'
49, elIer had at first been called Gre
~ brier.' but his indomitable pluck,
IL ercy and endurance suggested
,,f change of name, and have often he
on mv father state that the ehd OF
most ardous day, with often
m night thrown In, he was apparently
no. fresh and lively as when first mount
In He was bought for a second, or sp
,ev h srse; ut as one after another OF
six more snowy steeds, notably sup
ON charger presented by the gentlemen
Richmond, and named after our c
wo tolerate capital. succumbed to the
the tunes OF war, Traveller came gradu'
ms to the front, and remained there;
of father riding him, not only at Al
I'M. mattox, but on his return to H
AXE mond."
OBJ