Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-12-19
HORSES IN BATTLE
They Show sasacity and Bravery In
Time of Dancer.


Time Of Danger.
Traits of horse character, as we'll as
of human character, otherwise unno-
ticed are brought out in the stress OF
war. Familiarity with danger prob
ably has its effect in making horses
fearless. as ignorance Of danger doubt
less does. Horses are creatures OF
habit, in battle as we'll as in the occu-
pations of peace, and this fact mas
been the cause of many an exciting in
cident on the field Of action. There
have been recorded many interesting
illustrations Of the manner Of riderless
horses under fire" and when wound
ed.
War horses when hit in battle trem-
BILE in every muscle and groan deeply,
while their eyes show deep astonish-
ment. During the battle Of Waterloo
some of the horses as they lay upon
the ground, having recovered from the
first effect Of their wounds, fell to eat
ing grass about them, thus surround
ing themselves with a circle Of bare
ground, the limited extent Of which
showed their weakness.
Others were observed quietly graz
ing on the field between the two hos
tile lines, their riders having been shot
beforeoff their backs and the balls fly
over their heads, and the tumult be-
hind, before and around them caused
no interruption to their feeding. 1t
was also observed that when a charge
Of cavalry went past near to any of
the stray horses already mentioned the
latter would set off, from themselves
in the rear of their mounted COM
panions and, though without riders,
gallop strenuously along with the
rest, not stopping or flinching when
the fatal shock with the enemy oc-
CURED.
The faculty Of war horses Of know
ing on which side they belong has
more than once made it awkward for
an emmy who ventured to capture one
and get upon his back.
At the battle of Kirk, 1745, Major
Mcdonald, having unhorsed an Eng
lish officer, took possession Of his
mount, which was very beautiful, and
Immediately jumped upon its back
When the English calalry fed the
horse ran away with its captor, not
1t, nor did 1t stop until 1t was at the
head of the regiment Of which appar-
emily its master was commander. The
melancholy and at the same time lu-
dicrous figure which Mcdonald pre-
sented may be easily conceived.
Besides the sagacity Of army horses
which enables them to respond to the
various bugle calls and to take their
places in the ranks when their riders
have been killed, they may also be
said to show true heroism. Veteran
soldiers say that horses have a won
derful power of enduring an attack
places as long as they can stand.
In 1864, at Reams Station, nearly
sixty horses belonging to one company
became the target of Confederate
sharpshooters, who intended to take
the guns.
The animals were harnessed in teams
of six. When one was hit a perculiar
dull thud indicated that a bullet had
pentrated his flesh, but after a mo-
mentary start he would settle down
quietly again, evidently realizing that
bullets were an incidental evil which
it was his duty to endure.
One horse when bullet entered his
neck only shook his head as if annoy
ed by a fly, but others would perhaps
fall, only to regain their feet after
lying quiet for awhile.
At the close of this battle General
Hancock's horse received a bullet In
the neck and, falling, appeared to be
dead. The general mounted another
but in few minutes the fallen animal
rose, shook himself and was again
ready for service. He survived the wal
many years.
One horse among those attached tc
the artillery was shot in the leg, the
bone being broken. He fell, but in
stantly scrambled up again and stood
in his place on three legs, remaining
there until vitally wounded. Another
animal was struck by seven bullets be-
fore he fell for the last time, and but
four horses were taken alive from the
field-Harper's Weekly.