Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-09-20
HORSES IN BATTLE.
They Show Sagaclty and Bravery
In Times of Danger.

Traits Of horse character, as wei 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 well as in the Occu-
pations Of peace, and this fact has
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 bit In battle tren.
BILE in every muscle and groan deeply.
while their eyes show deep sstonish
ment During the battle OF Waterloo
some OF the horses as they lay upon
the ground, having recovered from the
frst effect OF their wounds, fell 10 eat
ing grass about them, thus surround
ing themselves with a circle Of hare
ground. the limited extent Of H-ch
showed their weakness.
Others were observed quietly graz
ing on the field between tue two hos
tile lines, their riders having been shot
Off their backs and the balls dying over
their heads. and the tumult behind, be-
fore and around them caused no inter
ruption TO their feeding. II was also
observed that when a charge OF cav
airy went past near 20 any Of the stray
horses already mentioned the latter
would set Off. form themselves in the
rear Of their mounted companions and,
though without riders, gallop strenu-
ously along with the rest, not stopping
or ntnching when the fatal shock with
the enemy occurred.
The faculty OF war horses Of know
ing on which side they belong has
more than once made it awkward for
an enemy who ventured to capture one
and get upon his back.
At the battle OF Kirk, I745, Major
Mcdonald. having ENDORSED an Eng
Nsh officer, took possession OF bis
mount, which was very beautiful, and
immediately jumped upon its back.
When the English cavalry fed the
horse ran away with its captor, not
"AAAHAA NAAlA4k hlA liz tuoA u 10
Il. nor did It stop until It was at the
head Of the regiment OF which appar-
entity its master was con- mander. The
melancholy and at the same time lu-
dirrous figure which Mcdonald pre-
scented may be easily conceived
Besides the sagacity Of army horses.
which enables them 20 respond TO the
various buCle calls aud TO take their
places 10 the ranks when their riders
have been killed. they may also he
said 10 show true heruism. Veteran
soldiers say that horses have won.
dcrig. power Of enduring an attack
made directly upon them. Keeping their
places as long as they can stand
In 1854. ut Reams station. nearly
sixty horses belonging 20 one company
became the target Of Confederate
suarpshpotcrs. who intended TO Kill
them on and tL.u ly charging TO take
IL. guns
The animals were harnussed in teams
or SIX when u.e was ult peculiar
dull thud i.l.r..pI tHnl bullet Lad
pyuJwt,d bis flesh. bIt after mo-
ueutury start Ir would settle down
quietly uguiu. evidently realizing that
bullets were an incidental evil which
It was bis duty to endure
one horse when "a bullet entered his
neck only shuUE his head rs II annoy
eel by a uy. bat others would perhaps
II.l. uu'y .s rcg..u ,.y.r feet after lyIls
quiet .Gr awhile
At the close of this slttIa General