The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-19

4 u
bit OF Information on the subject which
think. IL Investigated, Will prove cor
rect. am personally acquainted with
Major Brown. having mat him at Cap
tain W. r. Jchnson'S, at Crescent. West
Va. and have heard him make the same
statement about selling General Lee
Traveller. The information 1 send WAS
presented TO me by Captain Johnson
In tho simmer OF 1905 along with "a
picture OF the last meeting OF Lee
and Jackson.
Very Respectfully.
MRS. MOLLIE f. NEAR.
General Il. u. Lees War Horse.
tFrom the Richmond. tNa.) Dispatch
of August 10. 1850
In view Of the fact tina; great in
terest is felt In the monument about
10 be erected to General Lee. and many
are DESTROYS that his war-norse should
be represented in the monument. and
as / once owned this horse, herewith
give you scme items respecting this
now famous warehouse.
"TYtAvEIER.r
He was raised by Mr.. Johnson. near
the Blue sulphur Springs, in Green
bricr county. Va. tuow west VIrSinia,)
was Of the Gray Eagle stock. and,
as colt. took the FIRST premium under
the name of "Jen Davis" at the Lewis
and 1850. He was four years old in
thu spring OF 1861.
When the Wise Legion" was on
carnpcd on Sewell Mountain. opposing
the advance OF the Federal army under
General Rosecrans. In tbs fan of 1861.
was major to the Third Regiment OF
Infantry in that Legion. and my broth,r
Captain Joseph IS. Broun. was quarter
master to the same regiment. autho-
serviceable horse Of the hes. Green
brier stock for our use during the war.
After murh inquiry and search he cam>
across the horse above mentioned. and
/ purchased him for sl15 fEold valued
in the fall OF 1861 of Captain James
w. Johnson. son Of Mr. Johnson first
above mentioned. When the Wise Le-'
gion was encampcd about Meadow Buff
and Biz Sewell Mountain. ] rode this
horse. which was then greatly admired
in tho camp for his rapid, spring. walk.
his high spirit. bold carriage and mus
cuiar strength He needed neither
whip nor spur. and would walk MS
five or SIX miles an hour over the
rough mountain roads OF West Vtr
Einia. with his rider sitting firmly in
the saddle and holding him in check
by a tight rcin. such Vim and eager
ness did he manifest to go right ahead
soon as h, was mounted.
When General Lc. took command Of
the Wise legion and Floyd's Brigade
that were cncamped at ana near Big
Scweli mountain in the fan OF 1861 ha
first saw this horse and took a great
fancy 10 st. He called II his colt and
said he would need II before tho war
was over. When tho General saw my
brother or this horse nc had something
pleasant 10 say to him about my colt"
he DESIGNATED this horse
AS the winter approached. the cl!-
nate In West Virginia mountains
caused Rosecran's army to abandon its
position on Big Scwcll and retreat
westward. General Lee was thcreup-
on ordered to South Carolina. The
Third Regiment Of the Wise Legion was
subsequently detached from the army
in Western Virginia and ordered to
the South Carolina coast, wher. it was
known as tine SiNtieth Virginia rcEi-
rncnt undAr Colonel Starke. Uron see
ing my brother on this horse near
Pocotaligo. in South Carolina. General
Leo at once recognized the horse. and
again inquired of him pleasantly toout
his colt. Ny brother than offered him
the horse a gift, when the General
promptly declined. and at the same
time remarked: IF ypn will willingly
sell me the hersa 1 Will gladly use 1t
for week or 40 TO learn its qualities"
Thereupon my brother had tho horse
sent to General Lce's stables. In about
a month the horse was returned TO my
brother, with a note from GENERAL Lee
stating that the animal suited him.
but that he could no longer use so
vaiua bic a horse in such times. unless
1t were his own; that II he (my brothcr)
would not sell. please keep the horse
with many thanks. This was in Feb
ruary, SCI. At that tina I was IN Vir-
SInia on the sick list from long and
severe attack OF camp fever. contracted
in the campaign on Big Sewcll mount
aims. My brother wrote me of General
Lees desire 10 have the horse and
asked me what he should do. l replied
at once: III no will not accept 1t. then
sell 1t to him at what II cost me" He
then sold the horse to General Lee for
$500 In currency. the sum Of S25 having
been added by General L4e TO the price
l gave for the horse in September.
1861. to make UP for the pr,ciation
in Our currency from September. 1861,
to February, 1862.
In 1868 General Lee wro:e 10 my
brother stating that his horse mad sur
vived tho war--was known as Travel
err" (spellinG the word with double
u in good English stylc)-and asking
for its pedigree. which was Obtained
rs above mentioned and sent by my
brother to General Lee
Charleston. w. Va. August 1856
THOMAS l. BROUN.
From Gen. FifzbuEh Lees Book ON
Gen. Robent e. Lee, 1904.
Traveller" the most distinguished
Of the Generals warehouses, was born
near Blue sulphur Springs. in West
Virginia. and was purchased. by Gen
eral Lee from Major Thomas L Broun.
who bought him from Captain James
w. Johnson. the son OF the gentleman
who reared him. General Lee saw him
first in West Virginia and afterward
in South Carolina, and was greatly
pleased with his appearance. AS soon
as Major Broun ascsrtained that fact
the horse was offered the General as
a gift. but he declined. and Major
Broun then sold him. He was four