Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1912-01-03
HORSES IN BATTLE.
They Show Sagacity and Bravery
In Times of Danger.
FEARLESSlY FACE A CHARGE
Veteran Soldiers Assert That the Ceu-
rassous Animals Will Meet an Attack
Made Directly Upon Them Without
Sign Of Fiinchino.

0tSU OF ShUcPfUS.
Traits of horse character. as well 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 pence. 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 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
irst effect of their wounds. fell to eat
Ing grass about them. thus surround
ing themselves with a circle Of hare
ground. the limited extent of W1ch
showed their weakness.
Others were observed quietly graz
ing on the field between the two hos
tile lines. their riders having been shot
Off their backs and the balls flying over
their heads. and the tumult behind. be-
fore and around them caused no inter
ruption TO their feeding. 1t was also
observed that when charge OF cav
airy went past near to any of the stray
horses already mentioned the latter
would set or. form themselves In the
rear Of their mounted companions and.
though without riders. gallop strenu-
ously along with the rest. not stopping
or fiinching when the fatal shock with
the enemy occurred
The faculty of war horses OF know
ing ON which side they belong BAG
more than once made 1t awkwa d for
an enemy who ventured To captur one
and get upon his back.
At the battle OF Kirk. l745. Major
Mcdonald. having endorsed an Eng
fish officer. took possession OF his
mount. which WIS very beautiful. and
Immediately Jumped upon It's back
When the English cnvalry fed the
horse ran away with its cuptOr. not
withstanding all his efforts To restrain
| 1t. nor did IL stop until il w;is al the
head OF the regiment OF which appar
emily its master WAS comma nder The
melancholy ana at the same time In
dicrous figure which Mcdonald pre-
scented may be easily conceived
Besides the >aEacity OF army horses
| which enables them to respond to the.
| various bugIe calls and To take the!r
| places in the ranks when their riders
nave been Killed. they may also be
said To show true herOism. Veteran
soldiers say that horses have won
derfui power of enduring an attack
made directly upon them. keeping their
places as long as they can stand
In 1874. ut Realms Station. nearly
sixty horses belonging To one company
| became the target OF Confederate
ShArpshooterS. who intended to Kill
them of and then by charging 10 take
the guns
The animals were harnessed in tea
OF six When one was hit II peculiar
dull thud Indicated that IA bullet had
| penetrated his flesh. but after a mo
mentary start he would settle down
quietly again. evidently realizing that
bullets were m Incidental evil which
IL was his duty tn endure.
One horse when bullet entered his
neck only shOok his bead as If annoy
ed by fy. but others would perhaps
fall. only to regain their feet after lying
quiet for awhile
AT the close OF this battle Genera
Hancock's horse received bullet il
the neck and. falling. appeared to bt
dead The general mounted another
but in few minutes the fallen anima
rose. shook himself and was agaif
ready for service. He survived the wa
many years.
One horse among those attached {,
the artillery was shot In the leg. tn,
bone being broken He fell. but III
stantly scrambled up again and stoOs
In his place on three legs. remainin,
there until vitality wounded Anothp
animal was struck by seven bullets bs
fore he fell for the last time. and bn
four horses were taken alive from th'
field-Harpevs Weekly