Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-09-04


chargers which the worlds heroes
have ridden on historic battlefields:
| but there are two or three that claim
| a special place in the hearts eff those
who love the noble animals that have
| done so much to form history and
honor the conflicts in which they serv-
ed and the victories they helped to
gain.
When General Washington left Mt.
Vernon, Va. on June 21 IT'S, to as
| sumo command of the American army
at Cambridge. Mass, he took with him
| five horses, his favorite, it is said, be-
ling a powerful and spirited bay, on
which he made his first appearance
before the troops. 1t is stated on
lgeod authority that before the close
iof the war he acquired seven more
His Fairfax, we'll known in history
and story was so badly wounded at
the battle of Trenton that he was
compelled to leave him behind.
At Monmouth, June rs, 177S, Gener-
al Washington rode white charger,
he one which has become so familiar
to the people of the world. as it has
been copied thousands of times from
I
This horse was presented to General
Washington by Gov Livingston, of
New Jersey, whose residence is still
standing at Elizabeth, and is occupied
by ex-senator John Kean, a lineal de-
scendant. Such was the excessive
heat at the battle of Monmouth. and
soil a deep sand, that the spirited
steed sank under the General. dying
on the spot. 1t will be remembered
that General Washington did great
| deal of hard riding" in consequence
| of the misunderstanding with General
Charles Lee, directing personally the
army in several parts of the field.
According to his diary, after the
death of the noble ANIMAL Washing
=, ton mounted high bred chestnut
mare with flowing name and tail.
named Dolly. General Lafayette said
of the horse and her rider: ''At Mon
mouth ! commanded division, and,
: it may be supposed, | was pretty well
occupied. still | took time. amid the
lroar and confusion of the conflict, to
admire our beloved chief who, mount
ed on a splendid charger, rode along
the ranks amid the shouts of the sol
i'!iers, cheering them by his voice and
example, and restoring to our stand
ard the fortunes of the fight | thought
then, as now, that never had | seen
so superb Il man" Thomas jefferson
, called Washington the best horse
man of the age"
! In connection with this incident it
is of interest to say a few words
about another famous horse that has
I ia, On do =,
in 1863 | remember the late Captain
&c. d. Empson of Keyport tfather of
the late Senator Ephraim p Emp
son). calling on Major James S. Yard.
in the Office of the Monmouth Demo-
crat at Freehold, n. ]. In time the
conversa ton branched off to horses.
just ut that time all the Generals of
the Federal Army We're pounding
the War Department, with hope
that cavalry would be recruited in a
more liberal manner.
Captain Emrson said. Major, |
rode when a boy one of the most not
ed horses that ever had saddle on
him. 1t was Marengo, Napoleon's fav-
orite charger. My father owned him, >
continued Captain Empson and
when he sold him to Napoleon, I rode
him into the French camp and deliv-
cred him personally to the General,
Louis Napoleon. speaking of this
horse to an American visitor in 1872,
according 20 General James Grant
Wilson, said:
! The Emperors favorite charger
was Marengo, an Arab of good size
and style, and almost white He rode
him in the last battle Of Mount st
jean, where Marengo received his sew
enth wound. | once mounted him
when youth, and but short time
. before the steed died at the age of So
Another favorite war horse was
named Maria, and was used by the
Emperor in many of his hundred bat
ties. OF the 60 or 10 horses owned by
Napoleon, and used in battle, perhaps
the most famous were Ali, AusterlitZ
!. Styrie and Jafa. He had 10 chargers
killed under him."