Evening journal., 1913-05-29
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
How the Cavalrymen Kept
Their Horses
By Holland

Just as twilight was deepening
one evening in the month OF June,
1865. a spectacle unprecedented and
unmatched at the close Of the Civil
War was vaguely, and as in a fog or
mist, outlined to the people of New
Haven. Conn The First Connecticut
Cavalry was returning from nearly
four years service in the Civil War.
The regiment had been brought by
steamboat from New York. and IT
arrived at New Haven little after s
o'clock, The sidewalks we're
thronged so that il was impossible
for anyone 10 get through the crowds.
A dense mass OF people collected
around the New Haven green. A queer
stiffness prevailed. especially notice
able because it was maintained by so
great a number OF people.
Az last, in the distance. a faint
Gathering sound was heard and the
noise increased until gradually out
Of the twilight the mounted hoofs
appeared. The sound of The bugle
was heard. but the twilight obscured
almost each individual horse and
rider, so that it seemed like a ghost
ly procession.
The regiment was dismounted at
the rear OF the Connecticut State
House and the soldiers. with the eX-
ception Of those who we're detained TO
look after. the horses were treat
ed to q collation. made up for the
most part of delicacics and season.
able food such as they had not tast-
ed since they went to the war.
After the collation. Che men, al
most in silence. moupted their
horses and disappeared in the dark
ness to the distant field on which
they were to camp. I'm this way a
regiment OF cavalry which had seen
service all over the South returned
almost In silence and then melted
away. For in the course Of few
days the regiment was mustered out
and within another week or two the
soldiers. with their horses, we're back
upon tho old homesteads. taking up
their yocations as II nothing had hap
pened.
had heard that the First Connec-
ticut Cavalry was the only cavalry
regiment which was permitted TO
bring its horses home and to ride
back to the place whence. four years
'NlAiii II HdN uiHViAfN lNA Aiii " tAi 81
The colonel OF the regiment was
Brayton Ives who was afterward
president of the New York Stock Tx
change CHANGING in the company Of
General Ives several years ago,
asked him If II were true that the
First Connecticut Cavalry was the
only cavalry regiment which was
permitted TO hiring their horses home
and to ride the animals TO the mus
tering-out place.
YES" that was true" General Ives
said 81 made special inquiry and /
found that my regiment was the only
one TO whom this privilege was
granted"
How did that happen?" ! asked
We'll. IL was simple enough" "
General Ives replied. '1t occurred to
me just before we left Washington
for home that there could be no good
reason why the men should not be
/ permitted to bring their horses home
with them
Il went to see Quartermaster
General Meiggs. and I asked him IL
my men could not take their horses
home He looked at me inquiringly,
so I explained 10 him my reason
Il said TO him that many of my
men had become greatly attached to
their horses The horses were almost
as aifectionate in their manner toward
the men as an intelligent dog would
have been. They knew their masters
voices They would follow the sol
diers around. obeying implicitly not
merely a stern word of command, but
as little a thing as gentle tone of
voice.
II said furthermore that had no
| doubt that the men in almost every
! instance would be glad to pay the
government any reasonable price for
the horses When they we're mustered
out they could take their horses home
with them
General Meiggs seemed to be very
favorably impressed. even somewhat
touched by my appeal. He gave the
necessary reason. and 1t was for this
reason that my men brought their
horses home.
Copyright. 1913, by r. ! Edwards
All rights reserved