Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-21

x4ENOPHON the historian Of Cyrus
4 the Great, is authority for the
Z . statement that Arabian horses
were employed by the cavalry which Cy-
rms ,,sed to contend with Croesus, King
of lydia. Harpagus suggested that III
the ARRANGEMENT OF his forces Cyrus
Mace the transport camels in front oil
the cavalry. Thus it was that when they
came I'D to the contest the Lydian horses.
terrified by the sight and smell OIL the
cameis. became unmanageable, while the
horses of Cyrus, accustomed to the prcx-
unity of cameis and partly nourished with
camels milk, were not afraid The forces
of CYRUS dashed after those Of Croesus
and completely routed them.
Later. upon the capture of Babylon by
Cyrus, there was grand review OF all
his army. and in that review. Xenophon
tells US. Cyrus paraded many thousands
of cavalry.
The Egyptians had no cavalry. any
time of Cyrus. Horses in Egypt are re-
ferred to period subsequent to the eX-
pulsion of the shepherd kings" Four
hundred years after the days OF Joseph
when Pharaoh pursued the Jews VINO
went with Moses through the Red sea.
he followed with 800 chariots-"all the
chariots of Egypt according to the bib
lical statement. At that period horses
were to- be had in Egypt in such limited
numbers that each Egyptian chariot was
provided with only two horses. All these,
we are assured. were lost In the Red sea-.
Traits of horse character as we'll as of
human character otherwise unnoticed are
brought out In the stress of war. Fa-
miliarity with danger probably has Its
effect in making horses fearless, as 'g-
norance of danger doubtless does. Horses
are creatures of habit in battle as well
as in the occupations of peace. and this
fact has been the cause of many an ex-
citing incident on the field of action.
There have been recorded many interest
ing illustrations of the manner of rider
less horses under fire. and when
wounded.
War horses when hit in battle tremble
in every muscle and Sroan deeply, while
their eyes show deep establishment. Dur
ing the battle of Waterloo some OF the
horses as they lay upon the ground, haV.
ing recovered from the first effects Of
their wounds. fell to eating the grass
about them. thus surrounding themselves
with a circle of bare ground. the limited
extent of which showed their weakness.
OF the field between the hostile lines
their riders having been shot Oft their
backs and the balls flying over their
heads: and the turnult behind. oetore anu
around them caused no interruption TO
their feeding. 1t was also observed that
when charge of cavalry went near to
any of the stray horses. the latter would
set off form themselves in the rear OF
their mounted companions, and. though
without riders. gallop strenuousiy along
with the rest. not stopping or hlnching
when the fatal shock with the enemy
occurred.
The faculty of war horses of knowing
on which side they belong has more than
once made it awkward for an enemy who
yentured to capture one and get upon his
back
After the battle of Kirk. 174S, Maj. Nc
Donald. having endorsed an English Of
ficer, took possession of his mount, which
was very beautiful, and Immediately
jumped upon its back. When the Eng
lish cavalry fed the horse ran away with
its captor, notwithstanding all his efforts
to restrain it, nor did 1t stop until 1t was
at the head of the regiment OF which.
apparently, its master was commander.
The melancholy. and at the same time
ludfCrOuS, QRufe WHICH NuSAoaoAo NV
sented may be easily conceived.
Besides the sagacity of army horses,
which enables them to respond to the
various bugle calls and to take their
places in the ranks when their riders
have been killed, they may also be said
to show true heroism. Veteran soldiers
say that horses have wonderful power
Of enduring an attack made directly
upon them, keeping their places as long
as they can stand
In 1864 at Ream's Station. nearly sixty
horses belonging to one company became
the target of Confederate sharpshooters.
who intended to kill them of and by
charging take the guns. The animals
were harnessed in teams of six. When
one was hit peculiar thud indicated
that bullet had penetrated his flesh,
hut after a momentary start. he would
settle down quietly again, evidently
realizing that bullets were an incidental
Evil which it was his duty to endure.
One horse, when a bullet entered his
neck. only shook his head as IT annoyed
nv a nv. but others would perhaps fall,
onlv to regain their feet after lying quiet
for a while.
Al the close of this battle Gen. Han
cocks horse received a bullet in the neck
and fallin. appeared to be dead. The