The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1926-04-09
HORSE, so YEARS IN
CAVALRY, IS RETIRED
''Whiskers'' Now Kicks Up
Heels In Pasture.

WashingtOn.-In pleasant pastures
near an army post In Hawaii. a four
footed veteran OF more than thirty
years Of honorable active service
with the cOlOrs is kicking up his heels
in the peace and comfort Of an old
soldier.
His name Is "Whiskers," and he
travelled down from his Montana
birthplace to join the cavalry in Texas
three decades ago. He is now enjoy
ing retirement with Its regular ra-
tiOns and assurance that he will never
be called upon to work again.
"Whiskers" is just a troop horse in
Uncle Sans cavalry. There is a long
list Of these faithful mounts for which
troopers themselves have deCreed rest
full old age in reward for their long
years of hard duty. The appropriation
for this equine roll Of honor comes
out Of the troopers pockets II neces-
sary, but the deeds of hero horses OF
the army nave been officially recorded
in general orders before now.
"Comanehe" Heads Hero Horses.
"COmanche" probably heads that
list. He was the only survivor Of the
massacre of the Little Big Horn, when
Custer and his gallant detachment
went to their death. Legend has pic
tured this big charger, found wander
ing and almost dead after the battle
with seven wounds to show the part
he played. The records show be was
a troop horse assigned to Troop 1,
Seventh cavalry, and was ridden In
the fight by Capt. NJ. w. KeOgh, who
died at his CHIEFS side. A regimental
order OF the Seventh, dated Fort A.
Lincoln, Dakota territory, April 10,
1879, directed that COmanche be pro-
vided with suitable quarters land that
he win not be ridden by any person
whatever under any circumstances,
nor will he be put to any kind Of
work" as a tribute to comrades fallen
IN the fight.
That order was never violated. Go
manche" died at the cavalry post at
Fort Riley, Kansas, in 1891. He lived
twO-thirds Of his life on the retired
list.
The yeiiOwed records Of the cavalry
show many other famous horses, com
ing clear down to Pershing's kid
ron" bought from the French remOunt
service to carry the general in France,
and JEFF" the big, amiable charger
presented to Pershing on his return
to the United States and on which he
headed the victory parades Of the
First division ia New York and Wash
ingtOn.
And among the old records there is
none more striking than that of
"Black Tom" the mighty coal black
on which Colonel May, the Charles
O'Malley Of the American cavalry IN
the '4Os, set tongues wagglng by his
mad pranks. May was arrested in
Baltimore once for leaping his black
t~hunderbOlt over a cart loaded with
hrewOOd. Again he spurred Black
Tom up the front stairs of a Balti
more hotel and down again after
Jog about the rooms. The horse wOT
a wager with a leap Of 80 feet just
after the Mexican war, against 8
record Of "a feet for the creates
English steeplechaser. Black Toms
greatest achievement came in the wal
when May jumped him over a Mex
lean field gun to capture the entir,
battery and the Mexican general, Ll
Vaga. That deed is memOrialized il
the coat Of arms Of the SecOnC
cavalry.
Black Tom stood more than seven
teen hands, a jet black Kentucky thor
O~ughbred, and his dashing master wa
more than a six fOOter.
Taylor's Mount Lost Tail.
Another army horse Of Mexical
war fame was Gen. Zachary Taylor
Old Whitley, who carried his maste
throughout the war and was neve
ridden again. He was sent to Wash
ington to be exhibited after the wa
and was well nigh stripped Of hi
name and tail on the journey b.
souvenir hunters.
Among famous horses Of the wa
between the states, Robert e. Lee
Traveller perhaps Is best known, a
though Gen. Nathaniel P. Bank
Charlie Is credited In a legendary wa
with having shaped events Of th
He vas the only horse know
to have thrown General Grant. Tn
fall put the general on crutches an
kept him from the battlefield 8
Chickamauga. Perhaps his absenC
contributed to the Union disaster
that fight
Traveller, Lees famous gray, was
West Virginia horse and was Offere
to the great Confederate commando
as a gift by the owner, but refuses
The owner. MAI. Thomas L. BrOuI
then sold him and Traveller served
Lees main reliance In the wal day
and his constant companion afterwar
The general always stood beside hl
when he was shOd. as the horse wa
nervOuS
En- q Um