Year: 1862

Having had enough of vicious horses, de-
termlned to try quiet one next time. ac-
cordingly invested in a small specimen of the
pony breed. He proved all | could ask For,
for from that time onward during my term OF,
ownership, did no hard work exeep5 to urge
him TO due sense of duty as horse, and
more especially journalistic horse. TIE ar
guments used in this controversy were clubs
OF the largest possible size, sharp pointed
sticks, spurs at the rate OF several dav,
building fires under his tail, and, on occasions
Of emergency, telling good-szed trees upon
him as starting impetus. He was patient
under these Affections, and never suffered any
thlng to disturb his equanimity exceps the last
two alternatives, which were ALWAYS reserved
Tor an impending battle or sudden movement
10 the rear. lie was the best horse in the
world to lead an army with, for he was sure
to be behind and ont of danger, bat the very
worst tor retreat for obvious reasons was
finally obliged to suoeumb to his pertinacity
from scarcity of timbers and spurs the sol
diers having used the former for fuel and his
rider having demolished all of the latter that
wers available in ten regiments. sold him
to an army chaplain who was too much re-
duced by bad whisky snd the Tennessee quick
step to exert much physical force, and he was
taken prisoner while going at a mad gallop of





thousand bowling Texan rangers in the rear.


then determined to live upon my wits so
far as horsehesh was concerned. So I found
myself sometimes in possession of borrowed
animal, sometimes riding mule, sometimes
a picked-up horse from the woods and not ur.
frequently disgracing myself and my profess
sion by resorting to the corral of rejected and
| broken-down Government horses. Sometimes
L had 8 saddle and no horse; other times.I
had horse and no saddle; again had both,
and no bridlei and as consequence during
the majority of the time l wandered about
disconsolately, carrying a saddle and bride,
and looking for horse or leading horse
and searching wrathfully for saddle and
bride.


Of my next attempt at ownership can say
/ but little. l had reason to believe him all nv
| fancy pictured him. He had unlimited s,yie
| and action, enlarged capacity for getting over
| the ground, and generally prepossessing
| demeanor; but the next morning after be-
came his owner, the picket rope was found
cut, and the horse gone, while to the stake
| was attached PAPER containing an original
drawing of a schoolboy horse on the high
! prance mounted by a man composed of two
rotundities for head and body, and four
| straight lines for legs and arms. Underneath
| was the pithy announcement, "Of for Dixy.'
! The picture was remarkable for the express





| forgotten to insert the usual organs Of vision
and taste, and for the three erect hairs which
composed the tail of the horse 1t was also
remarkable for the effect produced on my
mind, on finding it in place Of my valuable
horse. By a singular coincidence, a Secesh
deseTter, who had been pressed into the rebel
service, hung several tims Is, and periodically
starved to death, and who brought Informs
| tion that the rebels were greatly disafected
| and hSH Dnfhiprr hv-to
to eat, disappeared, and never was heard of
atterward. 1t was insinuated that he was a
spy, but | believe Gen. Haleck does not al
! low spies within his lines-at least that was
why he turned the newspaper corresp 1ndents
out. ] lost forty dollars by that operation.
now rejoice in the possession of a chef
doeaUre of horsefesh. | paid ten dollars for
him-saddle, bride ard all-and l feel safe N
saying that Uncle Sam hasn't money enough
to buy him. He left the Texan Ranger Asso-
citation on the occasion of the last battle, in
consequence of his rider having met a cannon
ball and stopped to cultivate its acquaintance,
| while he went on in pursuance of previous or
ders, and never paused until he had gone clean
through our ranks, and found a mule in the
rear, which he proceeded to misticate with all
possible speed. He had brought along several
specimens of his master in the saddle-bags and
holsters, which he seemed to regard with SAM





sight Of the remains, he Immediately went on
the rampage among the quadrupeds in the
vicinity, and put them all hors du combat with
his teeth and heels. He was captured and be-
stridden by an ambitious warrior, who was im-
mediately carried into the midst of ar artillery
fire, which singed the hair of his head with
fright but finally toned down by the applica-
tion of several lariat ropes and rail fence all
around his feeding place. he lost tho battle
fever, and became sensible horse, barring a
desire to do mischief and fight mules. He
never loses the opportunity to go the wrong
road, to bolt tercely and unexpectedly in the
direction of the enemy's pickets, to run over
general officers and their STATS to kick up his
heels despitefully at military persons of great
airs and dignity, and, above all, to indulge in
the delight of his heart-thrashing q mule.
With these and numerous other amiable quail
ifcations he has endeared himself to my heart,
and money cannot by him.


With change of sense it is fit to bring
about change of names. In memory of that
historic spot where for months I have burned
the midnight oil, and eaten hard bread and
bacon, l subscribe my SELF