Year: 1863

HOTses-' WaJ0rS OF Horse"


The following from the Chattanooga correspon-
dence of the Richmond Dispatch, will arrest the
attention of our readers. Horses are impressed
even from the plow for. the use of these "kites,"
and for other uses that might be dispensed with
We heard the other day of fine horse impressed
in this State being afterwards in possession of
second rate Major, who used him as his property |
But we have no hope that this or any other evil
will be remedied. The government is in the hands
of privileged class, banded together, and quick to
sustain each other against all charges and invest
cations. There mightSe great and saIutsry reform
in every branch Of the public service but Mr. Davis
is not the person to see such reform carried out
Many Titles make much. We do not hesitate to
express the opinion that not less than two hundred
millions Of our redundant currency might have been
kept from circulation and saved by proper economy
on the part of those at the head ofpublic affairs


"Reference was made in my last letter to the con-
dion of the horses in this army, and to the neces
sity of exercising care and economy in the use of
them, especially the view of the large numbers
that have been destroyed during the war and of the
present limited supply. This necessity grows stron
ger every day, being in proportion to the loss of
animals in the service the further contraction of
our available territory and the rapid deterioration of
our railways Every possible effort should be made
therefore to preserve the horses We have and to in
the stock; and to this end Transfers artil-
lerists cavalrymen, and all those persons having
horses in the service should be required to take as
good care Of them possible while all brood mares
should be exempted from Impressment Ii neces-
sary, orders to this effect should be issued from the
War Office and all mounted officers instructed to
see that they obeyed In the meantime, every
facility should be extended to farmers and others
who may desire to engage in the business Of raising
horses and mules.


An mpresSment for horses for this army was re-
Gently ordered in Georgia. The horses were much
needed at the time, but could not the demand have
been supplied from other sources, and that, too,
without increasing the number of horses to be fed
The custom prevails in this army OF allowing all
general officers above brigadiers to have escorts
There is one Major General who is reported to have
an escort of forty mounted men, and another one an
escort OF ore hundred aud twenty-five. 1t General
who was lately here is said to have had an escort
twice as numerous as the latter. Some have one
number, and some another, according to their fancy
or vanity, as you please. In other words, we have
Bashaws with one tail and Bashaws with two tails,
and Bashaws with three tails. These cavalcades
have their regular officers and consequently we hear
Of Majors Of Horse" and Captains of Horse -
officers wholly unknown to the law. Indeed, so
unlTersal has this practice become that one seldom
meets an officer riding alone Nearly all Of them
have one more orderlies lowing after them, in
cludng captains and majors Of artillery, quarter
masters. commiSSarieS, &c.


The Commander-in Chief is entitled to and re-
qnires escort, especially inttme of battle when
1t is necessary for him to communicate frequently
with all parts Of the field but no other officer not
exerciserng 1separate command does need escort.
Why then should not these kites be shorn of their
tails these gentry diSmounted, and truSty muskets
placed in their hands and their horses turned over
to the artillery companies and the QuartermasterS
Department. Such caudal appendsges are of, no
sort of use either to the officers who fly them or to
the army. On the contrary, the horses have to be
fed and their riders subSSted and paid, Just as if
they rendered the most valuable service; while
wagons and teams, which night otherwise be profit
ably employed, required 10 transport their sup
plies and camp equipment Indeed they are
offence in they eyes Of the brave men who for
ly three years have carried their unuskets and
cause ITSELF upon their heroic SHOULDERS scanda.
lous exhibition of military vanity, which, though
pardonable under some circumstances is wholly
out of place at time like this.


Instead, therefore, Of ordering the late impress
meet Of horses, it would have been wiser to have
dismounted these gentry. Such escorts are un-
known in the army of Northern Virginia. General
Lee alone in the army has eScort-a small one
which never goes with him except in battle, when
the men are used as couriers; all other General
officers are restricted 10 The legal number Of orGer


lies or couriers as We call them. If the reform
carried still further, and cfi:ers restricted 10
two horses at most, it would be all the bet
ter; not merely because the number OF horses IS
rapidly diminishing bat on account of the Limited
supply of forage and means of transportation 1t IS
no longer matter of choice but necessity"