CW horses

[Mike Ventura]

Here are the names of some of the horses ridden by well-known CW officers:


King Philip-One of the more famous Warhorses of General N.B. Forest.
Traveller-The famous Warhorse of Robert E. Lee,the big gray gelding served him throughout the war and after. Traveller died in June 1871,almost one year after his master's death. He is buried outside of Lee Chapel on the grounds of Washington and Lee University in Lexington,Va. His tombstone reads,"Traveller,Horse of Gen. Robert E. Lee.". Visitors still leave apples and treats on his grave.
Virginia and Skylark-Two of the more famous warhorses owned by Gen. J.B.(Jeb) Stuart.
Little Sorrell-Warhorse of General Stonewall Jacksom. Jackson was riding Little Sorrell when he was shot by friendly fire at Chancellorsville. Little Sorrell survived and was eventually returned to Gen. Jackson's widow.
Cincinnati-Big War horse ridden by General U.S. Grant. .
Dixie-E.Porter Alexander.
Magic-William Blackford.
Grey Eagle-John Buford,the Federal hero of the first day at Gettysburg,a able and great cavalry leader.
Charlamayne-Joshua L. Chamberlain of 20th Maine and Little Round Top. After the war he gave the local children ride's around the neighborhod on his beloved Charlamayne,both were great hero's of the Great War.
Lancer,Don Juan,Harry,Roanoke-CW horses of General G.A. Custer.
Dixie-Henry Kyd Douglas.
Roderick-N.B. Forest,another of the great Warhorses rode by old N.B.
Red Eye-Dick Garnett. Red Eye survived Picket's Charge,General Garnett did not.
Fanny-John Gibbon.
Milroy-John B. Gordon.
Captain-Wade Hampton.
Pretty-David McM. Gregg.
Billy-Frank Haskell.
Dan-Alexander Hays.
Jeff Davis-John B. Hood.
Faugh-a-Ballagh-Patrick Kelly.
Old Spot-Judson Kilpatrick.
Nellie Gray-Fitz Hugh Lee.
Lucy Long-Robert E. Lee,the forgotten Warhorse of the beloved General,who served him ably throughout the war.
Hero-James Longstreet. Hero saw it all and survived the war.
Old Baldy-George Meade.
Slicky-Alfred Pleasonton.
Prince-John F. Reynolds. Gen. Reynolds was one of the Union Armies finest horseman. He was riding Prince at Getttysburg when he urged the Iron Brigade forward into McPhersons woods on the first day,when killed by a rebel sharp- shooter. Prince was returned to his family in Lancaster,Pa.
Firefly - Robert Rodes.
Renezi - Phil Sheridan.
Handsome Joe - John Sedgewick.
Tammany - Dan Sickles.
Jinny - Issac Trimble.
Old Jim - Strong Vincent.
Billy - Charles Wainwright.
Fleetfoot - Walter Taylor.
Sheridan - War horse of James Harrison Wilson,who he fondly referred to in his letter's home as "The Prince of Horses".
Old Bench Legs-War horse of Benjamin Grieson
Chief- The last living cavalry horse of the US Cavalry.

[Iron Scout]

Don't forget Hampton's favorite mount-'Butler'. Like the equine, not the general!

Neill Rose
PLHA

[vbetts]

Seeing the names of the horses sent home reminded me of a poem published in the Savannah Republican in response to a letter by the war correspondent P.W.A., appealing for better care of the horses in the army--

SAVANNAH [GA] REPUBLICAN, August 21, 1863, p. 1, c. 3

[For the Republican.
The Confederate Soldier's Horse.
by C. Drew.

"Take my horse home to my wife, my mother, or my aged father, is often the last request of the dying soldier."—P.W.A.

Take him home to my wife, to my love-cherished wife,
To the field waving greenly with corn,
And the cot where we wedded so early in life
And the home where our children were born.

Take him home to my wife—she will know the old friend,
As he comes down the lane to the gate,
And a flash o'er her heart, ere the message I send,
Will bear her the news of my fate.

And my three darling boys—I can see them, I think,
As three stars, dimly twinkling above,
Looking deep in his eyes from their big shaggy brink,
To fathom the depth of my love.

Take him home to my mother—'twill kindle the light
A moment, of eyes growing dim,
To know that her son he bore well through the fight,
Alas! she can never see _him_!

Take him home to my father—my war-battered horse,
So trusty in charge or retreat—
'Twill 'suage for a while that fond father's remorse,
To know that I fell at his feet.

Ay! true hast thou been through the peril, my steed;
Go back to thy green-pastured Earth.
A grave will be mine on the soil where I bleed,
Be thine on the soil of my birth.

Lake City, Fla., Aug. 17th, 1863.

Vicki Betts
vbetts@gower.net

[GeraldTodd]

Thanks Mike.

I just bought a morgan named Skipper and I'm debating changing it. That list both gave me ideas and showed that Skipper ain't so bad a name either (beats the heck out of "Slicky!")

Thing is, if I keep it, I'll have to get the other 6 horses: MaryAnn, Ginger, Professor, Mrs Howell, Mr Howell, and Gilligan. http://mainecav.org/todd/barbskipper.jpg

:)

[RedCordCO]

Don't forget Wm. T. Sherman's mount, 'Sam'. Like both the general AND his horse.

Rob Burchardt
Ever the Unionist at heart :D


Here are the names of some of the horses ridden by well-known CW officers:


King Philip-One of the more famous Warhorses of General N.B. Forest.
Traveller-The famous Warhorse of Robert E. Lee,the big gray gelding served him throughout the war and after. Traveller died in June 1871,almost one year after his master's death. He is buried outside of Lee Chapel on the grounds of Washington and Lee University in Lexington,Va. His tombstone reads,"Traveller,Horse of Gen. Robert E. Lee.". Visitors still leave apples and treats on his grave.
Virginia and Skylark-Two of the more famous warhorses owned by Gen. J.B.(Jeb) Stuart.
Little Sorrell-Warhorse of General Stonewall Jacksom. Jackson was riding Little Sorrell when he was shot by friendly fire at Chancellorsville. Little Sorrell survived and was eventually returned to Gen. Jackson's widow.
Cincinnati-Big War horse ridden by General U.S. Grant. .
Dixie-E.Porter Alexander.
Magic-William Blackford.
Grey Eagle-John Buford,the Federal hero of the first day at Gettysburg,a able and great cavalry leader.
Charlamayne-Joshua L. Chamberlain of 20th Maine and Little Round Top. After the war he gave the local children ride's around the neighborhod on his beloved Charlamayne,both were great hero's of the Great War.
Lancer,Don Juan,Harry,Roanoke-CW horses of General G.A. Custer.
Dixie-Henry Kyd Douglas.
Roderick-N.B. Forest,another of the great Warhorses rode by old N.B.
Red Eye-Dick Garnett. Red Eye survived Picket's Charge,General Garnett did not.
Fanny-John Gibbon.
Milroy-John B. Gordon.
Captain-Wade Hampton.
Pretty-David McM. Gregg.
Billy-Frank Haskell.
Dan-Alexander Hays.
Jeff Davis-John B. Hood.
Faugh-a-Ballagh-Patrick Kelly.
Old Spot-Judson Kilpatrick.
Nellie Gray-Fitz Hugh Lee.
Lucy Long-Robert E. Lee,the forgotten Warhorse of the beloved General,who served him ably throughout the war.
Hero-James Longstreet. Hero saw it all and survived the war.
Old Baldy-George Meade.
Slicky-Alfred Pleasonton.
Prince-John F. Reynolds. Gen. Reynolds was one of the Union Armies finest horseman. He was riding Prince at Getttysburg when he urged the Iron Brigade forward into McPhersons woods on the first day,when killed by a rebel sharp- shooter. Prince was returned to his family in Lancaster,Pa.
Firefly - Robert Rodes.
Renezi - Phil Sheridan.
Handsome Joe - John Sedgewick.
Tammany - Dan Sickles.
Jinny - Issac Trimble.
Old Jim - Strong Vincent.
Billy - Charles Wainwright.
Fleetfoot - Walter Taylor.
Sheridan - War horse of James Harrison Wilson,who he fondly referred to in his letter's home as "The Prince of Horses".
Old Bench Legs-War horse of Benjamin Grieson
Chief- The last living cavalry horse of the US Cavalry.

[CJSchumacher]

There's also Little Jeff - Grant's smaller horse he rode when he needed an easier gait.

There's a photo of he, Cincinatti and another of his mounts in Miller's Photographic History of the Civil War. Best seen in the original 1911 Cavalry volume.

[Mike Ventura]

Have you ever studied this photo of grant with Cincinnati?

http://www.picturehistory.com/find/p/11761/g/1/mcms.html

That was one big (for the times) horse or one short general. The stirrup is almost chest high and from this perspective, it appears that Gen'l Grant could walk under Cincinnati's head without stooping or removing his hat.

I'm wondering if the Gen'l had some sort of assistance in mounting - an aide with a mounting block or giving him a leg up.

Does anyone know the measurements of Cincinnati?

[Chuck Winchester]

Here are a few more:
Lexington and Duke were also ridden by Sherman.
Beauregard: who survived until 1883, was ridden to Appomattox by Capt. W.I. Rasin.
Jack, Grant's Palomino, was ridden by him in parades and ceremonies until Nov., 1863. Grant also occasionally rode a easy-gaited horse named Jeff Davis, as well as Egypt.
Fleeter: ridden by spy Belle Boyd.
Black Hawk: by Maj.Gen. William B. Bate.
Dixie: killed at Perryville while being ridden by Maj. Gen. Patrick R. Cleburne. He also owned Pepper.
Rifle: Lt. Gen. Richard S. Ewell.
Besides King Phillip and Roderick, Forrest also rode a horse named Highlander.
General McClellan's most famous mount is of course Daniel Webster, but he also rode a horse named Burns.
Joe Smith: owned by Brig. Gen. Adam R. Johnson.
Lookout was a three quarter bred horse of General Hooker.
Fire-eater: a bay Thoroughbred ridden by Gen. Albert S. Johnston when he was killed at Shiloh.
Traveller may have been Lee's favorite but he also rode Ajax, Grace Darling,Richmond, and Brown-Roan.
Old Fox: ridden by Col. F.G. Skinner, First Virginia Infantry.
Virginia: credited with having prevented the capture of Maj. Gen. Jeb Stuart by jumping an enormous ditch. In addition to the mare, Stuart frequently rode Highfly.
Sardanapalus: favorite mount of partisan M. Jeff Thompson of Missouri.
General Kearny rode Monmouth in the Mexican War and Moscow and Bayard in the C.W.

Chuck Winchester,
Critter Coy.

[Chuck Winchester]

Cincinnati was seventeen hands high according to the photographic history of the civil war, vol. 4, cavalry. He was the son of Kentucky, the fastest four-mile thouroughbred of the time, 7:19 3/4 seconds.
Chuck Winchester

[cwbelle]

Being somewhat partial to the Morgan breed I can't help remember Renezi (a.k.a Winchester) and Charlemagne (previously mentioned here as the famous Morgan mounts of Generals Sheridan and Chamberlain). Several other Morgans by name are Clinton, who was ridden by Dr. William Capeheart--a CSA surgeon, Old Clem owned by Colonel Lemuel Platt (1st VT Cav.) and Betty Root - owned by Lt Trusselis (also 1st VT Cav.).

I also find it interesting how several cavalry units were first outfitted primarily with a particular breed. For instance the 1st Maine, 2nd and 3rd Michigan, 14th Pennsylvania and 5th New York Cav, were all mounted at the beginning on mostly Morgan mounts. Though I personally haven't looked into it, I'm sure there are other units who follow the same trend with other breeds.

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Have you ever studied this photo of grant with Cincinnati?

http://www.picturehistory.com/find/p/11761/g/1/mcms.html

That was one big (for the times) horse or one short general. The stirrup is almost chest high and from this perspective, it appears that Gen'l Grant could walk under Cincinnati's head without stooping or removing his hat.

I'm wondering if the Gen'l had some sort of assistance in mounting - an aide with a mounting block or giving him a leg up.

Does anyone know the measurements of Cincinnati?

Grant was about 5'9". Thats a big horse!

[marine05]

You can visit Little Sorrel at the VMI musuem, the horse died in 1886 at the age of 36.

s/f

DJM

[Mike Ventura]

Dan:

If memory serves me correctly, and I believe Charlie Heath has posted elsewhere on this form, they finally gave Little Sorral a proper burial.

[Charles Heath]

Dan:

"...they finally gave Little Sorral a proper burial."

Geez, Mike, the post on that thread was over two weeks ago, and long lost to the sweeping sands of time blowing over the skeletal remains of ancient institutional memory. The post may have been in this thread somewhere -- like maybe post #8.

http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2850&page=2&pp=10

Or maybe just a use of the "Search" button would help.

Charles Heath

[Rooney]

Also lets us not forget my personal favorite, Gen. William Fitzhugh (Rooney) Lee, one of his war horse's was named Frantic. By the way, if anyone else has found a referance to the names of any of his other horses, please let me know, as I am currently doing some reserch on WHF Lee.

Richard Kroon

[10nycav]

I did an estimate of Cincinnatti's height based on Grant's known height of 5'9" using that photo. I came up with a height of 16.3 hands for the horse, within an inch of the reported height. Grant would have had no difficulty in mounting a horse of this height as long as he had no hip/knee problems and the horse was trained to stand still. I am barely 5'6" and I can mount a 17.2 hand horse from the ground. I also used to own a TB that was Cincinnatti's height and mounting was not a problem. However I did not like to take hits off of either of those horses!!;) At any rate it gives new meaning to the phrase "getting on your high horse."

Now Phil Sheridan's horse Rienzi, a Black Hawk (a now extinct branch of the Morgan family) was variously reported at being 16 to 17 hands but I think this is not true. Looking at photographs he just does not have the proportions of a tall horse.

Regarding unit preferences for various horse breeds the 1st Massachusetts had Canadians, and the 1st Rhode Island did too. Longacre wrote in Custer and his Wolverines that the Michigan brigade was mounted primarily on Morgans and Canucks (another name for Canadians.) This makes sense because many Canadian horses came through Detroit. Both breeds however, were most definitely Yankee horses--suited for hard work rather than speed, easy keeping, excellent endurance, but not as fast as the Southern horses. They were bred more for the harness than the saddle. You would have seen few in the Southern regiments other than through horse-stealing. The "breed" that was most common among the Yanks was something called simply an "American Horse." It was taller than the Morgan and the Canadian and was basically a mix of the TB and common stock. It was really more of a type than a distinct breed, and varied somewhat among regions but they were still quite recognizable to visitors from outside the US. Some modern quarter horses, though not all, resemble it. Makes sense because all QHs have some TB blood.

Ken Morris

[CJSchumacher]

I did an estimate of Cincinnatti's height based on Grant's known height of 5'9" using that photo. I came up with a height of 16.3 hands for the horse, within an inch of the reported height. Grant would have had no difficulty in mounting a horse of this height as long as he had no hip/knee problems and the horse was trained to stand still. I am barely 5'6" and I can mount a 17.2 hand horse from the ground. I also used to own a TB that was Cincinnatti's height and mounting was not a problem. However I did not like to take hits off of either of those horses!!;) At any rate it gives new meaning to the phrase "getting on your high horse."

Now Phil Sheridan's horse Rienzi, a Black Hawk (a now extinct branch of the Morgan family) was variously reported at being 16 to 17 hands but I think this is not true. Looking at photographs he just does not have the proportions of a tall horse.

Regarding unit preferences for various horse breeds the 1st Massachusetts had Canadians, and the 1st Rhode Island did too. Longacre wrote in Custer and his Wolverines that the Michigan brigade was mounted primarily on Morgans and Canucks (another name for Canadians.) This makes sense because many Canadian horses came through Detroit. Both breeds however, were most definitely Yankee horses--suited for hard work rather than speed, easy keeping, excellent endurance, but not as fast as the Southern horses. They were bred more for the harness than the saddle. You would have seen few in the Southern regiments other than through horse-stealing. The "breed" that was most common among the Yanks was something called simply an "American Horse." It was taller than the Morgan and the Canadian and was basically a mix of the TB and common stock. It was really more of a type than a distinct breed, and varied somewhat among regions but they were still quite recognizable to visitors from outside the US. Some modern quarter horses, though not all, resemble it. Makes sense because all QHs have some TB blood.

Ken Morris

Ken,

You're quite right regarding ol' Renzi. I've seen him at the Smithsonian and he cannot be taller than 15.2-16 hands. He's on a bit of a platform behind glass...so any guess is an estimate.

I also agree with your assessment of Cincinatti. 16.3 or even 17 is not terribly high. I ride a 17h. Holsteiner and can get on from the ground. Now the only problem and what most people here don't realize is that while you can mount from the ground, its not always the best thing to do. Mounting a 17h.+ horse, unless you can vault properly (I'd say 90% probably don't) puts tremendous strain on a horses back and withers. I almost always use a block or get a leg up, jockey-style when jumping here in NY.

Now if you want to talk about tall horses...I won't begin to tell you about the 18.2 monster I saw while I was out riding with friends in Middleburg this past weekend!! Talk about needing a leg-up...this guy should have a built in escalator! :wink_smil

[10nycav]

Right on that . . . while I COULD mount those horses from the ground if need be, I used a mounting block for the comfort of the horse whenever possible. For general reenacting though, I think it's hard to beat a 15 hand horse for all around convenience and usefulness. The tall ones are great for specialized jobs such as officer (great visibility) and courier (speed/jumping ability).

Ken Morris