Honoring the War Horse-So many unknown though

[Blockaderunner]

Interesting thread about an aspect of the war that is often overlooked. A guide at Gettysburg gave me a figure of 4000 horses killed in the battle.

[M E Wolf]

Another horse and rider to add to the known Civil War

Mickey Free - Major Robert Stiles - Confed. Artillery favorite horse and with him at the surrendering at Appomattox.

[Ref. Four Years under Marse Robert -1904]

Sincerely,
M. E. Wolf

[M E Wolf]

Dear Blockaderunner,

I will always have doubts to the numbers when it comes to animals -- So many captured horses didn't make it to the Quartermaster to be added to the inventory sheets. A horse running to your line, if in good shape would be mounted and put into immediate service in a hot fight. Then, that captured horse might be killed returning with the person who captured the horse going back to their old lines--perhaps passing their dead/wounded Master on that deadly field of fire.

Some horses were taken from citizens and they be long gone with the stolen horse. Some dead before being counted by the Quartermaster. And, Confederates often bought their own horses--thus, not the property of the Confederate Government, so they wouldn't be on the inventory. I'll add, that General Lee at the surrendering explained to General Grant that 'his men owned their horses' and were allowed to take them home if they could provide proof of ownership. Can you imagine? Be difficult to keep papers of ownership of a horse during war. Buildings burned, files missing and missing files was a problem for General Lee, General Longstreet and others wanting to write their memories of the Civil War.
Most captured Confederate papers were in Washington, in the custody of the US Government. Some were used in the Commission on the Conduct of the War.

Another problem--that often, mules were mixed into the horse numbers when it came to casualty figures.

The total sum of 4,000 horses could be the counting of both Union, Confederate horses. I still will wonder if the mules were added to the count though.

Just some thoughts.

M. E. Wolf

[larry_cockerham]

Originally Posted by M E Wolf

Dear Blockaderunner,

The total sum of 4,000 horses could be the counting of both Union, Confederate horses. I still will wonder if the mules were added to the count though.

M. E. Wolf

This number could be fairly accurate if one restricts the statistics to battle death. The vast majority of horses didn't die in battle, but perhaps as the result of it as well as the wear and tear of repeated long hard use. The weather was also a major killer. General Wilson reported the loss of at least 2,000 animals after the Nashville campaign, though not killed in battle for the most part, dead just the same. Another example of humans not taking very good care of our co-occupants of the earth. The horses certainly didn't need war. Come to think of it, humans didn't either.

[M E Wolf]

Dear Larry Cockerham,

You can also add the mascots and dogs didn't need the war either. [Smiles]

Few of these war dogs are remembered.

Irish Wolfhound memorialized on the Irish Brigade's memorial at Gettysburg.
The 69th New York Regiment.

Major - a mutt was a mascot for the 10th Maine and would be known as the 29th Maine after reorganization. Would snap and growl at the Confederates and tried to catch mini balls until Major finally caught one and died.

Brig. General Asboth's dog York, a Setter would go into battle. York is memorialized in a painting identifying the place as the Battle of Pea Ridge.

1st Maryland Artillery, listed Grace as their mascot and was killed in action.

Old Harvy, a white Bulldog of the 104th Ohio served as a mascot and was in the thick of the Battle of Franklin.

Jack, a brown and white Bull Terrier mascot of the 102nd Pennsylvania Infantry, made up of volunteer firemen; claimed that Jack would know the bugle calls, obey only the men of 'his' regiment. But, Jack was best at seeking and finding wounded and the dead of his regiment and stand guard over them. Jack was wounded at Malvern Hill and captured twice by Confederates and the Regiment would exchange a prisoner for this dog. He disappeared after being gifted with a silver collar--the story seems to lead to the fact the dog was stolen for the valued collar.

The Union and Confederate armies used dogs as messengers. This follows the American Army use of canines or more properly labeled/titled American Canine Corps during the Seminole War in 1835 and again in 1842 in Florida and Louisana --hunting Indians and runaway slaves. Using Cuban bred bloodhounds for tracking.

Overseas, the use of canines for messages, guard duty and the like goes way back for as long as war has occurred.

President Jeff Davis' dog was named Traveler.

General Robert E. Lee had a pet hen that would lay an egg every day under his cot. The hen had a ride in the Headquarter's wagon.

General - A Saint Bernard was the mascot for the 14th North Carolina Infantry (CSA)

Robert Lee - was a mascot of the Troupe Artillery (CSA)

Stonewall - A dog and mascot of the "Richmond Howitzers" would be given rides by the artillery in the safety of the limber chests during battle. Stonewall was taught to attend roll call and during roll call sat on his haunches in line.

Old Abe - a Bald Eagle was the mascot for the Eagle Regiment - Co. C; 8th Regiment of Wisconsin Volunteers. Attended 42 battles and skirmishes. Old Abe would fly over the Confederates fussing at them with screaching. Officially retired Sept. 24, 1864 the bird lived until March 1881when the Eagle died of smoke inhalation when the Wisconsin Capital burned.

An unknown named dog, who followed faithfully with the First Maryland Infantry (CSA) up Culp's Hill, having charged with the 1st Maryland Infantry was killed in action. An unknown Union officer so moved by this dog's gallantry and loyalty to it's human companions--ordered that a proper burial be had alongside the 1st Maryland Infantry's dead.


11th Pennsylvania Monument memorializes "Sallie", a Brindle Staffordshire Bull Terrier of the 11th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. She was separated from her unit and Sallie went to the Union battle line at Oak Ridge where she stood guard over the wounded and dead. She would do this at every battle. She was killed by a bullet to the head at the Battle of Hatcher's Run, in Virginia and buried in the battlefield with her 11th Pennsylvanian Volunteers. But, she is not forgotten and this is why Sallie is memorialized on a monument to their Infantry.


There are most likely other mascots that did much for the soldiers of both armies during the Civil War.

Just some thoughts.

M. E. Wolf

[Bobbie]

Originally Posted by M E Wolf

Jack, a brown and white Bull Terrier mascot of the 102nd Pennsylvania Infantry, made up of volunteer firemen; claimed that Jack would know the bugle calls, obey only the men of 'his' regiment. But, Jack was best at seeking and finding wounded and the dead of his regiment and stand guard over them. Jack was wounded at Malvern Hill and captured twice by Confederates and the Regiment would exchange a prisoner for this dog. He disappeared after being gifted with a silver collar--the story seems to lead to the fact the dog was stolen for the valued collar.

M E Wolf,
I would guess that poor Jack was actually Bull-and-Terrier (close to contemporary Pit Bull Terrier). The breed we know as the Bull Terrier was created in 1860s and the dogs were all-white at the time, colored Bull Terriers appeared in 20th century. Just a trifle

To your admirable list of animals worth remembering for their Civil War share I would also add an unnamed (probably) diary cow- property of Brig. Gen. William Mahone- which was tethered to his headquarters wagon. General suffered from dyspepsia and fresh milk was crucial to his diet.

[Bobbie]

And some more names of Civil War horses:

Star of the West - JEB Stuart - died of distemper in December 1863;

Virginia - JEB Stuart - died of distemper in September 1863;

Maryland - JEB Stuart - one of his favorites, became ill in December 1863 and was sent to the farm of Stuart's friend;

Chancellor - JEB Stuart - died from the effects of a combat wound in December 1863.

Maggie - Richard S. Ewell - sorrel mare killed at Gaines's Mill (one of the three sorrel mares he lost in the war).

[M E Wolf]

Dear Bobbie,

Oh how wonderful to gain more names to the identity of horses and their Master. Thank you so very much for your additions to this list of brave equines and bovines.

Sincerely,
M. E. Wolf

[M E Wolf]

Dear List Members,

Got two more names to add --

Annie - General Winfield Scott Hancock -black mare, died of battle wounds around the retreat of Union troops -The Wilderness (First campaign before Gettysburg)

Cornwall - General John "Uncle John" Sedgwick - Union - VI Corps, present at Gettysburg. Identified at the Gettysburg statue.

Respectfully submitted,
M. E. Wolf

[larry_cockerham]

Thanks very much for continuing to post these names. I'd very much like to distribute the composite list to my SCV camp when you're a little further along, giving you full credit for the research, of course?