View attachment 487443
Love, love, love this picture. Look at the intense expression on the chestnut horse furthest away. He's game. Focused on his job. Ready for the work ahead. My kind of horse!
This horse from
@LCYingling3rd 's photo seems to have the same noble attributes of "Old Stone" the warhorse of Joseph B Kershaw. As told by Rev. John Kershaw, the son of Joseph B Kershaw. John Kershaw served as a volunteer aid to his father from sometime soon after the Gettysburg campaign until both were captured at Sailor's Creek April 6, 1865.
"Old Stone" was a great favorite with his new owner [JB Kershaw] and the men of the command. He was well trained, strong and handsome, would have made a crack hurdle racer, and loved a fight. The fine description of the war horse in the book of Job, 39th chapter, fitted "Old Stone" perfectly: "He saith among the trumpets, Ha ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting."
In 1864, at Fishers Hill, in the Valley of Virginia, the noble horse was killed in the thickest of the fray. It was the afternoon of the day that made Sheridan famous by reason of his ride from Winchester, his rallying of the scattered Union forces, and his conversion of what had been a great victory for the Confederates into a terrible defeat.
In the charge ordered Old Stone was struck, once by a Minnie ball and afterwards full in the chest by grapeshot. He fell upon his knees, giving father time to dismount, and dragging himself painfully along until he reached the shadow of a wide-spreading chestnut, he stretched out his great limbs and died like the hero he was. I am glad to have the opportunity of paying tribute to an animal that was almost human in his comprehension and brave as a lion.
The Watchman and Southron, (Sumter, SC,) August 10, 1910, page 6.
and from the nighttime artillery demonstration.
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