Thread Medic- Joined
- Jul 23, 2017
- Location
- Southwest Missouri
His old horse had been shot from under him in the fight of the previous day, and he had taken possession of an animal that seemed to suit his work. In the battle a few hours later he was riding across a field in which there were numerous stumps. Suddenly the performance opened. The guns roared, and the air was filled with smoke and noise. Before Colonel Marshall knew what was happening the horse had his four feet on one of the stumps and was gayly dancing in a circle. In the meantime the firing was increasing and the situation was anything but comfortable, but the horse kept on as if he was enjoying it.
"It was not until afterward," said Colonel Marshall, "that I found the horse had belonged to a circus and had been trained to do this act amid the firing of cannon."
(Lt Col Marshall was the only Confederate soldier to attend the Appomattox surrender with General Lee)
The Saturday Evening Post Vol 173 From In Camp and Battle
another version....
During the battle of the Wilderness ....... The hotter the fire the more he would waltz.
The Colonel had no desire to keep the thing up: it was getting monotonous; but all at once there was a lull in the conflict, and then the well-trained circus horse - for such he was - was as easily guided as the Colonel wished; but he never rode him under fire again.
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