"Charlie," the Only Horse to Throw U. S. Grant

John Hartwell

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Gen. James G. Wilson tells of "Famous American War Horses" in The Outlook magazine (Jan. 1897), including Charlie, "the only horse that ever unseated the illustrious soldier Grant;" and, maybe, "was responsible for the defeat of the Northern army at Chickamauga."

General Nathaniel P. Banks, who was a perfect rider, was the owner of two beautiful bay chargers while in command of the Department of the Gulf. When, in September, 1863, General Grant visited New Orleans, a review of the Thirteenth Corps, which had recently arrived from Vicksburg, was held in his honor. Banks rode his greatest favorite, Shenandoah, purchased in Virginia, and Grant mounted his other war-horse, Charlie, who had been wounded in the battle of Cedar Mountain. After the review the above officers, with their staffs, and many others, including Lorenzo Thomas, the Adjutant-General of the United States Army, then organizing colored regiments in Louisiana, were invited by a wealthy planter to a lunch-party. Before the entertainment was concluded a trial of speed on the shell road was arranged by General Thomas between Grant, mounted on Charlie, and a young cavalry officer, who was the owner of a Kentucky thoroughbred bay named Donna. As they sped along, neck and neck, on the Carrollton road, the riders, in turning a sharp bend in the road, came suddenly on an approaching train, which, together with the shriek of the locomotive, caused the spirited Charlie to swerve from his course and to throw the General straight over his head. This unfortunate accident confined Grant to his bed for several weeks, and possibly was responsible for the defeat of the Northern army at Chickamauga, when otherwise he would have arrived in season to avert the disaster that overtook the Union forces. As soon as the General was able to move about on crutches he proceeded to Chattanooga, and soon relieved that beleaguered city. For two months after his fall he could not walk without the aid of a cane and crutch. Charlie was brought to the North at the close of the war, and for many years was kindly cared for at the Massachusetts home of General Banks in Waltham, where he died and was buried. The beautiful Virginia bay enjoys the unique distinction of being the only horse that ever unseated the illustrious soldier Grant, who was noted for his skillful riding from early boyhood, and as a West Point cadet.
NOTE: a full transcription of the Wilson's "Famous American War Horses" is now online as article No. 34 of my Civil War Miscellany linked below.
 
So, Charlie is the horse what done that deed! :x3: Grant had a need for speed - loved racing. I'd liked to seen a horse race between him and Forrest, who was thrown only once outside of combat. A neighbor had three big mean dogs and they came barking after the horse Forrest was on, which did the same swerve and dumped him right in front of the dogs. They'd never had somebody thrown at them before so they ran - Forrest was 8 at the time. Grant would have fallen in love with Forrest's prize horse Roderick.
 
For two months after his fall he could not walk without the aid of a cane and crutch. Charlie was brought to the North at the close of the war, and for many years was kindly cared for at the Massachusetts home of General Banks in Waltham, where he died and was buried. The beautiful Virginia bay enjoys the unique distinction of being the only horse that ever unseated the illustrious soldier Grant, who was noted for his skillful riding from early boyhood, and as a West Point cadet.

That's the nice fairy tale ending of the story. In reality, General Grant arranged for Charlie to be sent to a new dog food company known a s Spratt's who turned Charlie into Spratt's Meat Fiberine Dog Cakes. :devilish:
 
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That's the nice fairy tale ending of the story. In reality, General Grant arranged for Charlie to be sent to a new dog food company known a s Spratt's who turned Charlie into his Spratt's Meat Fiberine Dog Cakes. :devilish:
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