Nameless old war-horse, passes at age of 34

John Hartwell

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We don't even know his name. An old veteran of 34 long equine years, he had carried his man through the war, and even to the day he marched in the funeral cortege, fully caparisoned for war, boots symbolically reversed in the stirrups. Wish we knew more about him, but it sounds like he had a good, long life.
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[Pittsburg Dispatch, Jan. 27, 1890]​
The officer in question was Lt.Col. William J. H. Robinson, 11th Indiana Volunteer Infantry. I can find little about him or his service, besides his Find-a-Grave page. (note, the "Co. S" in the description indicates a "Staff" position).
 
The tradition of the Riderless Horse at a military funeral is an ancient and beautiful one, dating back to the time of Genghis Khan. Ceremonially caparisoned, carrying the deceased officer's saddle and sword, with his boots reversed in the stirrups. Alexander Hamilton is said to have been the first American so honored.
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I first became aware of the tradition in 1963, watching the funeral procession of President Kennedy. The horse was led out directly following the caisson that bore the coffin, and ahead of the long cortege of distinguished mourners. The riderless horse was Black Jack, and he was restless, skipping about nervously, he wanted to run, you could see it in every muscle, But, his leader kept a firm hold of the bridle, and Black Jack obeyed.

Foaled in 1947, Black Jack was a half-Morgan, and the last of the Quartermaster-issued horses -- the last to bear the official "U.S." brand on his left shoulder. He walked behind the caskets of three presidents: Kennedy (1963), Hoover (1964), and Johnson (1973), as well as that of Gen. Douglas MacArthur (1964). He died on February 6, 1976, and was buried on the parade ground of Fort Myers, Virginia, with full military honors.
 
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