War-horse of Union General Alpheus Starkey Williams,
In my last posting several weeks ago I told the story of Beppo, horse of Hugh Judson Kilpatrick. I have always thought that Beppo was the strangest and most unflatering name for a Civil War horse that I have ever seen. Then I came upon the name of Gen. Williams' horse Plug Ugly. What a great name! I knew there was a good story here and if it was not lost to history I knew I would find it.
Today I googled Gen Alpheus Williams and I got my story! I found a great Website hosted by Lowell Forest Buileau. The site is called The Alpheus Williams website; Plug Ugly, Project Plug Ugly. It is named for the General's favorite War horse.(The thought of the host is that Plug Ugly is a good discription of the American Civil War)
Gen. Williams is an almost unknown and unsung hero of the Civil War. He commanded a division in the many of the important Eastern battles. He always seemed to be in the thick of the fighting at the front of his men, usually mounted on Plug Ugly. The General survived the War without injury mainly because of his ugly, tough, "rough duty horse". Plug Ugly always carried the General off the field despite being wounded at least five times.
By the start of 1864 Plug was getting worn down from battle wounds and accidents. General Williams wrote, "... He is an odd, lazy old fellow, sometimes pretending to be very scary, especially after every battle, at other time apparently afraid of nothing. For a year and a half we have been daily companions. We got up a great love for even brutes under such circumstances, I should grieve to part with old Plug, with all his faults."
Finally, during the Atlanta campaign Old Plug died as a result of his wounds.
In my last posting several weeks ago I told the story of Beppo, horse of Hugh Judson Kilpatrick. I have always thought that Beppo was the strangest and most unflatering name for a Civil War horse that I have ever seen. Then I came upon the name of Gen. Williams' horse Plug Ugly. What a great name! I knew there was a good story here and if it was not lost to history I knew I would find it.
Today I googled Gen Alpheus Williams and I got my story! I found a great Website hosted by Lowell Forest Buileau. The site is called The Alpheus Williams website; Plug Ugly, Project Plug Ugly. It is named for the General's favorite War horse.(The thought of the host is that Plug Ugly is a good discription of the American Civil War)
Gen. Williams is an almost unknown and unsung hero of the Civil War. He commanded a division in the many of the important Eastern battles. He always seemed to be in the thick of the fighting at the front of his men, usually mounted on Plug Ugly. The General survived the War without injury mainly because of his ugly, tough, "rough duty horse". Plug Ugly always carried the General off the field despite being wounded at least five times.
By the start of 1864 Plug was getting worn down from battle wounds and accidents. General Williams wrote, "... He is an odd, lazy old fellow, sometimes pretending to be very scary, especially after every battle, at other time apparently afraid of nothing. For a year and a half we have been daily companions. We got up a great love for even brutes under such circumstances, I should grieve to part with old Plug, with all his faults."
Finally, during the Atlanta campaign Old Plug died as a result of his wounds.