lelliott19
Brigadier General
★ Moderator
* OFFICIAL *
CWT PRESENTER
CWT PRESENTER
Forum Host
Silver Patron
Regtl. Staff Chickamauga 2018
- Joined
- Mar 15, 2013
The image is entitled "Knight of the Valley" by John Paul Strain and purchase information is available here http://www.johnpaulstrain.com/art/knight-of-the-valley.htm
"Tom Telegraph" - magnificent white war horse of Turner Ashby.
I found this info while answering a trivia Q submitted by @57th Indiana Infantry. The question has been scored and posted now so I thought I'd share this additional info. Perhaps no one else will be interested in Tom Telegraph's pedigree except @diane @Allie and @FarawayFriend but Ill include it anyway.
If horses aren't your thing, just skip down to the **********************
Tom's sire was reportedly a 15 hand brown Morgan stallion named "Old Tom Telegraph." Old Tom was an 1840 model, bred in Vermont. Col. Richard Henry Dulany bought Old Tom while on a visit to St Albans, VT. He immediately brought Old Tom to Loudoun County, Va. Col Dulany bred Old Tom to a number of local mares including one gray saddlebred mare owned by James Hathaway. The resulting offspring was the colt, "Tom Telegraph."
By 1859, Tom Telegraph had made a name for himself at the Upperville Colt & Horse Show (founded in 1853 by Col Dulany) ....
"For many years past much attention has been bestowed on breeding horses for the saddle, and such a commingling of pure riding blood was never known in any other country. Hiatoga, Robroy, Saltram, Tom, and Tom Telegraph hold place in affection of the people, and each is highly esteemed by his friends. It is a wonder that the product of such moving crosses ever stand still enough to get a saddle on." (Upperville Union Colt Club, The Southern Planter, August 1859, Vol. XIX, p. 477)
Tom Telegraph sired at least three recorded offspring - all mares who would go on to produce foals: Kate (aka Kate Telegraph), Lizzie, and Bird.
*****************************************************************************************************
Hathaway gifted the gallant white stallion to Turner Ashby. According to "I Rode With Stonewall" upon giving the horse to Ashby, Hathaway said: "You know how I prize my white stallion...and of my intention not to sell him. You will make your mark in the coming war. I desire you to ride the horse for my sake."
Tom Telegraph was admired by all who saw him - and not just because of his beauty. He was described as being "disciplined like his master, to the accomplishment of the most wonderful feats. He will drop to the ground in a flash, at the wish of his rider, and rise again as suddenly, bound through the woods like a deer, avoiding trees and branches, clearing every obstacle, jumping fences or ditches with perfect ease." Marginalia; Or, Gleanings from an Army Note-book, Felix Gregory De Fontaine, page 47.
Last edited: