Vanity hangs by a tail

[NH Civil War Gal]

From Surgeon Major Brinton's memoirs of the Western Theater when they were at Fort Donelson.

They are on a big steamboat and the horses and mules are packed in tightly.

About this time among the horses tethered, Major (afterward General) Rawlins, Grant's Chief of Staff, had a very fine bay, with a splendid tail, which he was always admiring, saying to everyone, "Just see that splendid tail. It almost touches the ground." But, alas! The animal was tethered in front of a mule, and one morning the tail was changed. The hair had disappeared, and the bones stuck out bare and ragged, not very much longer than your hand and wrist. The fact was reported to Rawlins, and we went with him to examine the catastrophe. The report was true. At that time, Rawlins was very profane, even under ordinary circumstances, but this incident was overwhelming to him. At first, supposing this mutilation to have been the deliberate work of some malevolent person, his indignation knew no bounds, he could scarcely find anathemas sufficiently strong to do justice to the occasion. When at last, it was discerned that the ornamental tail was eaten off for the salt in it, by the rear mule, Rawlins was dumb with wrath.

 

[stu613]

From Surgeon Major Brinton's memoirs of the Western Theater when they were at Fort Donelson.

They are on a big steamboat and the horses and mules are packed in tightly.

About this time among the horses tethered, Major (afterward General) Rawlins, Grant's Chief of Staff, had a very fine bay, with a splendid tail, which he was always admiring, saying to everyone, "Just see that splendid tail. It almost touches the ground." But, alas! The animal was tethered in front of a mule, and one morning the tail was changed. The hair had disappeared, and the bones stuck out bare and ragged, not very much longer than your hand and wrist. The fact was reported to Rawlins, and we went with him to examine the catastrophe. The report was true. At that time, Rawlins was very profane, even under ordinary circumstances, but this incident was overwhelming to him. At first, supposing this mutilation to have been the deliberate work of some malevolent person, his indignation knew no bounds, he could scarcely find anathemas sufficiently strong to do justice to the occasion. When at last, it was discerned that the ornamental tail was eaten off for the salt in it, by the rear mule, Rawlins was dumb with wrath.

That's quite the tale you tell about the tail!

 

[lupaglupa]

I hope it didn't hurt the horse!