Winchester fomerly Rienze, General Sheridan's horse

donna

Brev. Brig. Gen'l
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General Sheridan was given Rienze by the officers of the Second Michigan Cavalry in 1862. He was a Morgan horse, 3 years old and jet black with three white fetlocks. He was named Rienze after the town of Rienze, Mississippi. His name was changed to Winchester by Sheridan after the famous ride from Winchester, Virginia to Cedar Creek in October, 1864. He and his famous horse got their in time to turn defeat into victory.

Sheridan and Winchester were actually together for 40 other battles. He was even present at Appomattox Courthouse in April 1865 for Lee's surrender to Grant.

Winchester was wounded several times in battles. He did survive the war and lived to be 20 years old. He is preserved and mounted and is now on display at the National Museum of American History.

Both Sheridan and his horse have been commemorated in poetry, song, sculpture and museum exhibits.

The most famous poem to the pair is "Sheridan's Ride" by Thomas Buchanan Read.

Information from:

https://amhistory.si.edu/militaryhistory/collection/object.asp?ID=821
 
The poem "Sheridan's Ride"

"Up from the South, at break of day,
Bringing to Winchester fresh dismay.
The affrighted air with a shudder bore,
Like a herald in haste to the chieftain's door. The terrible grumble, and rumble, and roar,
Telling the battle was on once more,
And Sheridan twenty miles away."

See entire poem at:

http://www.bartleby.com/102/150.html
 
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The poem "Sheridan's Ride"

"Up from the South, at break of day,
Bringing to Winchester fresh dismay.
The affrighted air with a shudder bore,
Like a herald in haste to the chieftain's door. The terrible grumble, and rumble, and roar,
Telling the battle was on once more,
And Sheridan twenty miles away."

See entire poem at:

http://www.bartleby.com/102/150.html
I love that poem.
 
General Sheridan was given Rienze by the officers of the Second Michigan Cavalry in 1862. He was a Morgan horse, 3 years old and jet black with three white fetlocks. He was named Rienze after the town of Rienze, Mississippi. His name was changed to Winchester by Sheridan after the famous ride from Winchester, Virginia to Cedar Creek in October, 1864. He and his famous horse got their in time to turn defeat into victory.

Sheridan and Winchester were actually together for 40 other battles. He was even present at Appomattox Courthouse in April 1865 for Lee's surrender to Grant.

Winchester was wounded several times in battles. He did survive the war and lived to be 20 years old. He is preserved and mounted and is now on display at the National Museum of American History.

Both Sheridan and his horse have been commemorated in poetry, song, sculpture and museum exhibits.

The most famous poem to the pair is "Sheridan's Ride" by Thomas Buchanan Read.

Information from:

https://amhistory.si.edu/militaryhistory/collection/object.asp?ID=821
 
Picture depicting Sheridan's Ride.

sheridanhorse_zps48bf6dbb.jpg
 
Winchester/Rienzi's story was told by the inimitable Bill Nye (no, not that Bill Nye, but Edgar Wilson "Bill" Nye, 19th century humorist and journalist), in the spring of 1884:
nye1.png
nye2.png

Daily Illinois State Journal, March 18, 1884
There's probably a lesson in all that about old newspaper accounts in general -- particularly those about individuals who cannot tell their own stories.
 
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Thank you for bringing back this post. I like reading topics related to horses. He was a great war and he was symbol of a great general. He was vital to the victory at Cedar Creek and Five Forks, when he carried Sheridan, who inspired his men to fight and win. My mother had to know this poem in school, back when it was important not to forget.
 
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