Horses of the American Civil War

From: Finding Out!

Robert E Lee's horse "Traveller" is probably the best known of the horses of the American Civil War, but what were the names of some of the other horses ridden by  the generals of the war. My inquiring mind wants to know, so let's find out!!

Horses of the American Civil War

Phil Sheridan - Aldebaron, Rienzi- Winchester

The first horse on the list alphabetically is "Aldebaron" ridden by Union General Phil Sheridan. "Aldebaron" was the first horse ridden by Sheridan. The second horse that Sheridan was named "Rienzi", at least for a while. After the battle of Cedar Creek, Sheridan renamed "Rienzi" - "Winchester" From Wikipedia here's why....

....In October, however, Jubal Early caught Sheridan off guard.  Early launched a surprise attack at Cedar Creek on the 19th.  Sheridan, however, was ten miles away in Winchester, Virginia.  Upon hearing the sound of artillery fire, Sheridan raced to rejoin his forces.  He arrived just in time to rally his troops.  Early’s men, however, were suffering from hunger and began to loot the abandoned Union camps.  The actions of Sheridan (and Maj. Gen. Horatio Wright) stopped the Union retreat and dealt a severe blow to Early’s army. For his actions at Cedar Creek, Sheridan was promoted to Major General in the regular army.  He also received a letter of gratitude from President Abraham Lincoln.  The general took great pleasure in Thomas Buchanan Read’s poem, “Sheridan’s Ride” – so much so that he renamed his horse “Winchester”.  The Union victories in the Shenandoah Valley came just in time for Abraham Lincoln and helped the Republicans defeat Democratic candidate George B. McClellan in the election of 1864.

Phil Kearny - Bayard, Decatur, Moscow

"Decatur" one of Phil Kearny's horses was shot through the neck at Fair Oaks. His primary horse "Moscow" was not ridden into battle because he was a white horse! Kearny was killed at Chantilly on his third horse "Bayard"

J.E.B. Stuart - Skylark, Virgina

Stuart's warhouse "Skylark" was a gift from Alexander Ware, given to Stuart when he was at Harper's Ferry in 1862.  Stuart may have been riding "Skylark" when he  escaped capture at Verdiersville. Stuart was surprised by Union soldiers at Verdiersville and made a bareback escape. Some authors claim that he was riding "Highfly" or "Highflyer", others say it was "Skylark". Stuart never named the horse in a letter to his wife, Flora after the escape. However, research has shown that Stuart did not ride "Highfly" until after the escape, so unless it was an unknown horse he probably escaped on "Skylark" "Skylark" also is featured prominently in Richard Adams novel Traveller about Robert E Lee and his favorite and most famous horse.

Ulysess S Grant -  Cincinnati, Fox, Jack, Jeff Davis, Kangaroo, Methuselah and Rondy

"Methulsaleh" was the first horse that Grant had when he re-entered the Army in 1861 and "Rondy" was the first horse that he rode into battle. "Kangaroo", "Jeff Davis" and "Jack" were  Grant's secondary horses. "Fox" and "Cincinnati" were favorites . From: Grant the Equestrian Frederick Grant, son of General Grant writes....

The next horse that my father purchased for field service was a roan called "Fox," a very powerful and spirited animal and of great endurance. This horse he rode during the siege and battles around Fort Donelson and also at Shiloh.

At the battle of Shiloh the Confederates left on the field a rawboned horse, very ugly and apparently good for nothing. As a joke, the officer who found this animal on the field, sent it with his compliments, to Colonel Lagow, one of my father's aides-de-camp, who always kept a very excellent mount and was a man of means. The other officers of the staff "jollied" the colonel about this gift. When my father saw him, he told the colonel that the animal was a thoroughbred and a valuable mount and that if he, Lagow, did not wish to keep the horse he would be glad to have him. Because of his appearance he was named "Kangaroo," and after a short period of rest and feeding and care he turned out to be a magnificent animal and was used by. my father during the Vicksburg campaign.

In this campaign, General Grant had 'two other horses, both of them very handsome, one of which he gave away and the other he used until. late in the war. During the campaign and siege of Vicksburg, a cavalry raid or scouting party arrived at Joe Davis' plantation (the brother of Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederacy) and there captured a black pony which was brought to the rear of the city and presented to me. The animal was worn out when it reached headquarters but was a very easy riding horse and I used him once or twice. With care he began to pick up and soon carried himself in fine shape.

At that time my father was suffering with a carbuncle and his horse being restless caused him a great deal of pain. It was necessary for General Grant to visit the lines frequently and one day he took this pony for that purpose. The gait of the pony was so delightful that he directed that he be turned over to the quartermaster as a captured horse and a board of officers be convened to appraise the animal. This was done and my father purchased the animal and kept him until he died, which was long after the Civil War. This pony was known as "Jeff Davis."....

...."Cincinnati" was the son of "Lexington," the fastest four-mile thoroughbred in the United States, time 7:19 3/4 minutes. "Cincinnati" nearly 'equaled the speed of his half-brother, "Kentucky," and Grant was offered $10,000 in gold or its equivalent for him, but refused. He was seventeen hands high, and in the estimation of Grant was the finest horse that he had ever seen. Grant rarely permitted anyone to mount the horse --two exceptions were Admiral Daniel Ammen and Lincoln. Ammen saved Grant's life from drowning while a school-boy. Grant says: "Lincoln spent the latter days of his life with me. He came to City Point in the last month of the war and was with me all the time. He was a fine horseman and rode my horse 'Cincinnati' every day."

Other horses of the  American Civil War include: "Blackjack" - Jefferson Davis "Hero" James Longstreet "Kentuck" - George MacCellan "Lancer" - George Armstong Custer "Lexington" - William T. Sherman A complete list of the horses of the American Civil War came be found here at Wikipedia.