. Breeder and sportsman. Horses. 1888 'ght ^xtt&zx awtl jg portsman. 187 An Array Horse's Fate- The fate of the army horse is generally a sad one. Having taken to a mili'ary career he giveB up all hopes of enjoying any of the bene- fits which some of his kindred enjoy who wear away their prime in dragging a truck or dray. These latter often are cared for by considerate masters in retarn for years of good, reliable service. Not so with the army equine. He can look forward to a few years of luxurious living and fare. But let him become sick or disabled and he is cast adrift in a cruel world,
. Breeder and sportsman. Horses. 1888 'ght ^xtt&zx awtl jg portsman. 187 An Array Horse's Fate- The fate of the army horse is generally a sad one. Having taken to a mili'ary career he giveB up all hopes of enjoying any of the bene- fits which some of his kindred enjoy who wear away their prime in dragging a truck or dray. These latter often are cared for by considerate masters in retarn for years of good, reliable service. Not so with the army equine. He can look forward to a few years of luxurious living and fare. But let him become sick or disabled and he is cast adrift in a cruel world, and he ends his days in misery. The gallant, pranciDg steed that bears the Colonel's manly form around the parade ground may in a month be crawling along some by-way in Tar- Flat, dragging at his heels a decrepit old soap- fat wagon. As soon as it is discovered that a horse is untit for duty, a request is sent to the quar- termaster to have the animal condemned. A horse does not have to be disabled to be con- demned and branded I. C. (inspected and condemned). If he will not stay in the ranks, if he is nervous at the sound of music or the whistling of a shot, he is condemned. Horses get soured in disposition, too, as if they re- pented of entering the service and wanted to get out of it. There are instances, preseived as legends in the army, where horses have been rewarded for loDg a-d faithful service by being ctred for in their old age. A notable case is that o£ the equine survivor of Custer's fntal battle with the Sioux on the Little Big Horn. The clouds of smoke had passed up the ravine, the last savage whoop had long ceased to re- echo among the hills, and Miles Keogh's horse at evening Was the only living thing that moved along the battle-held where the corpses of poor Custer's boys in blue were strewn. Here was the animal discovered lingering over the body of his dead master. Miles Keogh's horse, by a special department order, was sent to West Point, where he was to pa
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjecthorses, bookyear1882
