Captured Saddles and Mounts - Period Accounts

[OldKingCrow]

CS Lt with CObb's Legions comments on captured Federal Soldiers at Atlanta in 1864. I wonder what he means by the "English tree saddle"

He was a good fellow and learning briefly of my experience and the loss of my horse, he promptly proposed to mount me. So calling a Yankee Lieut. Colonel who was still mounted on his horse, he introduced me. I told him that I regretted the circumstances of war which made it necessary for me to deprive him of his mount. He was a gentleman and with a salute dismounted, pleasantly remarking that such were the fortunes of war and further that his horse was government property and not his, he courteously handed me the reins. By tearing strips from my shirt tail with the aid of those about me, I got my scalped wrist, which I had bandaged before with my handkerchief, into a sling so as to make it more comfortable and mounted my new Yankee horse with Simmons' aid. In spite of his entreaties to remain with him, as I was unfit to go to the front, on the fighting line, I rode rapidly towards the front, hoping in some way to find my lost horse and English tree-saddle and saddle bags, containing a new suit of jeans lately received from home

WILEY C. HOWARD, Formerly Lieutenant Commanding Co. C, Cobb Legion Cavalry. ATLANTA, GA., AUGUST 19th, 1901.

[OldKingCrow]

Re: Captured Saddles and Mounts - Period Accounts

Federals taking saddles and mounts from cvilians late war SC

Monday, February 27th. Yankees at DuBois (near Bonneau's) yesterday noon, four or five in number; did nothing but carry off Mr. Harvey's saddle and bridle. Before leaving they called up the negroes and told them they were free; consequently none would go to work this morning. Father heard this from Mr. Harvey whom he met at Pooshee, where all the men left in the neighborhood met to decide what to do to save

Friday, March 3rd. A most exciting night of horror! While I was writing yesterday afternoon another squad of three Yankees rode up in search of saddles and bridles. They were very rude; said we might as well tell where things were and save their rummaging, and then rode off.

TWO DIARIES FROM MIDDLE ST. JOHN'S, BERKELEY,
SOUTH CAROLINA, FEBRUARY-MAY, 1865
JOURNALS KEPT BY MISS SUSAN R. JERVEY AND MISS CHARLOTTE ST. J.
RAVENEL, AT NORTHAMPTON AND POOSHEE PLANTATIONS,

PUBLISHED BY THE ST. JOHN'S HUNTING CLUB
1921

[OldKingCrow]

Re: Captured Saddles and Mounts - Period Accounts

Morgan CS Trooper capturing Federal tack and goods:

"I captured a splendid overcoat, lined through and through, a fine black cloth coat, a pair of new woolen socks, a horse muzzle to feed in, an Enfield rifle, a lot of pewter plates, knives and forks, a good supply of smoking tobacco, an extra good cavalry saddle, a halter, and a pair of buckskin gloves, lined with lamb's wool - all of which things I needed.”

“MORGAN'S MEN” A Narrative of Personal Experiences By HENRY LANE STONE DELIVERED BEFORE GEORGE B. EASTIN CAMP, No. 803 United Confederate Veterans AT THE FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY LOUISVILLE, KY. April 8, 1919

[OldKingCrow]

Re: Captured Saddles and Mounts - Period Accounts

One of NBF troopers boarding a captured gunboat and procuring tack:

"I soon discovered on a bed in one of the little cabins a bundle as big as a washtub, the outside of which was a new United States blanket. I had it under one arm, on the outside promenade in the dark, and when the fellow got his canteens filled with whisky he ran in and out of those rooms looking for his bundle. After he left I got back to the wheel and pitched my goods to the bank. Directly another boat came down and surrendered. It, too, was loaded with Yankee stock, and it was brought up by the side of the one I was on. The detail soon got them on the first boat, and then to land. There was a dim light at the end of the boat, but it was as dark as a dungeon down my way. I was watching the proceedings, when one of the men took a new Yankee McClellan saddle from a horse and put it by the engine of the boat I was on. Now my old saddle was ruining my horse's back, and I felt I had as much right to that saddle as he had - at least I tried to get my conscience to help me see it that way - so I got that old crippled foot in motion and started for the saddle, using my gun to help me along, keeping one eye on the fellow, with the other trying to locate the saddle, feeling all the time that the old devil might get me if I took the saddle. All at once I struck my toes against the back of a mule that had been shot down as the boat came down the river; but he was still very
much alive, and when my toes struck him I fell across him with my face all mixed up with his feet and legs, and you never heard such a racket as he made kicking the side of the boat. I think I scared him nearly as badly as he did me. I soon caught on that the old troy didn't have me, and crawled over and got the saddle and threw it to land with my big bundle. I thought I had enough plunder and went to land with the horses. I soon changed the old saddle for the new put the bundle on the corner of a fence, and managed to get in the saddle from the fence. Then I got my stock of goods up before me and went to our horse holders' camp.

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Bledsoe gave me his horse, expecting to reach my horse in time to get away; but my horse was two or three hundred yards from where he left me, both horses were badly frightened at the noise of the battle and by their company's leaving them, so we both were in a bad fix. The horses were jumping around in all directions; and had I got a chance at the stirrup, I could not have borne a pound on my sprained ankle nor could I stand on it to raise the other foot from the ground. I saw a short log near by and managed to get on it, and as old Tuck came by I fell across the saddle like a sack of meal, then kicked and pawed the air until I got straight in the saddle. While those circus performances were going on, old Tuck was carrying me in a lope right toward the Yankees, who were about one hundred and fifty yards from me on the Charlotte Pike. I don't think any of them saw me until we were flying through the woods getting away from there, and at that time it was a perfect waste of Uncle Sam's ammunition to try to get their bullets to overtake old Tuck and me. In plunging over the big rocks in a creek at the foot of the big hill we had just passed over, the bits came out of old Tuck's mouth, and I had only the halter rein to guide with; but the woods were open, the ground level, so we made good time for a mile or so down the river. I then turned out to the pike and found our horse holders. As I passed in sight of poor Bob he was cutting some tall capers trying to get to the side of my horse to mount him. But I knew his doom was sealed, for the Yankees were coming to him in a run, and I thought sure they would get him and my horse too; but Bob knew I would not like it if he let those Yankees get Charley, so he turned him loose. He ran through the Yankee lines and never stopped until he got with his own people. Colonel Outlaw, of Kentucky, saw him coming from the Yankees and took him in, his old horse having played out on the run. My clothes in the saddlebags proved to him the he was not a Yankee horse, if he did have on a Yankee saddle.

Humorous Incidents of the Civil War The Experience of a Young Private
Confederate Soldier BY A. C. MCLEARY, Bennet’s Company of Forrest’s Command

[OldKingCrow]

Re: Captured Saddles and Mounts - Period Accounts

CS infantry private on a General's Mount and other CS used mounts by one of my all time favs Gen. JB Gordon

At another time on this march I found one of my youngest soldiers--he was a mere lad--lying on the roadside, weeping bitterly. I asked him what was the matter. He explained that his feet were so sore that he could not walk any farther and that he knew he would be captured. His feet were in a dreadful condition. I said to him, "You shall not be captured," and ordered him to mount my horse and ride forward until he could get into an ambulance or wagon, and to tell the quartermaster to send my horse back to me as soon as possible. He wiped his eyes, got into my saddle, and rode a few rods to where the company of which he was a member had halted to rest. He stopped his horse in front of his comrades, who were sitting for the moment on the roadside, and straightening himself up, he lifted his old slouch-hat with all the dignity of a commander-in-chief and called out: "Attention, men! I 'm about to bid you farewell, and I want to tell you before I go that I am very sorry for you. I was poor once myself!" Having thus delivered himself, he galloped away, bowing and waving his hat to his comrades in acknowledgment of the cheers with which they greeted him.

During this charge I came into possession of a most remarkable horse, whose fine spirit convinced me that horses now and then, in the furor of fight, were almost as sentient as their riders. This was especially true of the high-strung thoroughbreds. At least, such was my experience with a number of the noble animals I rode, some of which it was my painful fortune to leave on the field as silent witnesses of the storm which had passed over it. At Marye's Heights, the horse which I had ridden into the fight was exhausted in my effort to personally watch every portion of my line as it swept forward, and he had been in some way partially disabled, so that his movements became most unsatisfactory. At this juncture the beautiful animal to which I have referred, and from which a Union officer had just been shot, galloped into our lines. I was quickly upon her back, and she proved to be the most superb battle-horse that it was my fortune to mount during the war. For ordinary uses she was by no means remarkable--merely a good saddle animal, which Mrs. Gordon often rode in camp, and which I called "Marye," from the name of the hill where she was captured. Indeed, she was ordinarily rather sluggish, and required free use of the spur. But when the battle opened she was absolutely transformed. She seemed at once to catch the ardor and enthusiasm of the men around her. The bones of her legs were converted into steel springs and her sinews into india-rubber. With head up and nostrils distended, her whole frame seemed to thrill with a delight akin to that of foxhounds when the hunter's horn summons them to the chase. With the ease of an antelope, she would bound across ditches and over fences which no amount of coaxing or spurring could induce her to undertake when not under the excitement of battle. Her courage was equal to her other high qualities. She was afraid of nothing. Neither the shouting of troops, nor the rattle of rifles, nor the roar of artillery, nor their bursting shells, intimidated her in the slightest degree. In addition to all this, she seemed to have a charmed life, for she bore me through the hottest fires and was never wounded.

I recall another animal of different temperament, turned over to me by the quartermaster, after capture, in exchange, as usual, for one of my own horses. In the Valley of Virginia, during the retreat of the Union General, Milroy, my men captured a horse of magnificent appearance and handsomely caparisoned. He was solid black in color and dangerously treacherous in disposition. He was brought to me by his captors with the statement that he was General Milroy's horse, and he was at once christened "Milroy" by my men. I have no idea that he belonged to the general, for that officer was too true a soldier to have ridden such a beast in battle--certainly not after one test of his cowardice. His fear of Minié balls was absolutely uncontrollable. He came near disgracing me in the first and only fight in which I attempted to ride him. Indeed, if it had chanced to be my first appearance under fire with my men, they would probably have followed my example as they saw me flying to the rear on this elephantine brute. He was an immense horse of unusually fine proportions, and had behaved very well under the cannonading; but as we drew nearer the blue lines in front, and their musketry sent the bullets whistling around his ears, he wheeled and fled at such a rate of speed that I was powerless to check him until he had carried me more than a hundred yards to the rear. Fortunately, some of the artillerymen aided me in dismounting, and promptly gave me a more reliable steed, on whose back I rapidly returned in time to redeem my reputation. My obligations to General Milroy were very great for having evacuated at night the fort at Winchester (near which this horse was captured), and for permitting us to move over its deserted and silent ramparts in perfect security; but if this huge black horse were really his, General Milroy, in leaving him for me, had cancelled all the obligations under which he had placed me.

Reminiscences of the Civil War:
John Brown Gordon, 1832-1904

[OldKingCrow]

Re: Captured Saddles and Mounts - Period Accounts

Altar cloth saddle blanket ?

The church was much mutilated by the troops under Buell as they passed down the pike in front of it to reinforce Grant at Shiloh. They broke the bell and the window glasses, hacked the organ, blowing the pipes as they marched, and taking the beautifully embroidered altar cloths as saddle-blankets.

MEMOIRS OF A SOUTHERN WOMAN - "WITHIN THE LINES" AND A GENEALOGICAL RECORD By Mary Polk Branch - 1912

[OldKingCrow]

Re: Captured Saddles and Mounts - Period Accounts

Insight into obtaining a mount in the period:

May 11, 1864 Thursday. - Henry reached home late in the afternoon, so ragged and dirty that none of us knew him till he spoke. He had not had a change of clothes for three weeks, and his face was so dirty that he had to wash it before we could kiss him. He came all the way from Greensborough, N. C., on horseback, and when we asked him where he got his horse, he laughed and said that he bought a saddle for fifty cents in silver - his pay for three years' service - and kept on swapping till he found himself provided with a horse and full outfit. Garnett said he had better quit medicine and go to horse trading. The scarcity of specie gives it a fictitious value that brings down prices wonderfully, but even this is not sufficient to account for the sudden fall in the value of horses that has taken place in the track of our returning armies. Even here in Wilkes County, where the Confederate treasury was raided and specie is comparatively plentiful. Horses sell every day at prices ranging from 50c. to $2.50; and yesterday on the square, a negro sold one for 25c. The tide of travel is now mostly westward, and the soldiers help themselves to horses on the way that they have no further use for when they strike the railroad here, and are glad to sell them for any price they will bring, or even turn them loose to get rid of them. Instead of having to be guarded like gold, as was the case a week or two ago, horses are now a drug on the market at every railway station. Gen. Elzey says he found no sale for his in Augusta. I don't know what he will do for money to get home on.

Henry traveled out from Greensborough (N. C.) with an artillery company which paid its way in cloth and thread. The regiment to which he had been attached disbanded and scattered soon after the surrender, all except himself and the adjutant. Capt. Hudson says Henry doctored the adjutant and the adjutant officered him. They attached themselves to Maj. Palmer's battalion of artillery and Henry traveled as far as Ruckersville with it. He is now ready to begin life anew with a broken-down old army horse as his sole stock in trade. Garnett has not even that much. The Yankees got his horse, and his boy Sidney, whom he left with Henry when he took to the field, disappeared - to enjoy the delights of freedom, I suppose.


The War-Time Journal of a Georgia Girl,
1864-1865: Eliza Frances Andrews

[OldKingCrow]

Re: Captured Saddles and Mounts - Period Accounts

Post war account

During all these winters when it rained we protected ourselves as best we could with oilcloths captured from the federals; our head we pillowed on our saddles when we had time for a nap; our rations were poor; musty corn meal, and bacon and beef when we could get it. Of this we did not complain. It was the best the Confederacy could do for us. Our currency was so much depreciated as to be almost worthless. To give an idea of its purchasing power, I owned a good horse which would, in ordinary times, be worth a hundred dollars, which horse was valued into the service at eighteen hundred dollars

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Away back in 1866 when it was decided unsafe for me to remain longer in my native country, I decided to go to Kentucky. On my way, passing through Dyersburg, Tenn., I concluded to exchange my cavalry saddle with a saddler for one of a more peaceful and citizen-like look. While at this, a lot of ex-federal soldiers surrounded my horse and began to say, “I know that horse,” which I knew was not so. But, as their custom was, I thought they intended to take him from me by force if necessary. I went on putting on my new saddle, adjusting the length of the stirrup, etc., until I was ready to mount; pulling a navy six which I had attached to a belt and hid under all overcoat well to the front, I announced boldly that, “This is my horse, gentlemen,” mounted and rode away, but not without many misgivings as to what might befall me before night

AUTOBIOGRAPHY AND REMINISCENCES OF JOHN W. CARROLL HENDERSON, TENN. DEDICATORY

[OldKingCrow]

Re: Captured Saddles and Mounts - Period Accounts

CS General buying tack for other general

I remember well the time when the last mortal remains of the great Confederate general, Stonewall Jackson, were brought to Richmond for interment. The body lay in state in the rotunda of the capitol and all who desired could view the corpse. There lay still in death, the man who had been the right-hand and arm of General Robert E. Item and but few, if any, who passed around his bier failed to shed tears of sorrow at the great calamity which the South sustained thereby. Upon a caisson was placed the casket and conveyed to Hollywood Cemetery.

His faithful colored body-servant led the famous old sorrel horse that had carried him through so many battles. At the battle of Fredericksburg, General J. E. B. Stuart, with the aid of his servant, had provided the old horse with an entirely new equipment - new saddle and bridle - and when his men saw their general seated on his familiar old sorrel, bedecked and ornamented with the new trappings, they were utterly amazed at the improvement. His new uniform of Confederate grey, which had been procured for the general without his knowledge, became him well and was admired by all.LIFE GLEANINGS - Compiled by T. J. MACON, Richmond 1913

[OldKingCrow]

Re: Captured Saddles and Mounts - Period Accounts

Horse and US saddle for sale in Richmond

The Richmond Daily Dispatch: November 1, 1860.

For sale

--A stylish dark bay Horse, nine years old, gentle and sound; has been used in harness, but is specially recommended for the saddle would suit cavalry service. Also, a United States Saddle, with Equipments, Bridle, &c. Enquire of oc 31--4t* Peyton Johnston, Main st.

[English Doc]

Re: Captured Saddles and Mounts - Period Accounts

Some really nice accounts there.

Found this from OR's, series I, Vol. XLV, page 74

Hqrs. Cavalry Corps, Mil. Div. of The Misssissippi,
Edgefield, Tenn., Dec 6, 1864

Colonel La Grange,
Commanding Brigade, First Division:

COLONEL: An order is in force from the Secretary of War permitting General Wilson to press a sufficient number of serviceable horses to mount his command. He has parties out in this vicinity some days on this duty, but is still in want of several thousand horses.He therefore desires you to press all of the serviceable cavalry horses and mules you may find in the vicinity of your line of march and bring them with you to this point. I send you a package of memorandum receipts, which you will cause the officers detailed for the duty to give to the persons from whom they take the animals..........replaced by proper government vouchers upon presentation to Captain Carling, chief quartermaster to this corps..should a horse be taken that is not worth the maximum price paid by the Government ($160), the officer signing the receipt will state his estimated value...It is desireable in this matter that the citizens be treated with due consideration, and that receipts be given for every animal which is taken.
By command of Brevet Major-General Wilson:
A. J. Alexander
Lieutenant-Colonel and Chief of Staff

[OldKingCrow]

Re: Captured Saddles and Mounts - Period Accounts

Great Story....

I SECURE A HORSE

As the army was pressing the Confederates towards Port Gibson all that day I followed in the rear but without overtaking General Grant. While trailing along after the forces, I came across Fred Grant, then a lad of thirteen, who had been left asleep by his father on a steamer at Bruinsburg but had started out on foot like myself as soon as he awakened and found the army had marched. We tramped and foraged together until the next morning when some officers who had captured two old white carriage horses gave us each one. We got the best bridles and saddles we could and thus equipped made our way into Port Gibson which the enemy had deserted and where General Grant now had his headquarters. I rode that old horse for four or five days then by a chance I got a good one. A captured Confederate officer had been brought before General Grant for examination This man had a very good horse and after Grant had finished his questions the officer said "General, this horse and saddle are my private propert,y they do not belong to the Confederate army they belong to me as a citizen and I trust you will let me have them." "Of course while I am a prisoner I do not expect to be allowed to ride the horse, but I hope you will regard him as my property and finally restore him to me."

"Well" said Grant, "I have got four or five first rate horses wandering somewhere about the Southern Confederacy." "They have been captured from me in battle or by spies." "I will authorize you whenever you find one of them to take possession of him I cheerfully give him to you, but as for this horse, I think he is just about the horse Mr. Dana needs." I rode my new acquisition afterwards through that whole campaign and when I came away I turned him over to the quartermaster. Whenever I went out with General Grant anywhere he always asked some funny question about that horse. CHARLES A DANA'S REMINISCENCES (McLures Magazine Vol 10 1897

[OldKingCrow]

Re: Captured Saddles and Mounts - Period Accounts

Jenifer saddled horse with Federals of 13th NY

[OldKingCrow]

Re: Captured Saddles and Mounts - Period Accounts

Note his use of the later term (1866+) "16 shot Winchester" rather than the period "Henry".

"When I came out of those two fights I surely was the best equipped man in our army. I captured a horse with splendid equipments even the poncho and blanket rolled up behind the saddle. Before the fight was over I got a Colt's five shooter, a sixteen shot Winchester rifle, a saber, a nose bag for my horse and a bag of oats, also a canteen, six extra saddles, and a Yankee haversack filled with rations." John H. Worsham, 21st Rgt Va Inf, Co. F

[Lance Stifle]

Re: Captured Saddles and Mounts - Period Accounts

Hello OKC
your question on the "English tree" saddle struck a note with me, I remembered reading something about it somewhere.

OK, the reference is Major D Tyldens book "Horses and Saddlery. An account of the animals used by the British and commonwealth Armies from the seventeenth century to the present day with a description of their equipment" (1963)

Chapter four, "Riding Saddles of the Regular British Army until 1890".
page 129-131; The nineteenth century.
"We have seen the century come and go with both Heavy and Light Cavalry using a more or less roomy saddle of conventional English civilian type as regards the tree and small variations in the shape of slightly higher pommels and cantles. In a few cases saddles were used with what was called a demi-peak...a pronounced rise to the front arch...".

The diagrams shown on page 130 are of a wooden tree saddle with high spoon and cantle (both straight but angled) much like a Jennifer, but with a rawhide seat slung between pommel and cantle and laced along the panels between the burs and fans. It was known as the Hussar` saddle of 1805.

Could this saddle and/or a Jennifer be the "English tree" you've referred to?

Cheers mate.
Lance S.
(Kim Stewart)