U. S. Grant rode a Grimsley

[Mike Ventura]

Found a letter up for auction at Heritage Auctions authenticated to Lt. Gen. US Grant and dated May 19, 1865 stating that Gen'l Grant was giving his Grimsley saddle that he rode from the days of Ft. Donalson to Lee's surrender at Appomattox to his friend and aide, Col. A.H. Markland.

http://historical.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=6054&Lot_No=34244&type=book6053-54cls-tem040511

Shows that Grant not only rode a Grimsley, but used the same saddle throughout the war.

[The Egyptian Homeguard]

Re: U. S. Grant rode a Grimsley

Wonder what became of it? I know Gen. Logan's is in the Illinois State Military Museum, he too rode his the duration of the War. Had a horse shot out from him at Donelson... So I'm not positive it's the same he rode to war on... In the picture of Grant's Cincinnati horse he's wearing it complete with shabraque, so you can't see a good deal of it. Cool find though. Z

[Mike Ventura]

Re: U. S. Grant rode a Grimsley

Zack -

If you read further down the descriptive page from the auction house, it states that the saddle is on display at the U.S. Army Quartermaster Museum in Ft. Lee, NJ.

[The Egyptian Homeguard]

Re: U. S. Grant rode a Grimsley

I totally overlooked that... to busy trying a to find a way to save a copy of the letter...I didn't earn the nickname "pack-rat" for nothing! Thanks for the heads up. Z

[ralsarice]

Re: U. S. Grant rode a Grimsley

The US Quartermaster museum is in Fort Lee, Virginia, which is part of the Petersburg battlefield.

[J.H.Berger]

Re: U. S. Grant rode a Grimsley

The saddle was on display in the QM museum when last I visited it in 2003. By the way the saddle is pictured on page 147 Rebels and Yankees Battlefields of the Civil War.

[Mark Choate]

Re: U. S. Grant rode a Grimsley

Mike and all,

We were discussing this two weeks ago at the Shiloh documentary filming that he did have a Grimsley at the time of Shiloh. There was some discussion as to which shabraque that he had, though.

regards,
Mark

[Mike Ventura]

Re: U. S. Grant rode a Grimsley

Adam, thanks for correcting my "Ft. Lees"

[Mike Ventura]

Re: U. S. Grant rode a Grimsley

I totally overlooked that... to busy trying a to find a way to save a copy of the letter...I didn't earn the nickname "pack-rat" for nothing! Thanks for the heads up. Z

I missed it the first time too!

[U.S Dragoon]

Re: U. S. Grant rode a Grimsley

yes, i remember seeing that saddle back in 2001 when i was at MOS school at Ft Lee


jason Klug