Mounted Artillery Horse Accident.....well kinda....

[Ken Knopp]

Thought some of you might be interested in this.....an accident last week in England during the Queens Salute (I believe this is an event commemorating her Coronation?) in which the British King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery suffered the loss of a horse. Apparently, one of the wheel horses fell while at the gallop and was run over by the cassion resulting in a broken leg. The animal was beyond recovery and so was almost immediately put down. Sad. The photos and story tell the sad tale.
This animal, according to the story, was an experienced artillery team horse. While this is of course, not our American Civil War I am taking the Mod's liberty of posting this here as it illustrates the inherent dangers in what WE do (mounted cavalry and of course artillery) even when experienced troopers and animals are involved.
One can only imagine the frequency of such injuries and deaths to horses that occured during "our war" when traversing long distances and in the heat of battle. One does not often read of such in the histories but perhaps it was because of its ugliness (for the poor beasts and, for the trooper- just another horror to blight from ones memory?) and I dare wonder, its frequency? Just my thoughts. Take a look....

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1393629/Tragedy-Queens-salute-Horse-run-gun-carriage.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

Ken R Knopp
Moderator

[dixieflyer]

Re: Mounted Artillery Horse Accident.....well kinda....

Ken,
I would suppose one reason we don't see this much in diaries, journals, etc. is that it was such a common place occurrence that it did not bear mention. Kinda like modern day mechanized soldiers experiencing breakdowns. It happens all the time. I also thing the overwhelming majority of folks, to include most reenactors have no comprehension of the sheer numbers of horses that were destroyed, killed, and just plain used up during the war. When you start to think about the scale of it, it boggles the mind.

[4VADRUMMER]

Re: Mounted Artillery Horse Accident.....well kinda....

Very sad story indeed! I grew up on a horse farm in central Virginia. (My dad was a horseman.) We have to remember these horses are bread for this and that's what they love and want to do. If you took their jobs away it would kill them quicker than any accident. We had a pulling team when I was young and I remember how happy the horses would get when dad would hook them up. They really perked up and seemed to strut their stuff as if to show off. I believe that they truly loved pulling and working. That's what is in their blood! It's tragic that this beautiful horse had to be put down but I assure you he died doing what he loved. Some folks just won't ever believe that unfortunately.

[Tom Craig]

Re: Mounted Artillery Horse Accident.....well kinda....

Ken,
Sad story, but thank you for posting it. It is a solid reminder of the sacrifice that animals are asked to make on our behalf, and also a reminder of the real grim toll of war from the Civil War. I think the previous poster was correct in saying that we don't read much about these types of accidents from the CW because they were common enough to not be worth writing about.

Think about how many cavalry battles that you about, and just how rarely horse casualties are reported. In some of the more detailed regimentals, you'll see three men listed as casualties, and 5-10 horses. It is simply a sad fact that for every man lost in the war, there were probably 3 horses that suffered the same fate.

Take care,
Tom Craig
1st Maine Cavalry