A Lincoln "Saying"

[SSlater]

Lincoln once said "I can create all the Generals, that I need, but horses are $125.00 each "

[RJNorton]

This is mentioned in The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln:

"Brigadier General Edwin H. Stoughton of Vermont was captured in bed at 2 A.M. on March 9 during a raid by Confederate General John S. Mosby. It was of this episode that Lincoln was reported to have said "that he did not mind the loss of the Brigadier as much as he did the loss of the horses. `For,' said he, `I can make a much better Brigadier in five minutes, but the horses cost a hundred and twenty-five dollars apiece.' " (New York Times, March 11, 1863)."

[LincolnMan]

I guess seeing it from a utilitarian point of view- horses were badly needed in a way we might take for granted. I wonder how many horses were used in the war? And how short was the lifespan of a horse in the war?

[RJNorton]

Bill, there's an article about horses and the Civil War here.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Fascinating article, thanks for the link, Roger!

[LincolnMan]

That is a great article. This may sound silly but there could be a monument or statue in Washington (or elsewhere) just to horses for the services they provided in the war.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Doesn't sound silly - the horses deserve IMO. There are horse statues for "less" - e.g. because they were successful jumpers.

[L Verge]

It's called the Ugly Betty statue (not sure why because I think it is magnificent), but the memorial to Gen. Grant that stands at the western base of Capitol Hill gives war horses their proper due. It's a shame that more people don't know about it. Just its placement, to me, seems to symbolize Grant's saving of the Union. When you view it, you also get a great view of the U.S. Capitol.

The central figure is Grant astride his horse on a marble base, but the separate monuments on either side of him are what are terrific to me. One shows the cavalry in action, and the other shows the artillery. The facial expressions on both men and beasts tell a great story by themselves. Near the base of one of those is the head of a soldier who is being trampled. It is believed to be a self-portrait of the sculptor Schrady.

Google Grant Memorial on Capitol Hill if you are not familiar with this statue.

[LincolnMan]

Thanks Laurie. I didn't know about it. Magnificent! They all are so realistic they look alive.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Not a statue - the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History has Phil Sheridan's (original!) horse "Winchester" on display:
   
Please go here for some interesting background information:
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/un...124899830/

[L Verge]

Stonewall Jackson's "Little Sorrel" was preserved and should still be shown at the museum at the Virginia Military Institute - unless someone has declared him an evil Confederate and demanded his removal. I last saw him about twenty-five years ago, and he was looking a little shabby then.

[LincolnMan]

Laurie: it wouldn't surprise me. We wouldn't want to "offend" anybody. Our State Department came very close two weeks ago to apologizing to Japan for WWII. Never thought I see such a day- not in my wildest imagination.

[L Verge]

I heard that and went to check on the grave of my father. Sure enough, the ground was disturbed. My WWII and Korean War veteran sire literally rose up out of his grave in protest! Dad had just been transferred from Hickam Field shortly before the attack on Pearl Harbor, so he lost some good friends.

[LincolnMan]

I betcha he would! Next thing we will be apologizing to Germany for the Holocaust!

[L Verge]

(04-18-2016 01:26 PM)LincolnMan Wrote:  I betcha he would! Next thing we will be apologizing to Germany for the Holocaust!

While pretending that Benghazi never happened...!

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I just had to include this clip because it is now history also... http://biggeekdad.com/2013/01/the-best-of-times/