Battlefield Dispatches No. 208: 'War Horses'

In the study of the Civil War, one of the most common questions is how many soldiers died in the war? The answer is more than 600,000 Americans (soldiers, sailors and marines) in both the Blue and the Gray died in battle, of wounds received in combat or disease in the Civil War. Another statistic which is often overlooked or ignored is how many horses and mules died during the Civil War and the answer to this question approximately 1,500,000. Approximately is used here because I do not believe we will ever know the exact number, but 1.5 million can be documented and is the figure used on the "War Horse Memorial" that was unveiled and dedicated on Sept. 17, 1997.

This memorial is located immediately in front of the Virginia Historical Society in Richmond, Virginia and consists of a bronze sculpture / statue of a single Cavalry Horse that had suffered and survived many campaigns as a combat veteran! It was designed by Tessa Pullan of Rutland, England and was donated to the Virginia Historical Society by Paul Mellon. It is not known how many horses and mules died in direct combat and many more died as a result of exhaustion and being "Worn Out in Public Service" or being injured. A term often used to describe an unserviceable military horse or mule was that the animal was "broken down." What to do with a "broken down" horse or mule? If this happened on campaign or on the march the horse or mule could be abandoned by the side of the road or shot and killed to prevent it from falling into the hands of the enemy and being nursed back to good health.

At Fort Scott and other permanent posts of the "Union" Army, the Quartermaster Department was responsible for the purchase of horses and mules. While stationed at Fort Scott from 1862-1864, Captain Merritt (nsley (Post / District Quartermaster) advertised for and purchased 1,000's of horses and mules from local farmers for $25 - $40 each. The horses were for the cavalry regiments and the mules were used to pull the wagons in the Quartermaster, Commissary, Medical, Artillery cost and it would costand Ordnance Departments.

The following after action report describes some "broken down", wounded and captured horses. It is located on Pages 644 and 645 in "Volume 34, Part I, Reports of the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion."

"Hdqrs. Eighth Missouri State Militia Cavalry,

Lebanon, Missouri, April 2,1864.

General I have the honor to inform you that Lieut. William T. Chitwood, Company G, 8th Missouri State Militia Cavalry, sent out on a scout by your order of 17th March, returned to Lebanon last evening and reports that he marched to Thomasville, Oregon County, Mo., without anything of interest transpiring. On the 26th of March he heard of rebels near Spring River Mills in Arkansas. Marched south on the 26th and when near the Arkansas line discovered fresh trail of horses coming north from the direction of the mills and turned west. In following the trail he learned that they were rebels under the command of Captains B. Chambers and Kitchen. [He] followed them about 8 miles and came in sight of them, about 30 or 35 in number. He selected 20 of his best mounted men and watched for a favorably opportunity to attack them, which was presented by the rebels turning g at the point of a hill into a ravine, concealing his approach until he was quite near them. [He] ordered a charge and rushed up among the enemy, taking them by surprise. In the charge. Captain Chambers and 4 of his men were killed and the remainder fled, scattering in all directions. They attempted to form for a fight on the side of the mountain, but with little success. The only injury the Lieutenant's command sustained was the wounding of 3 horses of his command, his own being one of the number. He left the place where the fight occurred and went 6 miles to obtain forage [feed for the horses], he had had none for two days.

The enemy had had much the best horses and he was unable to overtake them after they fled. Captain Chambers had quite a number of letters from Southern soldiers to their friends in Missouri; letters stated that they had an opportunity to send their letters. He had a Confederate Battle-flag and Confederate money. His orders herewith enclosed.

On the 27th Lieutenant Chitwood learned by passing himself fora secessionist [Confederate sympathizer], that Captain Evans, a BUSHWHACKER, had 5 or 6 men following him and watching his movements. He left a sergeant and 5 men on the side of the road, about 11 o'clock on the 27th [setting up an ambush], 3 men passed along his trail and they were fired upon and 1 men was killed which proved to be Lieutenant Roberts of Captain Evan's company and the other 2 made their escape. The lieutenant [Chitwood] says that he learned from what he considers reliable information, that Colonel Freeman's command, numbering 500 or 600 men, was near Pocahontas, [Ark.] at the time ; says also that he could not obtain any forage of any consequence in Oregon County; that his HORSES WERE BROKEN DOWN, several of them having to be ABANDONED; that he believed after the fight on the 26th that all the gangs of Rebels in Oregon County made for Freeman's command and that they would not return without a sufficient force to overpower him and that he therefore returned; his command reached Gasconade last night. The Lieutenant reports that Captain Chambers and several of the men's HORSES were shot, as to be worthless [broken down]; that he captured 2 horses which were not injured, which were rode in by men of his command, whose horses were wounded and had to be abandoned-

All of which is respectfully submitted.

J. J. GRAVELY

Colonel Eighth Cavalry, Missouri State Militia."

In many ways a sound trained horse or mule was more valuable to the Union or Confederate forces than a new recruit because the soldier did not cost the government any money could be easily replaced. However, a good horse or mule did cost as did any replacement and of course the War Went ON!