Traveller
As talented and skilled Generals Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson were in combat, their horses played a huge role in helping them both on and off of the battlefield. The courage, stamina, and calm dispositions of Little Sorrel and Traveller set them apart from other horses and created their legacies. They exhibited bravery even while surrounded by explosions and gunfire. Often seen as “the Civil War’s most famous horse”, Traveller’s success was predicted before he was even born. In 1839, his sire, Grey Eagle became famous after competing in an extraordinary $20,000 race in Kentucky. Later, he went on to father many successful horses, and in 1857, sired Traveller, originally named Jeff Davis by owner James Johnston. In his early …show more content…
The two overcame many dramatic situations together. In 1864, during his Overland Campaign, Lee attempted to lead attacks to the dismay of his soldiers. On six different occasions they grabbed the reins, stopping him from moving further. The most famous of these occasions was May 6th. Traveller was surrounded by members of the Texas Brigade who were after Lee. Eventually, the pair managed to escape, and Traveller carried Lee back to camp. They returned after midnight, and Lee, overcome with exhaustion, struggled to stand up. He had to cling on to Traveller’s neck to avoid collapsing. During the Second Battle of Manasses, Traveller spooked and reared, throwing Lee off in the process. These dramatic incidents only strengthened the bond that Lee and Traveller had. One notable event that proved the trust and bond between the two occurred when Lee was helping a young woman. She had been visiting his daughters, and Lee tied Traveller to a post while saying his goodbyes to her. Somehow, the horse managed to break the rope and free himself. Many people tried to catch him, but did not succeed. Lee turned around, silenced the crowd, and whistled for his horse. Traveller pricked his ears up and calmly trotted back to
As talented and skilled Generals Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson were in combat, their horses played a huge role in helping them both on and off of the battlefield. The courage, stamina, and calm dispositions of Little Sorrel and Traveller set them apart from other horses and created their legacies. They exhibited bravery even while surrounded by explosions and gunfire. Often seen as “the Civil War’s most famous horse”, Traveller’s success was predicted before he was even born. In 1839, his sire, Grey Eagle became famous after competing in an extraordinary $20,000 race in Kentucky. Later, he went on to father many successful horses, and in 1857, sired Traveller, originally named Jeff Davis by owner James Johnston. In his early …show more content…
The two overcame many dramatic situations together. In 1864, during his Overland Campaign, Lee attempted to lead attacks to the dismay of his soldiers. On six different occasions they grabbed the reins, stopping him from moving further. The most famous of these occasions was May 6th. Traveller was surrounded by members of the Texas Brigade who were after Lee. Eventually, the pair managed to escape, and Traveller carried Lee back to camp. They returned after midnight, and Lee, overcome with exhaustion, struggled to stand up. He had to cling on to Traveller’s neck to avoid collapsing. During the Second Battle of Manasses, Traveller spooked and reared, throwing Lee off in the process. These dramatic incidents only strengthened the bond that Lee and Traveller had. One notable event that proved the trust and bond between the two occurred when Lee was helping a young woman. She had been visiting his daughters, and Lee tied Traveller to a post while saying his goodbyes to her. Somehow, the horse managed to break the rope and free himself. Many people tried to catch him, but did not succeed. Lee turned around, silenced the crowd, and whistled for his horse. Traveller pricked his ears up and calmly trotted back to