Doc. 78.-inspection of army horses.
Report of Mr. John S. Rarey.
The movement of troops on that day, and the engagement at Fredericksburgh that followed during the six days that I remained with the army, gave me but little opportunity to see the management of the horse department in detail, though I had the opportunity to see them on duty.
Having gone there very unfavorably impressed with accounts drawn from the dark side of the picture by those taking the rejected and disabled horses of the army as their stand-point, I found these animals in better condition than I had expected. The mule teams, with some exceptions, were in good condition, and I doubt if ever an army under similar circumstances was better provided for in this respect.
The cavalry horses suffer most, and many of them were scarcely fit for service. The duties that they have to perform — excursions that sometimes require from twenty-four to thirty-six hours without food or rest — the heavy weight they have to carry, and the unskilful manner in which they are ridden, makes it almost impossible to be otherwise, except they were treated with the greatest care. The artillery horses suffer much, but are a grade better than the cavalry.
The greatest abuse and destruction of the horses in the army is, I believe, in the want of skill, judgment, and care of the individual mar. to his individual horse. A more diligent looking after of this detail by the officers in charge would be highly beneficial; the good effect of which has been seen, in some instances, where diligence has been exercised with judgment by officers attending to this important but much neglected duty.
The manner in which food is given, where only a sufficiency is allowed, is highly important, as much is wasted and trampled under foot.
I believe that for cavalry service on a winter campaign, a saddle-blanket to cover the back and loins of the horse, to be left on when the saddle is removed, would be of great service. The Arabs, who live more with the horse than any other people, and who are older in horsemanship than any other nation in the world, never remove the saddle from the horse's back when on a long journey. Their saddles have always blankets attached that cover the back and loins of the [276] horse. They argue that the vital part, when heated by riding, should never be made to feel the effects of cold.
As one who loves the horse, who appreciates his intelligence and keen sensibilities, and can anticipate his wants, I do most deeply deplore the dejection of spirit, suffering and loss of life consequent upon the exigencies of war; but while war rages this law must continue.
In an army of fifty thousand horses, subjected to the service and exposure of the army, there must necessarily be a large percentage of disabled and diseased horses constantly accumulating. It is ever so with the soldiers of the army, who are gifted with intelligence and reason, and whose first law of nature is self-preservation, and for the comfort and welfare of whom the greatest energies of the people and the officers of the army are exerted.
How can it be otherwise with the horse? He is not invincible to exposure, which he can scarcely bear as well as man, and with whom he must suffer alike, if not more, in time of war.
I am happy to see the extensive hospitals lately erected in this city to restore disabled horses. I believe they are conducted on the best and most economical principle, and will, I have no doubt, be the means of restoring thousands of horses to the army, that will be better on their second service than they were on their first.
Hoping that the Government will, as an act of humanity, as well as economy, use every effort in its power for the protection of this noble animal, I remain, General, very truly, your obedient servant,
