Show ROBERTA p I EQ 4AR3EF Description of the Famous Animal Written by the General Few people in this broad land do not know that the late General Robert E Lees warhorse Traveler gained almost as much fame as did the celebrated Confederate Con-federate commander himself After the war an artist wrote to General Lee asking ask-ing for a description of Traveler which General Lee wrote for him This is what the general wrote about his favorite favor-ite horse If I was an artist like you I would draw a true picture of Traveler representing his fine proportions muscular mus-cular figure deep chest short back strong haunches flat legs small head broad forehead delicate ears quick eyes small feet and black mane and tail Such a picture would inspire a poet I whose genius could then depict his worth and describe his endurance of toil hunger thirst heat and cold the dangers dan-gers and sufferings through which he has passed He could dilate upon his sagacity and affection and his invariable invari-able response to any wish of his rider Ho might even imagine his thoughts through the long night marches and days of battle through which he has passed But I am no artist and can I therefore only say he was a Confederate grayI I purchased him in the autumn of 1861 in the mountains of Virginia and he has been my patient follower ever 5inceto Georgia the Carolinas and back to Virginia He carried me through the seven days battle around Richmond Rich-mond the second Manassas at Sharps burg Fredricksbnrg the last day at Chaucellorsville to Pennsylvania at Gettysburg nnd back to the Rappahan nock From the commencement the campaign in 1804 at Orange till its close around Pittsburg the saddle was scarcely off his back as he passed through the fire of the Wilderness Sp ttsyvania Cold Harbor and across the James river He was almost in daily requisition in the winter of 18645 on the long line of defenses from the Chickahominy north of Richmond to Hatchers run south of the Apponiattox In the campaign of 1805 he bore me from Petersburg to the i final day at Appomattox Courthouse You know the comfort he is to me in I my present retirement He is well supplied sup-plied with equipments Two sets have been sent to him from England and one from the ladies of Baltimore and one from the city of Richmond but I think his favorite is the American saddle from St Louis Of all his companions in toil Richmond Rich-mond Brown Roan Ajax and Quiet Lucy Long he is the only one that retained re-tained his vigor to the last The first two expired uutler their onerous burdens bur-dens and the last two failed You can I am sure from what have said paint his portrait This ends the dpscription signed with the name of the famous General Robert E Lee Lexington Va the summer before be-fore he diedSt Louis Republic |