Famous Confederate Horses of the Civil War

The following is an article of mine written for T.G.I.F. Weekend Bandit in Denison, Texas
Residents of North Texas and Indian Territory have always been fond of horses. As you may know, it was in our part of the nation that the Chickasaw horse, a superior riding breed, was developed. You can see a photo and read all about the Chickasaw horse in this article on the website of the Chickasaw

Here are some famous Confederate horses and their famous riders that I found listed at this site: (This excellent site has tons of interesting information about the Civil War, what we Southerners call the War of Northern Aggression).

Belle Boyd – Fleeter – was ridden by this famous Confederate spy.
Maj. Gen. William B. Bate – Black Hawk – was ridden by this general.
Maj. Gen. Patrick R. Cleburne – Dixie– this battle steed was killed at Perryville while being ridden by General Cleburne.
Lt. Gen. Richard S. Ewell – Rifle – a much cherished steed.
Nathan Bedford Forrest – King Philip – possibly the favorite horse of Forrest, who also owned and rode Roderick and Highlander.
Capt. W I. Rasin.- Beauregard – who survived until 1883, was ridden to Appomattox by Rasin.
Stonewall Jackson – Old Sorrel – formerly a Union officer’s mount, was acquired by Jackson at Harpers Ferry when she was about eleven years old. Because the mare was so small that Jackson’s feet nearly dragged the ground, she was often known as Little Sorrel. Little Sorrel Lane in Somers, Connecticut, commemorates the animal Jackson was riding when he was mortally wounded.
Brig. Gen. Adam R. Johnson – Joe Smith – was ridden by the general.
Gen. Albert S. Johnston – Fire-eater – a splendid bay thoroughbred ridden by Johnston when he was killed at Shiloh.
Maj. Gen. Fitzhugh Lee – Nellie Gray – this mare was numbered among the dead at Opequon.
Gen. Robert E. Lee – Traveller – by all odds this best-known horse of the war was Lee’s favorite. Earlier he owned and rode Richmond, Brown-Roan, Lucy Long, and Ajax. Traveller is the purported author of a ghost-written volume that depicts the Civil War as seen through equine eyes.
Col. E G. Skinner – Old Fox – ridden by this Col of the First Virginia Infantry.
Maj. Gen. Jeb Stuart – Virginia – credited with having prevented the capture of by jumping an enormous ditch. In addition to the mare, Stuart frequently rode Highfly.
M. Jeff Thompson – Sardanapalus – favorite mount of this partisan of Missouri.