365 Days in Horse Country – Traveller
Behind every great general, you’ll find a great horse…. At least
that was true when horses were the sole means of transportation during pre-industrial
wartime.
One of these great horses was Traveller, an American Saddlebred gelding owned by Confederate General Robert E. Lee. Memorialised in a 1988 book called “Traveller” by Richard Adams, who also wrote Watership Down, the gray gelding was a favourite mount of the general.
Traveller was born with the name “Jeff Davis” in the late 1850s, in Greenbriar County, Virginia (now West Virginia). He stood 16 hands, and he had a long black main and tail.
General Lee came to own Traveller after buying the horse from a major who had purchased the gelding for use in the war. Lee had seen the horse and took a fancy to him, and it’s no wonder. Traveller was described as having bold carriage, a rapid walk, and great muscular strength.
General Lee reportedly loved Traveller because he was relatively fearless, and had a great stamina and willing disposition. Traveller did spook once while Lee was on the ground holding his bridle. Lee was knocked to the ground and broke both his hands in the process. Lee apparently fogave the gelding, who remained in Lee’s stable until his death.
Michael