As another Lame Cherry exclusive in matter anti matter.
One of my strongest compelling fascinations is for the horses and dogs of famous people of the past. I wonder of them and have the greatest pleasure when someone like Libby Custer happens to devout pages to the memoirs of George Custer's horse, Dandy.
The General had numerous horses, as numbers were killed under him in the Civil War, but Dandy appeared in the winter of the advent of the Washita campaign from a government purchase order, and the General seized upon the animal, which in the two most noted photos of this gelding, makes him look more in the mule family than the thoroughbred kindred.
Dandy was shot by an Indian breed terrorist at the Little Big Horn, who was on a hill sniping at horses and men, until and officer, with his personal buffalo rifle killed the assassin.
Dandy recovered though, and Mrs. Custer presented him to Father Custer in Michigan who rode the horse often in parades.
This was a remarkable horse, as on marches the General could throw himself down for a nap, and pull of Dandy's bridle and the horse would just go off and graze and never leave camp. He was a pet of wonderful manners in the General rode him hunting, and would grab hold of his tail and have him pull the General up steep inclines on mountains.
He was getting old that Big Horn and is why Vic was the horse being ridden in combat, and Old Neutriment had Dandy in his care.
Mrs. Custer though explains the origins of Dandy in the General picked this horse out, because Dandy had a proud peacock air about him, which only left when the horse slept, along with a vigor which was evident.
The horse never tired, in being starved or on long marches. It was of this trait which was the one problem with him, in he refused absolutely to walk.
Within moments of being mounted, Dandy would be in a lather. His motion was one of a trot constantly which on a 20 to 40 mile march would pound joints in the spine and knock kidneys loose.
Mrs. Custer relates that when horses like this appeared, the men would have to ride them for a season, but then register a complaint, begging to be remounted, as their summer would be filled with expressions of, "Just shoot me and leave me", over being so abused by a horse which never walked.
Dandy was fortunate in being the commander's horse, as he could fight for his head, as he loathed being by other horses as Dandy had to be in the lead every step. So it was that constant trot from boots and saddles to going into camp.
The horse was redeemed from this worst punishment by being one of the most faithful of horses one could ever hope for.
In a most interesting small world story, General Custer was riding along awhile later in what was settled Kansas, and started talking with a farmer about the crops and the grasshoppers eating everything, when the farmer started inquiring about Dandy, and it was sorted out that the farmer had fell on hard times a few years before, and Dandy had been his horse he sold for 140 dollars. He knew the bloodlines in this was a horse of breeding and he was always sorry he had let the animal go, but had to for money.
Dandy loved the hunting dogs the General kept, and the equine and canines got along wonderfully well in playing, in the dogs leaping and barking, while the horse pranced around his companions carefully not stepping on them.
In historical reference, Libby reported that Vic was shot down at the Last Stand. Others would report the horse was not recovered and perhaps the Indians ran off with Vic. I would give Mrs. Custer the last word, except upon inquiry it pointed to Vic eluded the Indians and was picked up by a man in North Dakota later and kept by him there.
Dandy though loved to hunt, and could pick his way over rough country dodging brush to buffalo with an enthusiasm of cantering sideways in the love of the sport.
He would die at age 26, surrounded by the Custer clan, of old age, and be buried in the orchard by this loving family devoted to him.
...once again, the girl I left behind me.
agtG
