Jackson’s most trusted sidekick

“The horses that were alive at the close of the war were, for the most part, tenderly cared for, and have long ago joined their comrades on the other side. I hope they are all grazing together in the green fields of Eden.” — Luther W. Hopkins

One-hundred twenty years ago this past March 16, a great warrior went to his reward. Stonewall Jackson’s beloved war horse, Little Sorrel, aka Old Sorrel, aka Fancy, crossed over the river to his final rest.

Other than Gen. Robert E. Lee’s horse, Traveller, the most recognizable military horse’s name in American history is that of Jackson’s trusty steed.

Without question, no other horse in the War Between the States witnessed such fierce battle scenes — and survived — as did Jackson’s horse: First and Second Manassas, Kernstown, McDowell, Front Royal, Winchester, Cross Keys, Port Republic, Cedar Mountain, Harpers Ferry, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, the Seven Days Campaign and that fateful final ride at Chancellorsville.

An ‘even temper’

Jackson came by his favorite mount when Confederate forces captured a number of Union horses at Harpers Ferry in 1861. After Jackson’s army seized an eastbound Baltimore & Ohio train, it was discovered that four of the cars contained cattle, while the fifth was filled with horses. Jackson officially claimed the property for the Confederate government and would dutifully pay for the horses he ultimately would receive for his personal use.

With the assistance of his quartermaster, Maj. John Harmon, Jackson originally chose two horses: Big Sorrel for himself and Fancy for his wife, Mary Anna. Within a couple of days, however, Jackson discovered that the larger horse had a skittish disposition unsuitable for the battlefield.

The larger horse had an uneven and rough gait, which would have made Jackson’s long hours in the saddle impossible. Jackson noticed that the smaller gelding was easier to handle and “showed a smooth pace and even temper.”

The name Fancy was changed to Little Sorrel, and the smaller horse became Jackson’s mount. Little Sorrel’s pace was so smooth that Jackson often fell asleep while riding on long marches.

Mutual trust

The relationship that often was shared between rider and horse in those days is easy for modern students of warfare to overlook. Civil War soldiers’ lives depended upon the instinct of the horse and the mutual trust each held for the other. Jackson and Little Sorrel enjoyed such trust and understanding.

Historian James Robertson, in his book “Stonewall Jackson — The Man, the Soldier, the Legend,” gives one example of this understanding: “By that stage of the war, Little Sorrel had learned his master’s embarrassment at the cheers from the soldiers. Whenever Confederates raised loud and friendly noise, the horse would break into a gallop and carry his rider speedily away.”

Such instinctive understanding was immeasurable in battle. A slight miscue by horse or rider could mean death for either or both. When an officer ordered the cavalry to “dismount, fix-saddles, and tighten girts,” both man’s and beast’s heart pumped harder, for they knew a charge was about to be ordered. If blessed by providence and experience, their great hearts became one.

Horses often performed heroic feats and remained steadfast under horrific conditions. Stories of equine bravery often go unnoticed today, but the loving memory of these faithful animals was recalled fondly by Luther Hopkins in his 1917 book “From Bull Run to Appomattox — A Boy’s View”:

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