Morgans in the Civil War

Morgans were a favored mount by cavalry soldiers in the Civil War. They were sensible under fire. The could march tirelessly all day. They maintained their condition on unpredictable rations. And they were loyal to their riders in all circumstances. Morgans recorded by Civil War stories include Reinzi, Charlemagne, Little Sorrel. Other Morgans included the mounts of the 5th New York Cavalry: Pink, Betty, Cockeye, Prince, Frank, Mink, Mollie, Jack (#1), Topsy, Nellie, Jack (#2), Dunlap's mare, Sukey, Black Dick, Brydon's Nellie, Charley, Jane, Pomp, Wyman Horse, June, Lucy. A monument was built to honor Pink, and a marker was made for the grave of Billy. Betty Root served under Lt. Trussel in the 1st Vermont Cavalry. Old Clem was owned by Colonel Lemuel Platt who organized the 1st Vermont Cavalry. Clifton was ridden by Dr. William Capeheart of North Carolina until he was killed in action in March 1864.

The following regiments of the cavalry were mounted on Morgans when they were first organized. As horses were killed in action they were replaced by government owned mounts which varied in quality.

First Maine Cavalry

Second Michigan Cavalry

Third Michigan Cavalry

Fourteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry

Fifth New York Cavalry Company H

First Rhode Island Cavalry (Morgans and French Canadian horses)

Fourth Virginia Cavalry Company H-Also known as the Black Horse Cavalry or the  Black Horse Troop, this unit created panic among the raw recruits of the Union army at the First Battle of Bull Run or First Mannassas.

First Vermont Cavalry-this unit received shipments of more Vermont horses during the war, 200 of the original 1,200 Morgans used to mount this regiment survived the war. They inspired the following remarks:

• "The mounts of the First Vermont Cavalry were decidedly the best I had ever seen. Everybody was attracted by them. I have heard both General Buford…and General Hatch…say that the mounts of this regiment was the best in the army. General Buford…also told me that he would as soon have this regiment of Vermont volunteer cavalry as a regiment of the regular army." - Charles Tompkins, Captain, U.S. Army

• "The other day, a very fine horse being offered at the Inspection Ground, I bought him. He is a chestnut horse about 15.2 hands high, five years old, weighs between 1,000and 1,100 and is pretty as a picture. He is of the Morgan breed, proud and high spirited, yet fearless. He will stand within four feet of a puffing locomotive and never thinks of being frightened. He is deep-chested and has very powerful and muscular limbs. Built for strength, speed and endurance. He has a very fine head and ears and a neck that might serve as a model in painting. In fact, he is a prince among horses, and I doubt not that I shall be envied my treasure when I rejoin my regiment. I ride him a little every day and enjoy it hugely. It seems good to be once more in the saddle. On the street his proud bearing attracts much attention and the rascal gets more admiring glances than his rider." - Captain William C. Hazelton, 8th Illinois Cavalry, letter to his mother, June 3, 1864.

• "Dad fought in the Civil War and saw a lot of that company from Vermont that had all the Morgan horses. Dad was with the artillery. Six horses were needed to pull each big piece of equipment and Dad got two of those Vermont Morgans for his lead team. He sure thought a lot of them and according to him there wasn't anything they couldn't do. They were constantly in demand to move pieces of artillery that were mired and other teams had failed to move." - A.G. Maier speaking of his father and his Morgan horses in 1950