Bridled Veterans

Bridled Veterans. . , This sculpture memorializes the 1.5 million horses and mules who were killed, wounded, or died of disease during the American Civil War (1861-1865)., Horses and mules were essential to both armies. They were mounts for cavalrymen, hauled the artillery, and pulled the tons of supplies on which the armies relied. They also suffered the same harsh conditions as soldiers. At times they went without shoes, were malnourished, exposed to the elements, and overworked. Many were killed in battle, but most died from disease or starvation. The war claimed more than 750,000 human lives, but the sacrifices of their equine comrades are often forgotten., (caption) Battle of Five Forks, late 1800s , Paul D. Philippoteaux , VMHC Collection, Given in loving memory of Peter Charles Blance, Jr., by his mother and father, (Sidebar) , Philanthropist Paul Mellon (1907-1999) gave many treasures tot he Virginia Museum of History and Culture and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA). His interest in Virginia history was only matched by his love of horses. Inspired by the plight of horses during the Civil War, he commissioned renowned English artist Tessa Pullan to memorialize them with this sculpture. He gifted Civil War Horse to the VMHC in 1997. Mellon also donated 3/4 life-size versions to the National Sporting Library and Museum (Middleburg, Virginia) and the U.S. Cavalry Museum (Fort Riley, Kansas)., (caption) During World War II, Mellon was an instructor in horsemanship at Fort Riley and later with the Office of Strategic Services in Europe., Lt. Paul Mellon at Fort Riley, Kansas, 1942 CSU Archives/Everett Collection, Mules are a cross between a female horse and a male donkey. Generally more stubborn than horses, they served where endurance was necessary. On a single road, the wagon train for an army of 100,000 men could stretch for 50 miles and include as many as 27,000 mules., (caption) The Supply Train, 1862-1876 , Edwin Forbes , Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division