I
thought she was opposed to secession and worked in the interest of the
Union. Once she delivered me into the hands of the Yankees, and tried
to do it again and again. She seemed to have an affinity for United
States horses, and always wanted to carry me directly in among them. It
has already been stated that she had a jaw that no bit could hold. If
she had been a woman we might have thought that it was the result of
talking too much. My, what a weapon of destruction Samson could have
made of her jawbone! I don't know when and where she joined the great
majority, for we parted company in the spring of 1863 on the banks of
the Shenandoah river. I deserted her to avoid capture. We never met
again, unless it was on the opposite sides of the battle line, and if
so, she took very good care to keep on her own side; at least on the
side that was opposed to my side. It grieved me very much to part with
her, for, with all her faults, I loved her still.

The cavalryman and his horse got very close to each other, not only
physically, but heart to heart. They ate together, slept together,
marched, fought and often died together. Frequently a wounded horse
would be seen bearing his wounded rider back from the front. During
Lee's march to Gettysburg and back the cavalryman was in touch with his
horse 18 hours out of 24, and the other six hours he was usually close
enough to mount at a moment's warning. Much of the time, while in
Pennsylvania, the men slept with their horses tied to the wrist. While
the rider slept, the horse cropped the grass around him as far out as
his tether would allow him, and as close up to his rider's body as he
could get. Sometimes he would push the man's head aside with his nose to
get the grass beneath it. I have seen men by the thousands lying in this
manner in the fields with their horses grazing about them, yet I never
knew a horse to tread on one, or in any way injure him.

On one occasion, near Chambersburg, Pa., the men were sleeping with
their horses grazing about them, when the bugle called us to mount. Some
time after forming in line I missed one of my messmates, and called the
captain's attention to it. He sent me out over the fields in search of
him. I found him just over the crest of a little hill fast asleep, with
his horse tied to his wrist. He was lying at full length on his back.
His horse had closely cropped the grass all around him, and as far out
as he could reach, and so completely had