Over an estimated 1.5 million Equines; horses & mules perished during the Civil War this page is dedicated to the memory of their service. 

The images are primarily from the Library of Congress civil war image collection unless otherwise noted. 

There were many various equine breed types of horses used during the war.  These included, Thoroughbreds, Standardbreds, Morgans, Quarter Horses, Mustangs, Clydesdales, and Belgium drafts just to name a few. 

Horses were generally purchased for the military by Government agents sent to procure mounts from private citizens. Virginia was considered by many to have been one of the foremost states for choices to buy horses. At the outbreak of the war the U.S. military had not developed a breeding program to resupply mounts such as those developed in European armies. 

European stables had long been established for breeding specific horses just for cavalry use.  Austrian Lippizzaners and the Spanish Riding School are one of the few reminders of the elite cavalry stables of Europe. 

During the war years the concept of breeding horses specifically for the United States Cavalry began to develope as the necessity proved to be invaluable.  Horse breeding took on a specific traits modeled from European ideas and the experience of the war. 

As the Civil War ended Westward migration ignited the Plains Indian Wars.  This would have a great effect on the U.S. breeding program.  Indians generally rode the mixed breed known commonly as Mustangs. 

Mustangs had developed from the Spanish and European horses that had gone wild during the colonial period.  They had evolved into quick ponies which the plains Indians learned to maneuver very efficiently to fight on horseback.  Their speed and agility, proved to be the Indians most valuable asset against the Blue coats of the U.S. Army.  That being stated horses with lineage back to the Civil War and the United States breeding program would be bred and serve into the twentieth century up to World War II.

Other Websites about Civil War Horses

 The Society of the Military Horse

http://www.militaryhorse.org/

http://www.civilwarhome.com/leeshorses.htm

http://www.civilwarhome.com/horses.htm

Washington, District of Columbia.  John C. Howard's Livery Stable on G Street between 6th and 7th.  Lincoln Assassin John Wilkes Booth used horses from the stable, Co-conspirator John Surratt kept horses here before leaving town on April 1st, 1865.

Image courtesy of Library of Congress

Livery:  Place where horses can be hired. 

Stable:  A Building for keeping horses.

 Famous Civil War Generals & Their Horses

Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee & Traveller

Traveller was by far the most famous horse ridden during the Civil War.

Gen. Lee's saddle & horse tack is on display at the Museum of the Confederacy Richmond VA.

Union Gen. Grant's Horses Egypt, Cincinatti, and Jeff Davis

Image courtesy of Library of Congress

One of General Grants Saddle is on display at the U.S. Quartermasters museum Fort Lee Petersburg VA.

Gen. George Meade's horse "Baldy"

Image courtesy of Library of Congress

 Other interesting images of horses and horse drawn equipment 

 Capt. Edward A. Flint's horse. Headquarters,

Army of the Potomac, Petersburg, Virginia 1864-65.

Union Army Farriers shoeing horses near Antietam Battlefield 1862 

Image by Alexander Gardner courtesy of the Library of Congress 

War Sketch Artist Alfred R. Waud

Mounted Cavalry Skirmish Line by A. Waud (L.O.C. collection)

 Army of the Potomac Cavalry fording the Bull Run creek

at Blackburn's Ford March 1862.  By A. Waud (L.O.C. collection)

Confederates sieze Union Artillery at Gaines Mills 1862,

note the dead horses in the foreground.  By A. Waud (L.O.C. collection) 

U.S. Telegraph Battery Wagon, Petersburg VA

 Mule team wagon of wood crossing a stream

Artillery Park Fair Oaks Richmond VA 1862 

Wagon Mule Team City Point VA

 Union wagon train entering Petersburg April 3rd 1865