Have you ever heard the statement that one can tell how the rider of a horse died by the placement of the hooves of the horse? It is said that if one on the horse's hooves is raised, the rider was wounded in battle or possibly died of those wounds later; two raised hooves, death in battle; all four hooves on the ground, the rider survived all battles unharmed. Although there are a number of statues where this holds true, there is no validity to this lore.
There are, however, several instances where this is true:
The hoof code in the Battle of Gettysburg holds true with one exception. James Longstreet was not wounded in this battle. His horse has one foot raised.
Washington, DC has more equestrian statues than any other city in the United States. In fact, it has more than thirty (30) horse statues. Upon careful examination only ten out of thirty follow the hoof code stated above. This article will be updated from time to time as my husband continues to photograph these statues.
Francis Asbury: 16th and Mount Pleasant NW (1924).
All hooves on ground; died in peace.
Field Marshal Sir John Dill: Arlington National Cemetery (1950).
All hooves on ground; died of leukemia.
General Ulysses S. Grant: Union Square, at the east end of the Mall (1922).
All hooves on ground; died in peace.
"With hard eyes beneath a slouch hat, Ulysses S. Grant sits on his mammoth steed, Cincinnati, in Henry Merwin Shrady's 1922 memorial to the general." December 23, 2007, Washington Post, quoted from an article by Paul Richard, "U.S. Grant's Steely Bronze" In this same article Grant's horse, Cincinnati, is described: "Cincinnati, his huge charger, stood 17 1/2 hands high. He was fast, too--Cincinnati got his speed from his sire, Lexington, who'd been the fastest four-miler in the country (7.195 minutes)."
"Grant" writes Jean Edward Smith, his distinguished biographer, "rarely permitted anyone to ride the horse, the exception being Lincoln, whom Grant considered an excellent horseman, and who rode Cincinnati whenever he visited the front." The article goes on to say that "The horse on the mall is listening, ears pricked, nostrils flared. His bronze is a portrait, too. Grant was a kind of a horse whisperer. 'If I can mount a horse,' he said, 'I can ride him.' In 1843, at West Point, astride York, an intractable chestnut-sorrel animal, Grant set a high jump record that lasted 25 years."
Major General Winfred Scott Hancock: Seventh and Pennsylvania NW (1896).
One hoof raised; wounded in battle.
Major General John A. Logan: Logan Circle, Vermont Avenue, 13th and P Streets NW (1901).
One hoof raised; died in peace, twice wounded.
Lt. General Winfield Scott: Scott Circle, 16th and Massachusetts and Rhode Island NW (1874).
All hooves on ground; died in peace.
General Philip H. Sheridan: Sheridan Circle, 23rd and Massachusetts NW (1908).
The beautiful photograph of the horse head is Sheridan's horse, Rienzi. The horse's name was later changed to Winchester after Sheridan's victory in Virginia against the Confederates. The horse is stuffed and in the Smithsonian's American History Museum. This museum is under renovation and slated to reopen in 2008.
Sheridan won the Battle of Chattanooga in 1863 and was given charge of the Army of the Potomac in 1864. After his raid on Richmond Sheridan became Commander of the Army of the Potomac. At the Battle of Appomattox Sheridan and Grant forced Robert E. Lee's surrender, thus, ending the Civil War. He then succeeded Sherman as Commander In Chief of the Army in 1884.
General William Tecumseh Sherman (1820-1891): 15th and Pennsylvania and Treasury Place NW, near The White House(1903).
All hooves on ground; Sherman died in peace of pneumonia. Ulysses S. Grant appointed Sherman to a Major General in 1861. He commanded the Tennessee Army. His policy was one of scorched earth and he burned Atlanta during his March to the Sea. He wanted a quick end to the war. Sherman urged President Lincoln to consider the South's devastation, after Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox. The Reconstruction Congress had other ideas. President Grant made Sherman the Commanding General of the United States Army.
Major General George H. Thomas: Thomas Circle, 14th and Massachusetts NW (1879).
All hooves on ground; died in peace.
John Wesley: Wesley Theological Seminary (1961).
All hooves on ground; died in peace.
General Simon Bolivar: 18th at C and Virginia NW (1959).
One hoof raised; died in peace of tuberculosis.
Major General Nathaniel Greene: Stanton Square, Maryland and Massachusetts NE (1877).
One hoof raised; died in peace, unwounded.
Major General Andrew Jackson: Lafayette Park (1853).
Two hooves raised; died in peace.
Lt. General Thomas J. (Stonewall) Jackson: Manassas (1940).
All hooves on ground; wounded by own men and died.
Major General Philip Kearny: Arlington National Cemetery (1914).
One hoof raised; died in battle.
Major General George B. McClellan: Connecticut Avenue and Columbia Road NW (1907).
One hoof raised; died in peace, unwounded.
BRIG. General James B. McPherson: McPherson Square, 15th between K and I streets NW (1876).
One hoof raised; shot and killed in battle.
BRIG. General Count Casimir Pulaski: 13th and Pennsylvania NW (1910).
One hoof raised; died in battle.
LT. General George Washington: Washington Circle, at 23rd and K and Pennsylvania and New Hampshire NW (1860).
One hoof raised; died in peace of cynache trachealis. This is an inflammation of the glottis, larynx, and upper trachea.
There are many horse statues in Washington, DC Many do not have anything to do with the American Civil War (The War Between the States).
Below is a statue of Don Juan Carlos. It is located at 23rd Street, NW and Virginia Avenue, NW at the Department of State.
The chisled stone tells why Don Juan Carlos is honored:
Library of Congress - Located at the Library of Congress is the Neptune Fountain.
Joan of Arc - located at Florida Avenue, NW and 16th Street, NW in the Meridean Park
Memorial Bridge in Washington DC - Two different horse statues adorning the Memorial Bridge. One is called Sacrifice and the other Valor.
Pecos Bill and his horse are also depicted below. They can be seen outside the National Portrait Gallery.
In the Air and Space Museum General William "Billy" Mitchell's aviators are depicted by a horse, spurs and boots. They are described as An Independent Calvary.
