Traveller (horse) facts for kids
Traveller and Robert E. Lee
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| Other name(s) | Greenbrier |
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| Species | Equus ferus caballus |
| Breed | American Saddlebred |
| Sex | Male |
| Born | 1857 Near Blue Sulphur Springs, Greenbrier County, Virginia |
| Died | 1871 |
| Resting place | Washington and Lee University |
| Owner | General Robert E. Lee |
| Weight | 1,100 lb (500 kg) |
| Height | 16 hands (64 in, 163 cm) |
| Appearance | Gray in color with black points |
Traveller (born 1857, died 1871) was a famous horse owned by General Robert E. Lee. Lee was a leader in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. Traveller was a grey American Saddlebred horse. He was known for his speed, strength, and bravery in battles.
General Lee bought Traveller in February 1862. He rode Traveller in many important battles during the war. Traveller lived only a few months longer than General Lee. Sadly, he had to be put down because he got a sickness called tetanus, which could not be cured.
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Traveller's Early Life
Traveller was born in 1857 near Blue Sulphur Springs. This area was in Greenbrier County, Virginia, which is now West Virginia. His first name was Greenbrier. Andrew Johnston raised him.
Traveller was an American Saddlebred horse. He came from a famous horse family called Grey Eagle stock. When he was a young horse, he won first prize at fairs in Lewisburg, Virginia in 1859 and 1860.
As an adult, Traveller was a strong horse. He stood 16 hands (64 inches, 163 cm) tall and weighed 1,100 pounds (500 kg). He was an iron gray color with black areas on his legs, ears, and muzzle. He also had a long mane and a flowing tail.
How General Lee Met Traveller
In the spring of 1861, before he became a famous general, Robert E. Lee was leading a small group of soldiers. Captain Joseph M. Broun was told to buy a good horse for the war. He bought Traveller for $175 from Andrew Johnston's son, Captain James W. Johnston. This was about $4,545 in today's money. Captain Broun named the horse Greenbrier.
Major Thomas L. Broun, Joseph's brother, remembered Traveller well. He said Traveller was admired for his fast, springy walk. He also had a high spirit and was very strong. Traveller did not need a whip or spurs to make him go. He would walk five or six miles an hour over rough mountain roads. He was always eager to move forward.
General Lee really liked the horse. He called him his "colt." Lee told Captain Broun that he would use the horse before the war ended. After Lee moved to South Carolina, Joseph Broun sold the horse to him for $200 in February 1862. Lee then changed the horse's name to "Traveller."
Traveller's Appearance and Bravery
General Lee once described Traveller in a letter to his wife's cousin, Markie Williams. She wanted to paint a picture of the horse. Lee said Traveller had fine proportions and strong muscles. He had a deep chest, a short back, and strong hindquarters. His legs were flat, and he had a small head with a broad forehead.
Lee also noted Traveller's delicate ears, quick eyes, and small feet. He had a black mane and tail. Lee believed a picture of Traveller would inspire a poet. The poet could then describe Traveller's strength and how he handled hard work. He also mentioned Traveller's ability to endure hunger, thirst, heat, and cold.
Traveller was a very brave horse. He was usually a good horse for an officer in battle because he was hard to scare. However, he could sometimes get nervous. At the Second Battle of Bull Run, General Lee was on the ground holding Traveller. The horse got scared by enemy movement. Traveller pulled Lee down onto a tree stump, breaking both of Lee's hands.
Lee had to travel in an ambulance for the rest of that campaign. When he rode a horse, a messenger had to lead Traveller for him.
Traveller's Life After the War
After the war ended, Traveller went with General Lee to Washington College in Lexington, Virginia. Many people admired Traveller. Veterans and college students would pull hairs from his tail as souvenirs. Lee wrote to his daughter that Traveller was starting to look like a "plucked chicken" because of this.
Traveller's Death and Burial
In 1870, General Lee died. During his funeral parade, Traveller was led behind the wagon carrying Lee's coffin. Traveller's saddle and bridle were covered with black cloth.
Not long after Lee's death, in 1871, Traveller stepped on a nail. He got tetanus, a serious illness. There was no cure for it at the time. To stop his suffering, Traveller was shot.
Traveller was first buried behind the college buildings. But some unknown people dug up his bones. His bones were cleaned and shown in an exhibit in Rochester, New York, in 1875. In 1907, a journalist named Joseph Bryan paid to have the bones put back together. They were returned to the college, which was now called Washington and Lee University.
The skeleton was displayed in a museum. Students sometimes carved their initials into the bones for good luck. In 1929, the bones were moved to the basement of the Lee Chapel. They stayed there for 30 years, slowly getting damaged.
Finally, in 1971, Traveller's remains were buried properly. They were placed in a wooden box covered in concrete. This spot is next to the Lee Chapel on the Washington & Lee campus. It is only a few feet from where General Lee is buried.
The stable where Traveller lived his last days is connected to the Lee House on campus. The stable doors are traditionally left open. People say this allows Traveller's spirit to wander freely.
Lee's Other Horses
While Traveller was the most famous, General Lee had other horses during the war:
- Lucy Long was a mare, or female horse. She was Traveller's main backup horse. She stayed with the Lee family after the war and lived to be 34 years old. J.E.B. Stuart gave her to Lee. Lee rode Lucy Long at the Battle of Chancellorsville.
- Richmond was a bay colored stallion, or male horse. General Lee got him in early 1861. Richmond died in 1862 after the Battle of Malvern Hill.
- Brown-Roan, also called The Roan, was bought by Lee around the same time as Traveller. He went blind in 1862 and had to stop being ridden.
- Ajax was a sorrel horse. He was too big for Lee to ride comfortably, so he was not used often.
General James Longstreet was one of Lee's most trusted generals. Lee called him his Old War Horse because he was so reliable.
Images for kids
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Traveller and Robert E. Lee
See also
In Spanish: Traveller (caballo) para niños
