| Hunley Funeral - 2nd Caisson |
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| Lead Driver and Chief of the Caisson |
Perhaps the most complex funeral procession we have managed was the assembly of nine caissons for the Hunley
Funeral in Charleston South Carolina in 2004.
Many of the teams travelled over 1000 miles to participate. With each caisson pulled with four-ups
and attended by a mounted chief-of-the-piece the funeral contained 47 horses (including the battery commander and the caparrisoned
horse).
I was chief-of-the-caisson for the second team. We carried the remains of the sub's Quartermaster.
Over 30,000 people were present for the event.
| Hunley Funeral - Turning to Enter the Cemetary |
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| 2nd Caisson |
| Chief of the Caisson - Filling in for Wheel Driver |
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| Hunley Funeral - 2nd Caisson |
| Clyde - Wheel Horse |
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| Died at Perryville - 2006 |
At the Perryville battlefield our finest wheel horse, Clyde, died in the traces.
David H. wrote Clyde a fine eulogy:
TO CLYDE
IN REMEMBRANCE
WE
LOST OUR CLYDE THIS PAST WEEKEND.
A STEADY OFFWHEEL ARTILLERY HORSE, FAITHFUL,TRIED AND TRUE.
THE TEARSTAINED FACES
OF WE ARTILLERMEN,
A FITTING TRIBUTE, SADLY BIDDING A FOND ADIEU.
WE BATTERYMATES REVERED HIM, A FAVORITE TO EACH
AND ALL.
HIS CALM STRENGTH AND DEMEANOR, HIS BRIGHT EYES AND BUSHY MANE.
TO PULL OR BRAKE, PIECE OR CAISSON, HE MORE
THAN MET THE CALL,
OUR MEMORIES OF HIS LOYAL SERVICE SHALL EVERMORE REMAIN.
HE FOUGHT HIS FINAL BATTLE ON AN EMERALD
BLUEGRASS FIELD,
AND FELL AT HIS OFFWHEEL DUTY POST GIVING, TO THE LAST, HIS BEST.
THE KENTUCKY RANGERS GENTLY LAID
HIM ON A RIDGE NEAR PERRYVILLE,
THE CAP'N SAID GOODBYE OLD FRIEND, REST, YOU MET OUR EVERY TEST.
MAY HIS EMPTY PLACE,
BY EDITH, ON THE BATTERY PICKET LINE
BE RESERVED FOREVER, AS A MEMORIAL, TO TEMPER OUR REMORSE.
FOR SURELY THERE'S A
HEAVEN FOR BELOVED ARTILLERY EQUINE
WHERE OLE CLYDE WILL GRAZE FOREVER, A TRULY FAITHFUL HORSE.
I
have to say he was the most even-tempered, and hard-working horse I have ever had the honor to drive or ride. He was not flashy,
but he always gave 100%.
He will be missed.
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