Fine Horseflesh

I was reading a New York Times article published on October 20, 1861 last night when I came across this reference to the 6th US Cavalry. The article, written on October 13th, explained how horses were bought and cared for by the army in the vicinity of Washington. I found it interesting enough that I may post other excerpts from it.

The gentlemen the author refers to for inspecting horses are Mr. John Raymond of Pennsylvania and Assistant Quartermaster Rucker. The 6th US Cavalry was under command of Lieutenant Colonel William H. Emory at the time of this article. First Lieutenant Hancock T. McLean was second in command of one of the 6th's companies at this time. parentheses and misspellings are the original author's.

"Under the keen supervision of these competent and experienced gentlemen no unsound or deficient horses can be mustered in; and with proper after-care, our cavalry may be depended upon , as of as good an average as any in military service in the world. The whole six thousand, at the the review of Tuesday, looked exceedingly well; but the finest mount of all was that of the regiment of Col. EMERY. I had the pleasure of paying a visit to his camp at Bladensburgh, on Sunday last, and of examining his whole string carefully. I also had the pleasure, after testing his hospitality, of seeing a six-year-old chestnut gelding by Glencoe, out of a Woodpecker mare, who bore upon his crest the triumph of having beaten a field of six, in his two year form at Lexington. He was owned and ridden by Capt. MCLEAN, (nephew of Judge MCLEAN, of Kentucky,) and looked the picture of courage, pride and breeding. he is, by long odds, the finest horse I have seen in Washington, and at a proper opportunity I shall refer to him again."