Existing comment:
His Trusty Steeds
"He rode, as he did everything, with ease, elegance, and with power."
-- George Washington Parke Custis, Washington's stepgrandson
One of the best horsemen of his age, General Washington took great pride in the horses that carried him through the war. He especially favored two: Blueskin, a fiery hunter with a blue-grey coat; and Nelson, a chestnut gelding with unshakable nerves.
Washington preferred Nelson for battle because he never shied under cannon fire. He reserved Blueskin for more ceremonial duties. Both horses served with distinction. After the war, the General rewarded them by retiring them to a life of ease at Mount Vernon. |