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Document Spotlight-Horses and Saddles and Wagons, Oh My!

Lest the casual reader think the War Department Papers are all concerned with boring military matters, we offer a break from discussions of appointments and maneuvers.

Transcriber Lsmith recently posted a document detailing Samuel Hodgdene’s equine concerns. In the first place, Hodgdene wants to make sure all the cavalry horses are outfitted identically. Thus, he insists on reserving a shipment of saddles for the “uniformity of the Cavalry which is meant to be a compleat Corps.”

On the other hand, Hodgdene still needs 100 horses on which to mount his cavalry. The second part of the letter, then, entreats the recipient to look out for 100 horses that are cheap and can be trained.

Read the original document here: http://wardepartmentpapers.org/scripto/mediawiki/index.php/.NTE1OQ.NjE4Ng.

There are many more documents awaiting transcription. Take a moment to register (http://wardepartmentpapers.org/scripto/register.php) and choose a document to begin your adventure. You will be doing important work by adding to the historical record, and you never know what you will read!