Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 January 1875 — Intelligence of the Horse. [ARTICLE]

Intelligence of the Horse.

In a recent Tribune appears a clipping from the Turf, JHeld and Farm giving an account of a party of “ Surveyors Saved by a Horse.” As an evidence that such intelligence is by no means confined to the 11 Indian ponies” the following will be interesting to lovers of that noble beast in general: In the fall of 1861 we were campaigning in Southwestern Missouri; and on a very cold evening it became my duty to relieve the chain of pickets in our front. I started from camp with t.bout seventy mounted men about an hour before dark; made my circuit, dropping the new men and taking up the old; and when all had been relieved it had become quite dark and a slight snow began to fall and the wind to increase in force. We were now about a mile and a half from camp if we were to follow the picket-line till we .struck the road, but in a direct line not more than half to threequarters of a mile; and wishing to get into quarters before the storm became severe I concluded to take a shortcut for home —which, like many an attempted shortcut, proved a very long one; for after riding long enough to have gone several times the distance it became apparent that we did not know where we were, and I was forced to acknowledge that I was not a very good leader. In turn, several of my men, who thought they could do better, tried to lead us; but all to no purpose. It was now nearly eleven o’clock, snowing and blowing a gale, with a fair prospect of our having to remain out all night. I had noticed an unusual fretfulncss and indisposition to submit to my guidance on the part of my mare; and it flashed upon my mind like an inspiration: Perhaps she can take us to camp! We had dismounted in a small ravine and built a fire. I gave the order to mount and told the boys that I was going to try Betsey and see if she did not know more than all of us. We moved out of the ravine, and after getting well out on the prairie I gave her the rein. As soon as she realized her freedom I found her bearing ofl to the left, and in about ten or fifteen minutes we saw a fire which, on nearing it, proved to be the one we had just left. She showed no inclination to go into the ravine but skirted along the edge until she reached a narrow point. This she leaped and soon struck into a brisk trot; and in twenty minutes more we were safe in camp, much to the joy of all, for it was feared that we had been bushed. On several occasions subsequently I tested Betsey’s intelligence and always with the best of results. Once, having returned at evening from a long scout, I found camp had been moved and I could get information only as to the direction the regiment had taken. After about three hours’ brisk ride Betsey brought me not only to camp but to my own company, and never stopped till she stood in front of my tent.— Cor. Chicago Tribune.