340 A HISTORY OF SHORT-HORN CATTLE. 



his former owner, Col. Morris, accompanied 

 Balco on the trip addressed to "Railroad and 

 steamboat agents en route to Cambridge City," 

 bespeaking special attention to the wants of 

 "this very valuable bull." 



Gen. Meredith was an exhibitor at the first 

 United States Cattle Show, held at Springfield, 

 0., in 1857, where a prize of $500 was offered 

 for the best Short-horn herd. There were five 

 herds in competition two from Ohio, two from 

 Kentucky and Gen. Meredith's from Indiana. 

 There were five judges, two of which voted 

 for the Indiana herd, two for the Ohio herd and 

 one for the Kentucky herd. After two days' 

 fruitless balloting the committee unanimously 

 made the rather remarkable recommendation 

 that no premium be bestowed, but that, instead, 

 the money remain in the society's treasury! 

 And it was so ordered. Gen. Meredith was 

 considered a fine judge not only of cattle but 

 of Southdown sheep, improved swine and high- 

 class horses, and unquestionably rendered the 

 farmers of the State of his adoption signal ser- 

 vice along the line of live-stock breeding. He 

 was a gallant soldier during the War of the 

 Rebellion, commanding the famous " Iron Bri- 

 gade" at the battle of Gettysburg. We shall 

 have occasion a little further on to make refer- 

 ences to some of the more valuable animals 

 included in the Oakland Herd in its prime. 



