242 THE HORSE OF AMERICA. 



that the horse was imported, and the story that Jackson told was 

 that he was brought from England to Canada by a British officer, 

 and by some surreptitious means found his way from Canada to 

 Long Island. What appears to be the real history of the horse, 

 and the version accepted afterward by everybody on the island, 

 will be found in the following extract from a letter written by 

 David W. Jones, February 28, 1870. He says: 



" I can well account for Mr. Cock's recollections of the history of the first 

 Engineer. Thomas Jackson and George Tappan, noted owners and keepers of 

 stallions on Long Island and in the counties of Orange and Dutchess, in the 

 course of their peregrinations met with a person in possession of this horse, 

 who offered him for sale. Impressed with his fine appearance and .pedigree, 

 they at once entered into negotiations for his purchase, and finally obtained 

 him at so low a price as to cause strong suspicions that he was not honestly in 

 his vendor's possession. They, however, determined to take the chances, and 

 at once brought him to Long Island, their place of residence, and determined 

 on what they deemed a harmless representation in regard to his history; for 

 this they had several motives. First, Messenger stallions were then very 

 numerous on Long Island; their blood coursed in the veins of nearly every 

 brood mare. Secondly, imported stallions were much desired, and by a little 

 added fiction they could give him considerable eclat, and thirdly, in case of his 

 having been unjustly obtained this would afford the best means of disguise. 

 Accordingly they represented him as having been imported from England to 

 Canada and ridden in the army by Gen. Brock, who, in an engagement with our 

 troops, was shot and killed. The horse, escaping into our lines, was secured 

 by our soldiers and brought to the State of New York. On these representa- 

 tions they claimed to have purchased him. No pedigree, as I recollect, was 

 attempted to be given, and though many doubted the truth of this statement, 

 there was no evidence to controvert it. For a length of time this story was 

 adhered to; but after several years, when all fears of difficulty had subsided, 

 they acknowledged the deception. Mr. Tappan, who resided but a few miles 

 from me, was a man of more than ordinary candor and fairness, for one of his 

 position and employment. I knew him well, and occasionally rendered him a 

 favor by preparing his horse bills. On one of these occasions, at my house, he 

 gave a full and particular statement of the whole affair. Some of the details 

 have escaped me, but the essential facts are distinctly recollected. The owner, 

 with Engineer in possession, was met at some public place and the purchase 

 completed, and this statement then made, 'that he had become involved in debt, 

 and that his creditor had begun a prosecution, with a view to levy on the horse, 

 the only property he possessed, and he was determined not to lose all.' This 

 was certainly enough to arouse their suspicions with regard to his history. He 

 declared the horse was bred and raised in Pennsylvania and that he was got 

 by imported Messenger. Whether any further pedigree was given is not 

 recollected. He was at this time (1814) a horse considerably advanced in years 

 and perfectly white. Mr. Tappan also told me that he had afterward traced 

 the horse, and was entirely satisfied of the former owner's veracity. I will 



