GENERAL GRANT AS A LOVER OF HORSES 



conflict, but they regarded the taciturn commander 

 with silent sympathy. General Grant was well 

 mounted and it was evident that his horse was re- 

 garded by him with affection. He passed from view, 

 and the question was how long the shadow of Hal- 

 leek, who came from Stanton, would rest upon 

 him. 



In the summer of 1866 Jerome Park was opened 

 and people from all sections of a once-divided land 

 were in the throng. Those who had worn the Gray 

 with honor touched elbows with those who had given 

 distinction to the Blue, and General Grant was there 

 surrounded by a brilliant company. Thousands of 

 eyes rested upon him, but he bore the scrutiny with- 

 out flinching. His eyes kindled over the close finishes 

 on the saddlebags course, showing that love of the 

 high-bred horse was always with him, but the lips 

 usually were silent. Numerous attempts were made 

 after this to get him to tracks where thoroughbreds 

 sported silk, but a polite excuse for not accepting 

 invitations was found. In 1879, after his triumphal 

 tour of the world, he went to the Oakland track in 

 California to see St. Julien trot against the 2.13^ 

 of Rarus, and the success of the horse aroused his 

 enthusiasm. He left the judges' stand to visit St. 

 Julien in his stall and to offer his personal congratu- 

 lations to Orrin A. Hickok, the driver of the gelding. 



In my file I find a copy of a letter to Mr. Bonner, 

 dated " Headquarters of the Army of the United 

 States, March 3Oth, 1868": 



ii 



