210 HISTORY OF THE SHORT-HORNS. 



From these animals, in most instances, have since been bred a 

 numerous progeny. 



The result of this sale, confined (as may be supposed from the 

 extent of the prices obtained) chiefly to those who had contributed 

 to the funds of the association, testified that the Short-horn spirit 

 was yet buoyant, and in the course of successful continuance. 



Just after the close of this transaction came down upon the country 

 the great commercial revulsion of 1857, long memorable in the finan- 

 cial annals of our history. This crisis was severe upon the agricul- 

 tural interests, as well as the commercial and manufacturing industries 

 of the country, and the values of Short-horn cattle, in common with 

 other commodities, suffered. For a time their sales were dull, and 

 prices, as in 1842, and years afterwards, with some few and noted 

 exceptions, became almost nominal. 



In 1 86 1 followed our unfortunate civil war, revolutionizing not 

 only the political and financial policy of many States in our hitherto 

 united country, but temporarily depressing values of all industrial 

 products. As the war grew wilder and more desperate, although all 

 commodities of necessary consumption rose rapidly under an infla- 

 ted currency, and the restricted labor of the farms consequent on 

 the call of soldiers to the field, an interregnum in the product and 

 sales of Short-horns was widely and disastrously felt among their 

 breeders. In the Northern States they were undisturbed by invading 

 armies ; but prudent and considerate men, usually ready for success- 

 ful enterprises, as purchasers, with the exception of a few spirited 

 breeders of the more fashionable strains of blood, let the Short-horns, 

 as well as other improved breeding animals, severely alone. The 

 Kentuckians, in whose hitherto favored State the Short-horns, early 

 established, had long flourished in their fullness of pride and excel- 

 lence, as it became ravaged by conflicting troops on either side, 

 hid their cattle away from their spoilers, or drove them into adjoining 

 Northern States, where they could remain secure from danger. All 

 was uncertainty, so far as related to the values of their cherished 

 herds; and thus for four years of civil war, matters remained in 

 doubtful anticipation. 



Yet the consumption and disorganization of the war had created 

 a fearful void in meat-producing animals throughout the country, 

 North and South alike, and on the return of peace and a more settled 

 order of things, the Short-horn breeders deliberately cast about and 

 ascertained that their hitherto cherished herds had suffered but little 

 diminution of numbers beyond what their productive increase had 



