Kentucky's Greatness of Bbod 227 



the improvement of the blood-horse than any 

 other man in America. Woodburn is still a vast 

 breeding estate. After the death of R. A. Alex- 

 ander it was carried on by A. John Alexander, 

 the successor of his brother, and, like him, a 

 bachelor. 



The foundation for the improvement of the 

 blood-horse in Tennessee was laid by Barry's 

 Gray Medley, a horse of beauty, spirit, and game- 

 ness, who made his first season ten miles north 

 of Nashville, in the year 1800. He was got 

 by imported Medley, and was the sire of the 

 dam of the famous brood-mare, Madam Tonson. 

 Barry's Medley was bred in Virginia, and ridden 

 from that state to Tennessee by a colored boy, 

 Altamont, raised by General Washington. This 

 faithful black was then the servant of Redman 

 D. Barry, and for a year after leaving Virginia 

 with Medley, his master heard nothing of him. 

 He presumed that slave and horse were lost to 

 him forever ; and therefore, at the end of twelve 

 months, was surprised by the report that came to 

 him from the banks of the Cumberland. Alta- 

 mont had made a successful season with the stall- 

 ion, and as the profits of the season placed ^2000 

 to the bank credit of his master. 



