1 24 THE MOR GAN HORSE. 



his lofty style and easy but vigorous action, were strongly and strik- 

 ingly impressed upon his offspring. Not only did his valuable 

 qualities descend unimpaired to the next generation, but apparently 

 with little diminution to the second and third ; and thus it is that 

 where pains have been taken to select both sires and dams, possess- 

 ing most of his blood and characteristics, young colts may now be 

 found that closely resemble him in all important respects, except 

 size, in which there has been a decided increase. We have stated 

 our belief that there were more than six horses kept as stallions, but 

 we think it doubtful whether any stock can be traced to the Fenton 

 Horse, and but very little is descended from Revenge or the Haw- 

 kins Horse". 



BRUTUS outranks in age all the known sons of Justin Morgan by 

 quite a number of years. He was foaled, as we have the best reason 

 to believe, in 1794. Of his early history we know nothing. He first 

 appears to our notice when some twenty years old, owned by Wil- 

 liam Marsh, who moved from Woodstock to Pawlet, Vermont, in 

 1815, bringing this horse with him, and traded him September 

 1 5, of that year, in part payment for a farm, to Captain Nathan Stod- 

 dard of Pawlet. Mr. Stoddard kept Brutus several years and sold 

 him to a Mr. Fitch of Pawlet, whose property, it is thought, he died. 



Brutus was a bay horse, about fifteen and three-fourths hands, 

 and weighed about eleven hundred pounds. He was especially well 

 fronted, with a good and long neck, and had the business qualities of 

 action and endurance that made him a very valuable horse. 



We first learned of Brutus from the late Dr. Warren B. Sargent 

 of Pawlet, Vermont, born in 1803, for many years one of the most 

 respected citizens of the State, and, through his long life, a very ex- 

 pert and intelligent horseman. Dr. Sargent, after giving us very 

 valuable information on many of the noted early horses of south- 

 western Vermont, said: "Then there was Brutus, the best horse of 

 all, and got the best stock. He was brought here, when quite an old 

 horse, by Esquire William Marsh of Woodstock, Vermont, and traded 

 by him, towards his farm, to Captain Nathan Stoddard, who kept him 

 several years and sold him to Mr. Fitch. Captain Stoddard told me 

 that Brutus was got by a bay horse that stood at Lebanon, New 

 Hampshire, and was brought from Connecticut, and got by a 

 horse kept at Hartford that was stolen in the Revolutionary war from 

 a general in the English army, under the following circumstances : 



" This officer was accustomed to ride his horse every morning to a 

 tavern and leave him standing while he got a drink. A drummer boy 



