In photographs, the horse’s light gray tone blends superbly with the uniform of his rider. The images of General Robert E. Lee mounted on Traveller give one the sense of a knight on his steed, and their noble appearance belies the tragedy of the Civil War.

Subscribe Today

• Did you enjoy our article?
• Read more in America's Civil War magazine
• Subscribe online and save nearly 40%!!!
 

Traveller is arguably the Civil War’s most famous horse, a beautiful animal that only added to the grace and dignity of his owner. The two are inseparable, forever linked in history.

Traveller began his life far away from bloody battlefields. His sire was Grey Eagle, a 16-hand gray racehorse that was famous for running in a $20,000 stake race in Louisville, Ky., in 1839. Grey Eagle sired numerous successful race horses and saddle horses, and James W. Johnston, an appreciator of fine horse flesh, purchased a mare named Flora that had been bred to Grey Eagle, and had her shipped to his home in Greenbrier County, Va., where the colt was born in 1857. Johnston foretold the beast’s Confederate affiliation by naming him Jeff Davis after the Mississippi senator who had gained fame in the Mexican War. It would be several years and another name before the horse was rechristened Traveller.

Traveller’s superior qualities and fine breeding were revealed when he outperformed other top quality saddle horses at the Greenbrier County Fair in Lewisburg. Johnston entered him in the show when he was 2 years old and again at age 3. Traveller took home blue ribbons in both shows.

War clouds soon descended on the United States, and ominous events would bring the steed together with his most famous owner, Robert E. Lee. Lee had resigned from the U.S. Army to join Virginia’s forces after the state seceded in 1861. He was sent to advise the former governor of Virginia, Brig. Gen. Henry Wise, after Wise’s Legion had failed to clear Federal troops from western Virginia in late August. Lee, who first saw Traveller at that time, was immediately smitten and called the animal ‘my colt.’

Traveller was then in the service of another Confederate officer, Captain Joseph M. Broun, a quartermaster of the 3rd Infantry of Wise’s Legion who had purchased the horse for military service from Legion Captain James W. Johnston, a son of the horse’s original owner. Captain Broun changed the animal’s name from Jeff Davis to Greenbrier.

The captain’s brother, Major Thomas L. Broun, also served in that organization, and recalled that his sibling enjoyed prancing about on his steed. The major praised the horse for needing ‘neither whip nor spur, and would walk his five or six miles an hour over the rough mountain road of Western Virginia…such vim and eagerness did he manifest to go right ahead so soon as he was mounted.’

Orders sent Lee to South Carolina to examine coastal defenses, however, before he had a chance to try to obtain the horse from Captain Broun. As fate would have it, the 3rd Regiment was transferred to the Palmetto State at roughly the same time. Lee once again ran across Broun riding the beautiful horse near Pocotaligo. The captain halted, and Lee inquired once again about the well-being of ‘his colt.’

Broun, aware that Lee was partial to the horse, and certainly not unconscious of their differences in rank, offered Greenbrier to Lee as a gift. The general declined, but offered to buy the beast, provided he could borrow the horse for a week or so to learn his traits and characteristics. Lee became hooked by the horse’s charm, grace and good looks, and made the offer. Broun wrote to his brother, who was home on sick leave, asking for his advice. ‘If he will not accept it, then sell it to him at what it cost’ was the major’s response. Broun had paid $175 for Greenbrier, but Lee gave him an extra $15 because of the depreciation of Confederate money.

Lee changed Greenbrier’s name for the last time, calling him Traveller because of his ability to walk at a fast pace. The general’s youngest son, Robert E. Lee Jr., left an account testifying that such a pace did not suit all riders. Robert initially served with the Rockbridge Artillery, but later gained a promotion to captain and was ordered to join the staff of the oldest Lee son, George Washington Custis, after the Battle of Sharpsburg.

Help HistoryNet by bookmarking to