This photograph and story was found in an old wooden file cabinet donated to the Concord Township Historical Society by the Willits Family. The cabinet was full of papers and various other objects. This photograph was written by Frederick Cushman Newhall (signed “F.C. Newhall” on the photograph). The Historical Society of Pennsylvania summarized Mr. Newhall’s life in their archive description:
“Frederick Cushman Newhall (1840-1898) was born in Philadelphia to Thomas Albert Newhall and Sarah Jane Cushman Newhall. During the Civil War he served as lieutenant colonel in the United States Army, 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry, with Major General Philip H. Sheridan. He recounted his military service in a work titled “With Sheridan in the Final Campaign against Lee.”
The back of the photograph reads:
“Dick!Taken 8 mo. 13th. 1883He is 27 years old this spring. He was raised in New Jersey, and is of the “May-Day” stock. I bought him 8 mo. 1861 in entering the Army, and and rode him all through the war. He was in many cavalry engagements, and in all the principal battles of the Potomac, except Chancellorsville, at which time, he was with me on the Cavalry expedition known as the “Stoneman Raid,” which occurred while the battle of Chancellorsville was going on. I rode this horse also in Gen’l Sheridan’s campaign in the Shenandoah Valley, and in the last campaign against Gen’l Lee — which terminated in Virginia; in this campaign he was wounded in the leg, in the battle. On the day of Lee’s surrender after the Rebel flag of truce was displayed, I went on this horse to find Gen’l Grant and conducted him to Appomattox Court House to meet Gen’l Lee. In May 1865 I took the horse with me to New Orleans, and after terminations of hostilities in that region, I resigned from the Army, and brought the horse home with me. F. C. Newhall. He is in all respects a splendid horse.”
Photograph scanned by architect and CTHS volunteer Mr. Robert Little.
