Colonel Charles Russell Lowell to John M. Forbes, August 25, 1864

Halltown, Aug. 25, '64.

Foster seems to be the man now through whom to work exchanges: if Will's can be obtained, I would certainly manage it, for such special exchanges do not, as I understand it, affect the general question or the position which the Government takes upon it. If by letting Will stay, you could at all strengthen their back-bone against exchanges in toto — I would say let him stay there, however hard. I admit that myself, if taken, I would rather remain there than be got out till the rest were, — I dare say Will has the same feeling, — but you're not bound to consider that. About horses I have a sad story to tell, — the very night after I wrote you how finely Atlanta was looking, she was stolen from the line, — I have had men searching for her ever since, and have our Veterinary Surgeon still out, — but without much hope of success.¹ On Monday I rode Dick, though he is very unsteady under fire. His off hind leg was broken and he was abandoned. On Tuesday I tried Billy, who had proved excellent under fire, — and he got a bullet through the neck, very high up however, and not at all serious, — he is just as hearty as ever and will not lose an hour of duty, — his back is all right. I should not have ridden these horses, but Berold has become entirely uncontrollable among bullets; and poor Ruksh last Friday (the first time I rode him) got another bullet in his nigh fore leg, near the pastern, which will lay him up for a month and I fear ruin him. You see I am unlucky on horses — that is not all, — the gray is badly corked and can scarcely hobble. However, I find no officers who have any scruples about riding Government horses when they can get them, and I shall keep myself somehow mounted at U. S. expense. Don't mention my ill luck; I have only written about it to Effie, — and after all, it is the best form in which ill luck could come. Sheridan has not done anything very brilliant in the Valley yet, — but I have great confidence in him.

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¹ Atlanta was a gift from Mr. Forbes.

SOURCE: Edward Waldo Emerson, Life and Letters of Charles Russell Lowell, p. 326-8, 459