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CIVIL WAR – INDIAN WAR ERA IMAGE OF A GRIMSLEY
ARTILLERY VALISE SADDLE ON A HORSE – UNUSUAL OUTDOOR
CABINET CARD IMAGE: Images presenting outdoor
views of military horses are not particularly common,
and I cannot remember ever seeing an image of a horse
saddled with a Grimsley Artillery Valise Saddle.
Fortunately, the horse pictured in this image is light
colored, allowing the details of the saddle, harness,
reins, trace chains, halter and bridle to all show in
stark and clear contrast. The horse is harnessed to a
piece of equipment, with the tongue of the implement –
quite possibly an artillery piece – visible under
magnification. Also visible under close examination is
a second horse hidden behind the first and noticeable
only by the presence of a second set of ears and the
poll or top of the second animal’s head. The second
horse to the left of the visible mount is consistent
with the way the Grimsley Valise Saddle was employed
with a team - that is, mounted on the off side horse of
each team with the driver mounted on the near side horse
on a Driver’s Saddle. The soldier seen in the image is
either standing between the horses or on the other side
of the second horse – it is hard to tell – and is
wearing a dark coat and slouch hat, appearing to uniform
items. Under the horse’s body you can make out a small
portion of the soldier’s leg and it appears he is
wearing one of the Artilleryman’s leather leg guards
that protected their inside leg from injury by being
crushed between the horse and the vehicle’s tongue.
The image is an original, not a copy, and is mounted on
a black card. The image proper measures 3 ¾” by 2 ¾”
and the card measures 5 7/8” by 4 7/8”. There is no
loss of image that I can see and only a slight soiling
at the upper right hand corner which does not affect the
principle subject matter. There is no notation on the
reverse and no identification.
This is scarce offering of a very nice Civil War or
Indian War Artillery image with a very unique view of
the Grimsley Valise Saddle. Wish this one had been
available to include in The American Military Saddle.
$350
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