Horses In The American Revolution

In 1776, horses were the main form of transportation. Could the American Revolution have happened without them?

Obviously, Paul Revere wouldn't have been able to make his famous ride on April 18, 1775 without a horse. He didn't ride his own horse. There is no record of whether or not he even owned a horse. He borrowed the horse from patriot sympathizer Samuel Larkin. The horse was never returned to Larkin. The British captured the horse and used it to replace the tired horse of  a sergeant.

General George Washington saw the need for cavalrymen to patrol the coast for British activity and to act as messengers. He saw battles being lost to British cavalry horsemen. He proposed the creation of the U.S. Cavalry on December 11, 1776. He wrote this message to congress on that day: "From the experience I have had in this campaign of the utility of Horse, I am convinced there is no carrying on the war without them (horses) and I would therefore recommend the establishment of one or more Cavalry Corps . . . In addition to those already raised in Virginia."

By June 1777, there were two hundred sixty cavalry men. Among the things they did was lead raids on the British hay storage, which destroyed their ability to maintain their horses. No horses meant no way to transport artillery and supplies, as well as the end of their cavalry. Sergeant Elijah Churchill was awarded the Badge of Military Merit (now known as the Medal of Honor) for destroying three hundred tons of British hay.

When the war ended, all of the cavalry regiments were disbanded.

Of George Washington's own horses, his two favorites were Nelson and Blueskin. Another favorite was Mongolia, a white Arabian. Some of his other horses were named Samson, Steady, Leonidas and Traveller.

The horse was an essential part of the American Revolution. What better day to remember those horses than on Independence Day?

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