Drafted. The first on the Battlefield.
Another fictional warhorse in the same setting as my novel Caught Between Crossfire takes you on yet another historical journey across the Gettysburg battlefield by caisson and cannon as she brings you alongside the first steps on the field by draft horse pulled artillery. She is small for a draft horse, being half Friesian and half Percheron –leaning more towards her light draft side of the Friesian. However small, she is moved with a strong heart that is bigger than her mind and strength more formidable than she knows. She is a force to be reckoned with and determination to her destination is her strong suit.
Caliber –or Little Cal as some called her– Is hitched alongside a couple different teams of draft horses, all much bigger than she and meets tragedy with her last team, leaving her the last to pull alone, but no soldier expects her to pull by herself when the unexpected happens after she is determined to pull the caisson with ammunition to its destination of soldiers in need. Her determination saved a regiment who had run out of ammunition and contributed to saving the battle for the Union at Gettysburg.
Her rider was a kind young soldier named John Griffin. He was a sergeant who had considerable admiration and care for the horses and nicknamed her Dalia after the flower he put into the braid he made in her mane.
Her first team is a group of black percherons who are swapped out for a group of grey percherons towards the end. The blacks have become weary and are retired for the rest of the day, while with the grays, one of them was hurt, leaving only three horses unbalanced to pull a double caisson of ammunition that was needed desperately by soldiers on the other side of the field. Dalia volunteered by galloping up into place of the missing draft, determined to keep going even after she was rewarded with rest for the remainder of that day.
She see’s Rápida galloping free across the battlefield on the second day of the battle, coming out of the smoky haze and streaming across the battlefield and also crosses paths with the 20th Maine Regiment while they were making their way to Little Round Top. Even coming into contact with the Chamberlains briefly. (A hint to Caught Between Crossfire for which the connection)
Thomas Chamberlain took a moment to visit the horses while they were stopped for a brief moment, both the caisson and the regiment. Thomas petted Dalia, finding her quite fascinating with her being the odd one in the team; her grey coat, white legs and small draft build amidst big black draft geldings. He asked Sergeant Griffin what her name was and told him how charming he found her to be.
“She is such a doll!” Thomas commented while petting her narrow long and sweet face while she had bowed it to him ever so sweetly. “What is this sweet one’s name?” He looked to Griffin, grinning delightedly.
“Caliber, Lieutenant.” Griffin smiled while replying. “Some call her Little Cal but, I gave her another name to match her sweetness.” Griffin said humbly.”
“Oh?…I like Caliber…But, do pray tell, what name have you given her?” Thomas asked with such curiosity.
“Dalia, Sir!…She has a sweetness of such a flower I find, and a heart of gold set in stone.” Griffin’s smile grew.
“Dalia….Well, I like that a whole lot more than Caliber…It suits her better…And like the flower in your mane.” He smiled more while observing the flower in her braid. “And forget the lieutenant for now. call me Tom.” He stretched out his hand to shake Griffin’s. Griffin hesitantly nodded and took Tom’s hand, keeping his smile on his face. “John. John Griffen.”
“Thomas Chamberlain. My brother is the colonel of this here regiment. Lawrence Chamberlain.”
“Oh, the Maine boys!” Griffin’s voice was filled with delight. “We have heard a lot about the Twentieth back at home! I thought that flag looked awfully familiar from afar! I actually had wanted to join your regiment this year but went with the artillery instead. I hail from Maine myself! In fact I just came in a few months ago from visiting family out there!” –
“You don’t say!!”
Thomas became more intrigued and thrilled, almost like he had seen an old school mate. “Well, I’ll be –Say! How are things back at home?? –Maine! Golly feels like ages since I been back there!”
Griffin’s smile grew bigger. “Things are still as they were, two years ago! Maybe a little more solemn since the war started, but still good old Maine!” Griffin’s tone matched with the thrill of Tom’s. He was just as excited.
“Gee it sure is good to talk to somebody in person and not wait for a letter about how things are back there.” Tom’s voice exclaimed with relief.
They conversed for a little while longer before it was time to head out again. Thomas shook John’s hand one more time. “Well, this is where we part ways.”
“So it would seem. Thanks for taking the time in chatting with me and giving some attention to my team. These horses deserve it.”
“My pleasure. A fine team they are. I look forward to crossing paths hopefully again after this war is over.”
“I’ve already seen enough of this war.”…Griffin’s expression turned to solemnness.
Tom frowned, taken back by the comment.
“Perhaps, we both have…..You take care of yourself, Sergeant.” Thomas saluted Griffin.
“You also, Lieutenant.” Griffen saluted in return before Thomas remembered to bid farewell to the team of horses and made his final goodbye to Dalia as she bowed her head to him, pets and scratches rewarded to her by his kind and gentle hands before he returned to the marching line, a soldier leading his grey horse behind him.
Griffen then returned to Dalia’s saddle, mounting back on her and gently steering the team back on the path they were on again and the regiment vanished behind.
The story ends after Dalia successfully pulled the double caisson loaded with ammunition and supplies by herself to it’s desperately needed destination after the other three grey horses had been badly hurt by an explosion that also inflicted Dalia, wounding her back left leg which Sergeant Griffin bandaged up after seeing her attempt to pull the caisson regardless. He was moved to see her able to pull the caisson and had faith in her, knowing that the regiment was in dire straits, therefore unhitched the other horses, the other two soldiers remained to take care of them while Griffin adjusted the harness on Dalia and removed excess straps and harnesses from the caisson, putting all tension and load on her shoulders. He believed she could do it and they were already half way to their destination. Miraculously, Dalia pulled the whole caisson and made it to the regiment where she collapsed shortly after from exhaustion. She did not perish however, but she was not put back into service again and had been rewarded the Purple Heart and given the Medal of Honor. One day was left to the fighting and she saved the regiment from being taken out by Confederate forces and on the late afternoon of the following day –won complete victory over the battle.
Sergeant Griffin was Honorably Discharged from duty after sustaining a broken leg which he rode horseback on Dalia during her surge across the field in her solo pull.
He was promoted to the next rank for his actions and sent to the infirmary with Dalia where they recovered together.
Thomas Chamberlain found him in his search for a friend. They talked about their experiences of that day before Thomas went back to searching for the man he came to see about.
Griffen went back home to Maine where he retired with his faithful and loyal Dalia and they were hailed heroes and became icons and highly respected by the Union Army.
