Famous Horses in History…Copenhagen with Giveaway by Donna Schlachter

By John Steell. From Wikipedia.

Copenhagen was the Duke of Wellington’s war horse, which he rode at the Battle of Waterloo for 17 hours straight. Bred by General Grosvenor, his sire, Meteor, placed second in the 1786 Epsom Derby, then went on to win his next 21 races. He retired to stud at the ripe old age of eight, and Copenhagen was born 17 years later in 1808. His dam, Lady Catherine, had mixed parentage, and in Copenhagen’s honor, is the only “half-bred” mare listed in the General Stud Book.

Depending on the source, the details of Copenhagen’s birth differ. General Grosvenor allegedly took Lady Catherine, in foal with Copenhagen, to Denmark as his mount during the siege of that city. Copenhagen was either foaled after the second battle and named in honor of the British victory, or, if you listen to other sources, Lady Catherine was returned to England before his birth where he was foaled at Eton Hall in 1808. The General Stud Book does not record that he was born overseas.

Regardless of his murky beginnings, there is no doubt that a magnificent horse was born.

By Matthew Cotes Wyatt. From Wikipedia.

 

 

 

He was tall, standing at about 15 hands high (60 inches at the top of his shoulders), Paintings and reports of the day say he was muscular with a compact frame. Never raced as a two-year-old, he raced until he was four years old for General Grosvenor, retiring in May 1812. Modestly successful, he won two races during his short career.

In his three-year-old season, 1811, he came in third. A few days later, he won a match race and was then beaten by the filly in another match race. A match race pits two horses against each other, with winner taking the entire pot. This type of race is often used to settle which horse is best. Over the next few months of racing, he won several match races, lost some, took third in a Gold Cup Race, third in a County Purse race, and second or third in other miscellaneous appearances.

In 1812, as a four-year-old, Copenhagen started three times, finishing third in two and fourth in one. Not seeing much opportunity to take the big cups, General Grosvenor retired him in May.

General Grosvenor sold him as a saddle horse to Charles Stewart, and Copenhagen was sent to Lisbon in 1813 with a stable of other horses. When Stewart left Spain, Colonel Charles Wood purchased him for the Duke of Wellington for 200 or 250 guineas (about $1,000 USD in 1820, which would be worth around $25,000 USD today). 

 

By Thomas Lawrence. From Wikipedia

 

 

When the Duke of Wellington purchased him in 1813 as a five-year-old, his papers described him as “a dark chestnut with two white heels…hollow-backed, powerful…with bad shoulders.” He loved his corn, but preferred eating while lying down. The Duke said, “There may have been many faster horses, no doubt many handsomer, but for bottom (stamina) and endurance, I never saw his fellow (equal).” His Arabian blood was often cited as the reason for these enduring qualities.

The Duke of Wellington and Copenhagen. From The War Horse Memorial

 

The Duke of Wellington rode Copenhagen into several battles and on a number of treacherous journeys, including his ride to Wavre. But perhaps he is most famous for riding him for 17 hours continuously during the Battle of Waterloo. Both emerged from the fray uninjured. Legend says that when the Duke dismounted, he patted his horse on the flank. Copenhagen kicked at the Duke’s head, which the Duke avoided. Copenhagen loved the chaos of battle, but when not on duty, he was cantankerous, giving many grooms and exercise boys nightmares. 

The Duke of Wellington, from The War Horse Memorial

 

 

While his war days were now over, the Duke continued to ride Copenhagen in parades and other events. Hair from his mane and tail was collected and braided into bracelets. When the Duke of Wellington became Prime Minister in 1828, he rode Copenhagen up Downing Street to Number 10 to take up his new residency.

Copenhagen in retirement, by Samuel Spode

 

 

Following his formal retirement, Copenhagen enjoyed when visitors noticed him, and particularly when they offered his apples and sweets such as sponge cakes, Bath buns (a bready bun with raisins and frosting), and chocolate creams. All of these sweets must have mellowed him, because friends and children rode him regularly. He died on February 12, 1836, at the age of 28. He was buried the next day with full military honors, and the Duke flew into a rage when he noticed one of the hoofs was missing, apparently taken as a souvenir. As with most details surrounding this horse, several stories emerged, including that a farmer bought the hoof and returned it to the Duke. Another version said that a servant confessed many years later to taking the hoof, not expecting that the Duke cared one way or the other. However, the Duke exhumed the body a few months after burial to remove the remaining three hooves to keep as souvenirs and to prevent grave-diggers from profiting from his loss; however, “his three remaining hoofs had rotted away.”

Copenhagen's headstone. From Wikipedia.

 

Copenhagen was buried without a headstone to keep grave-diggers and souvenir hunters at bay. A request from the United Services Museum to display his skeleton alongside that of Napolean’s horse Marengo was denied. Seven years after Copenhagen’s death, the Duke’s housekeeper planted a Turkey Oak that today shades the grave in recognition of her 20th year of service to the Duke.

After the Duke’s death, his son created an epitaph and placed a grave marker beside the tree.


Giveaway: Leave a comment to enter a drawing for an ebook copy of Hollenberg Hearts.

About Hollenberg Hearts: A mail order bride. A crippled stationmaster. No way out for either of them—except with each other. Can they surrender their hearts and find true love? Check it out: https://www.amazon.com/Hollenberg-Hearts-Pony-Express-Book-ebook/dp/B098VZ38XY and the rest of the Series: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B098WRMTM3

About Donna:
A hybrid author, Donna writes squeaky clean historical and contemporary suspense. She has been published more than 60 times in books; is a member of several writers' groups; facilitates a critique group; teaches writing classes; and judges in writing contests. She loves history and research, traveling extensively for both, and is an avid oil painter. She is taking all the information she’s learned along the way about the writing and publishing process, and is coaching committed writers eager to tell their story.


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Resources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copenhagen_(horse)

https://www.artbycrane.com/horse_history_articles_tales/copenhagen_duke_of_wellington.html

https://www.thewarhorsememorial.org/100-hero-horses/100-hero-horses/hero-horse13

https://collection.nam.ac.uk/detail.php?acc=2000-05-38-1

The Knocker-Uppers

By Jennifer Uhlarik

 

Yesterday, I had to do something that I don’t do very often anymore. I had to set my alarm clock. This used to be a usual part of my day. Set the clock so I could wake at the proper time to get to work…or later, to make sure my young son got off to school on time. Or my husband’s alarm would wake me when he had to get up for work. But since my husband retired and I work from home…and my son is an adult, weeks from getting married, and just moved into his own apartment, I am in that delightful stage of life where I don’t have to turn on an alarm clock except on very rare occasions. I’m loving the stage of being able to gently awaken at whatever time my body says its ready.

 

Have you ever thought about how people awakened in the times before alarm clocks were so readily available. I recall reading in Louis L’Amour novels how the cowboys would drink copious amounts of water before heading to their bedrolls so that their full bladders would awaken them. While that method would work to make sure you awakened at some point, it doesn’t seem a very reliable way to make sure you awakened at the right time.

 

So what was the answer to awakening for work on time? In places like Britain, Ireland, the Netherlands, and some other countries, the answer was to hire a Knocker-Upper. Yes, there were people who could be hired to be your professional alarm clock.

Granny Cousins worked as a knocker-upper
from 1901-1918

This occupation became necessary as the Industrial Revolution began in the 1800s. As advancements in industrialization took place, Britain and other countries moved from working the family farm to people working in big cities for employers. No longer could they rise with the sun to work their fields. They had actual shifts they must work, and they needed to be sure to be awake and at their posts in timely manners. Since alarm clocks were not easily available—and often not accurate if one could purchase one—the workforce of the Industrial Revolution relied on the Knocker-Uppers.

These people were typically night owls who were awake in those dusk to dawn hours anyway and who would sleep during daylight hours until about 4 pm. Sometimes, they were elderly gentlemen. Other times, young women in the family way would fulfill the role. Still other were police officers who patrolled in those overnight hours and wanted to supplement their income with a bit extra. Whoever they were, these human alarm clocks had the sole task of being sure their clients received a gentle nudge when their wake-up time rolled around—all for about six pence a week.

Mrs. Bowers and her dog Jack
Note the rubber mallet she used to knock on
doors or windows.

 

However, it wasn’t as simple as going to the door and knocking or ringing the bell. To do so would awaken the household—but usually only one in the household had paid for the service. So as a knocker-upper, you didn’t want to inadvertently wake people for free. To combat that problem, these service providers developed ingenious ways of waking only the ones who had asked for a wake-up call. 

 

Many Knocker-Uppers carried long sticks, often made of bamboo, which could reach from the street level to a second-story window. They would use the stick to tap gently on a certain window three or four times before they moved on. Others used a wood or metal baton—short in length—to tap on a door. Some chose a rubber mallet as their knocker of choice. And a few ingenious sorts used reeds or rubber tubes to shoot pebbles or peas at the window of their customer.

Mary Smith used a pea shooter to awaken
her customers

Some knocker-uppers would take their jobs so seriously, they would stand and continue to knock at their customer’s door or window until the person waved to them to say they were awake. However, many were busy enough with customers that they gave three quick taps at a window or door and moved on, trusting their customer to have heard. 

 

To make the job easier for the knocker-uppers, some customers began putting slates outside their doors with the details of when they wished to be awakened. These “knocky-boards” would often have their shifts for the week written on them, or just a general time to awaken them each morning. 

A customer waves to her knocker-upper
to say she was awake.

 

This little-known profession was well-known enough in the late 1800s that it was written about in both fiction and historical accounts. For instance, Charles Dickens included a mention of a character being in a sour mood after being “knocked up” in chapter six of Great Expectations. And in the writing on Jack the Ripper, the man who found the Ripper’s first victim, Mary Nichols, said he told a police officer in the area, but said officer was busy enough awakening people that he was non-committal about coming to investigate the body of the dead woman.

 

All told, this interesting profession was started during the Industrial Revolution in the 1800s, and it was largely phased out in the 1940s and 1950s in most places. But in some small communities, it continued well into the 1970s.

 

It’s Your Turn: Have you ever heard of a knocker-upper? If you lived during the Industrial Revolution, would you have considered going into such a profession? Why or why not?

 

Award-winning, best-selling novelist Jennifer Uhlarik has loved the western genre since she read her first Louis L’Amour novel. She penned her first western while earning a writing degree from University of Tampa. Jennifer lives near Tampa with her husband, son, and furbabies. www.jenniferuhlarik.com

 

Love’s Fortress by Jennifer Uhlarik

 

A Friendship From the Past Brings Closure to Dani’s Fractured Family

 

When Dani Sango’s art forger father passes away, Dani inherits his home. There, she finds a book of Native American drawings, which leads her to seek museum curator Brad Osgood’s help to decipher the ledger art. Why would her father have this book? Is it another forgery?

 

Brad Osgood longs to provide his four-year-old niece, Brynn, the safe home she desperately deserves. The last thing he needs is more drama, especially from a forger’s daughter. But when the two meet “accidentally” at St. Augustine’s 350-year-old Spanish fort, he can’t refuse the intriguing woman.

 

Broken Bow is among seventy-three Plains Indians transported to Florida in 1875 for incarceration at ancient Fort Marion. Sally Jo Harris and Luke Worthing dream of serving on a foreign mission field, but when the Indians reach St. Augustine, God changes their plans. However, when Sally Jo’s friendship with Broken Bow leads to false accusations, it could cost them their lives.

 

Can Dani discover how Broken Bow and Sally Jo’s story ends and how it impacted her father’s life?

 

 

The Castillo de San Marcos, Part 2—And a Giveaway

By Jennifer Uhlarik

 

On October 25, 2021, I began telling you about the history of the Castillo de San Marcos, or the large masonry fort in St. Augustine, Florida. During its existence, the Castillo has existed under six different flags, the first being the Spanish flag. I told you of the building of this impressive structure by the Spanish in my earlier post if you would like to read or refresh your memory.

 

We’ll pick up where we left off—the end of the French and Indian War in 1763. In the Treaty of Paris that ended this conflict, several Caribbean Islands went to the French, Spain got Havana and Manilla, and England had Canada and the newly acquired Florida. With that outcome, all North American land east of the Mississippi River belonged to the Brits. When this happened, the Spanish settlers in Florida made a mass exodus to Cuba. But the tropical paradise wouldn’t stay empty for long. 

The British government noticed that conflicts were brewing between the British colonists in America and the Native populations. To curb this problem, the government created the English Crown Proclamation of 1763. In it, all settlers were forbidden from moving any farther west than the Appalachian Mountains. So with their western expansion cut off, they drove southward instead—to Florida. England’s government, in return, offered 20,000 acres to any group that chose to settle in Florida, and for individual pioneers willing to settle in the new land, they gave 100 acres, plus 50 more per family member. In the first ten years of British rule, St. Augustine’s population rebounded and doubled from what it had been during the Spanish period.

 

British colonists flooded the new area, taking over the one-story Spanish-style homes their predecessors had left and, in many cases, building second or third stories onto them. They also built new homes and business buildings in St. Augustine and surrounding areas. With water on three sides of the state, Florida made for an excellent shipping locale, and its rich, fertile soil made for excellent farmland and grazing land for cattle. The British colonists prospered here.

 

However, not all was so rosy in the British colonies. Other colonists in more northern locales were beginning to rebel against the Crown, so Florida—and Fort St. Mark, as the Castillo de San Marcos was now called—became the staging area for British soldiers brought in to put down the rebellion in the Southern colonies. The fort was used as a supply base, and more interestingly, as a prisoner of war camp. During this time of British control, three signers of the Declaration of Independence were captured and held at Fort St. Mark: Thomas Heyward Jr., Arthur Middleton, and Edward Rutledge. Also held at the fort was the lieutenant governor of South Carolina, Christopher Gadsden—held for 42 weeks in solitary confinement.

Arthur Middleton

Edward Rutledge

     

Thomas Heyward, Jr.

 

As the Revolutionary War actually broke out, Florida didn’t see any great action. It all took place in the more northern colonies we are familiar with. But Spain took plenty of shots at Britain while their attention was focused on the war with their unruly colonies. The Spanish came in to take Baton Rouge, Mobile, Natchez, and even Pensacola. When it became obvious to Britain that they were not going to be able to hold onto their American colonies, they granted America its freedom in the Treaty of Paris in September 1783. And with little use for the British outpost of Florida, they also made a separate treaty with Spain, giving control of Florida and Fort St. Mark, back to its original owner. So the British control of St. Augustine and Fort St. Marks lasted only twenty years, and resulted in Spain’s return. What did that second Spanish period look like? We’ll explore it in next month’s post, so stay tuned!

It’s Your Turn: Were you aware that St. Augustine and the Castillo de San Marcos wasn’t always under one country’s rule? What, if anything, did you find most interesting about the British period of the Castillo’s history? Leave your thoughts with your email address to be entered in a giveaway for a print copy of Love’s Fortress.

 

Award-winning, best-selling novelist Jennifer Uhlarik has loved the western genre since she read her first Louis L’Amour novel. She penned her first western while earning a writing degree from University of Tampa. Jennifer lives near Tampa with her husband, son, and furbabies. www.jenniferuhlarik.com

 

 

COMING MARCH 1, 2022

 

Love’s Fortress by Jennifer Uhlarik

A Friendship From the Past Brings Closure to Dani’s Fractured Family

 

When Dani Sango’s art forger father passes away, Dani inherits his home. There, she finds a book of Native American drawings, which leads her to seek museum curator Brad Osgood’s help to decipher the ledger art. Why would her father have this book? Is it another forgery?

 

Brad Osgood longs to provide his four-year-old niece, Brynn, the safe home she desperately deserves. The last thing he needs is more drama, especially from a forger’s daughter. But when the two meet “accidentally” at St. Augustine’s 350-year-old Spanish fort, he can’t refuse the intriguing woman.

 

Broken Bow is among seventy-three Plains Indians transported to Florida in 1875 for incarceration at ancient Fort Marion. Sally Jo Harris and Luke Worthing dream of serving on a foreign mission field, but when the Indians reach St. Augustine, God changes their plans. However, when Sally Jo’s friendship with Broken Bow leads to false accusations, it could cost them their lives.

 

Can Dani discover how Broken Bow and Sally Jo’s story ends and how it impacted her father’s life?

From Rooftop Bandstand to King's Hall

The Pavilion, Herne Bay, Kent, on a steep slope, 1904-1912. Public Domain

Where historic North American bandstands were usually built of wood due to an abundant supply from forests, bandstand builders in the United Kingdom had access to a ready supply of coal and ore which were processed into poured cast iron or hand-wrought iron. Although both wood and iron could give decorative results, the iron bandstands had the advantage of longevity. Or at least they did until World War II came along and many of them were dismantled and melted down to make arms and ammunition. 

In my August 5th post, From Bandstands to Bandshells, I posted about the Herne Bay Bandshell, built in 1924, and how people called it the New Bandstand because an older one was further up the beach. Today's post is on the older one, which is quite confusing because when it was built in 1904, it replaced an even older bandstand on the same site.

The  rooftop bandstand was created during Phase 1 of a two phase project which cut into the hillside to create what was called the East Cliff Pavilion during it's colorful opening. Inside the small combination theater, concert hall, and dance hall, the windows were dressed with Venetian blinds, each room had gas brackets, and fresh air inlet ventilators ensured a supply of the sea air. 

The Bandstand & Pavilion, Herne Bay, Kent, 1908. Public Domain

The above postcard doesn't show a band in attendance, but according to the Wikipedia description, "There is a lot of reading, sewing, knitting and wearing of best clothes going on." Built during the British Raj era, the architecture of India is reflected in the pavilion's graceful and elaborate ironwork which has lasted throughout the years.

Elaborate Ironwork of Bandstand & Pavilion, Herne Bay, Kent, 1904. Public Domain

Phase 2 of this monumental project was the removal of a big enough chunk of the cliff for the creation of a new entertainment hall with seating for 1,500 people. The original pavilion, which couldn't hold more than 300 people, became the vestibule into the King Edward VII Memorial Hall, known simply as the King's Hall.

The next two postcards show how the King's Hall extends from the original pavilion toward the street and possibly even under it. 

The Bandstand & King's Hall, Herne Bay, Kent, 1913-1914. Public Domain

The Wikipedia description for this one says there are bathing machines in the image, but I only see cabana-style wagons which I thought were change rooms. Here's another view:

The Bandstand & King's Hall, Herne Bay, Kent, 1920's. Public Domain

Flash forward to 2011 and the King's Hall is still in beautiful form.

King's Hall Interior, Herne Bay, Kent, 2011. Creative Commons

And although the bandstand is gone, the platform remains where it once stood on the rooftop terrace of the King's Hall entrance amid the original ironwork which has been painted for beauty and endurance. Perhaps there is hope that the bandstand will rise again one day and entertain the crowds in the open sea air instead of merely having it piped inside.

King's Hall Interior, Herne Bay, Kent, 2011. Creative Commons

The evolution of the Herne Bay bandstands into modern structures show change due to circumstances. Vision was needed to build them, and appreciation kept them in place. The amazing fact is that although the rooftop bandstand itself is gone, the rest of the ironwork escaped the melting pots. 

Care to share your thoughts? Do you know what bathing machines they are referring to in this post? Have you stood inside a bandstand make of ironwork?

Other posts in this historical bandstand series can be found:

- May 5, 2018 - Wooden Bandstands of By Gone Years

- June 5, 2018 - Scenic Bandstands with a Water View

- July 5, 2018 - Elaborate Bandstands for Special Events

- Aug 5, 2018 - From Bandstands to Bandshells

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Anita Mae Draper's historical romances are written under the western skies of the Saskatchewan prairie where her love of research and genealogy yield fascinating truths that layer her stories with rich historical details.  Anita's short story, Here We Come A-Wassailing, was a finalist for the Word Guild's 2015 Word Awards. Her novellas are included in Austen in Austin Volume 1, The American Heiress Brides Collection, and The Secret Admirer Romance Collection. Readers can check out Anita's Pinterest boards for a visual idea of her stories to enrich their reading experience.  Discover more at:

Website - www.anitamaedraper.com

Pinterest - www.pinterest.com/anitamaedraper/

Did King Arthur Really Exist?

This post is brought to you by Janalyn Voigt. 

Escape into creative worlds of fiction.

Title page illustration from The Legends of King Arthur and His Knights (Facing p. 78), 1912., 9th edition. Ed. Sir James Knowles, K. C. V. O. London; New York: Frederick Warne and Co., 1912; Public domain image.

Did King Arthur Really Exist?

Historians and archeologists debate whether the King Arthur of legend was all myth or based on a person who actually lived. "Concerning the Ruin of Britain" ("De Excidio Britanniae") was a lamentation over the fading of the Roman way of life written just prior to 549 by a British monk named Gildas. Although Gildas didn't actually name Arthur, he did refer to someone called "The Bear," which is what the Celtic word, 'Art' means. Gildas also mentions the siege of Mount Badon, 

The Battle of Mount Badon is important in establishing a date for a historical Arthur. Somewhere between 828 through 831 AD, a Welsh monk named Nennius wrote (or as some argue, compiled) the Historia Brittonum, that describes Arthur as a military leader (dux bellorum) rather than a king and names 12 battles he fought. 

Arthur's legend was already growing: 

The twelfth battle was on Mount Badon in which there fell in one day 960 men from one charge by Arthur; and no one struck them down except Arthur himself, and in all the wars he emerged as victor. (Historia Brittonum, chapter 56)

Gildas, who was writing a contemporary account, dated the siege of Mount Badon 44 years prior to his record. This places Arthur, if he existed, near the turn of the 6th Century in northern Britain.

Another source, The Welsh Easter Annals (Annales Cambriae). This record gives a date of 516 AD for the Battle of Badon and mentions Arthur:

The Battle of Badon, in which Arthur carried the cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ for three days and three nights on his shoulders and the Britons were the victors. (Annales Cambriae, 516 AD)

The reference to a cross on Arthur's shoulder may have been a transcriptual error, with 'shoulder' being substituted for 'shield.'

Another reference to Arthur occurs a little later in the text:

The battle of Camlann, in which Arthur and Medraut fell. (Annales Cambriae, 537 AD)

Medraut is a Welsh form of Mordred.

The Annales Cambriae was supposed to have been updated yearly between 447 and 957, but earlier entries may have been made in later years. This makes it a more questionable resource than De Excidio Britanniae, and some have argued that Arthur may have been added to the record after the fact. Whether Arthur was an actual person may never be proven without a doubt. In my opinion, since all other persons named in the Annales Cambriae were actual people who lived in history, there seems no reason to assume that Arthur was not.

By James Archer (artist) (1823 – 1904) (http://cgfa.sunsite.dk/) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

I've covered the earliest references to King Arthur in this post, but a wealth of other material is available on this fascinating topic. You'll find some links to start your own research at the end of this post.

About Janalyn Voigt

Janalyn Voigt's unique blend of adventure, romance, suspense, and fantasy creates worlds of beauty and danger for readers. Tales of Faeraven, her medieval epic fantasy series, beginning with DawnSinger, carries the reader into a land only imagined in dreams. Janalyn is represented by Sarah Joy Freese of Wordserve Literary. 

Visit Janalyn Voigt's website.

Further Reading

Early References to a Real Arthur, A Discussion by David Nash Ford 

King Arthur: How the Legend Developed

King Arthur Was Real? Archeology Archive

Video: King Arthur, Biography (Warrior, King, Military Leader)