Famous Horses in History – Cincinnati with giveaway by Donna Schlachter

From Civil War Monitor site -- Cincinnati with Grant

This soldier didn’t wear a uniform. He didn’t give commands. And yet, in some of the most defining moments of the American Civil War, he carried a man who did.

His name was Cincinnati—a powerful, steady thoroughbred whose quiet strength helped shape the course of history. And friend, when you lean in close to his story, you begin to see something deeper than war… you see faithfulness in motion.

Cincinnati came into the life of Ulysses S. Grant as a gift during the war, not long after the Battle of Chattanooga. From the beginning, Grant recognized that this wasn’t just any horse—he came from a remarkable lineage. His sire was Lexington, one of the fastest thoroughbreds in the nation, and that strength and elegance showed in this colt.

Grant astride Cincinnati -- Wikipedia

In fact, he would later call Cincinnati “the finest horse that he had ever seen.”

And that’s saying something from a man who knew horses like few others.

What made Cincinnati remarkable wasn’t just his strength—it was his spirit.

He was calm under pressure, even-tempered in the chaos of battle, yet responsive and alive when the moment called for courage. Through the Overland Campaign and the last confrontations with Confederate General Robert E. Lee, Cincinnati carried Grant faithfully. And perhaps most notably, he was the horse beneath Grant as he rode to Appomattox Court House to accept Lee’s surrender—one of the most pivotal moments in American history.

Even President Abraham Lincoln rode Cincinnati during a visit near the war’s end—a rare honor, as Grant seldom allowed others to ride him.

When the war ended, Cincinnati didn’t fade into obscurity. Grant valued him so deeply that he refused an offer of $10,000 for the horse—a staggering sum at the time. Instead, Cincinnati remained with him, even living in the White House stables during Grant’s presidency.

Nearly every statue and artistic rendering of Grant shows him seated atop Cincinnati.

That’s not accidental—that’s legacy.

Grant astride Cincinnati -- mural at Grant's Tomb

Cincinnati lived out his final years in quiet retirement and died in 1878 on a farm in Maryland.

Cincinnati’s life whispers a truth we still need today: Faithfulness positions us for purpose. And sometimes, the greatest impact you’ll ever make…is simply carrying well what God has placed beneath you.

Enter to win:
Leave a comment, and I will randomly draw one winner’s name to receive a free print book of Hollow Hearts, book 2 in the Hearts of the Pony Express series. Cleverly disguise your email so the ‘bots don’t find you, but I can. For example, donna AT livebytheword DOT com

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.

Connect online:
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Need a writing coach? Or want to write your family or personal story? www.ThePurposeFullWriter.com


Resources:

https://www.civilwarmonitor.com/grants-war-horse-cincinnati/

https://www.presidentialpetmuseum.com/ulysses-s-grants-cincinnati/#google_vignette

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horsemanship_of_Ulysses_S._Grant

https://www.gettysburgbattlefieldtours.com/famous-civil-war-horses/






Leave a comment, and I will randomly draw one winner’s name to receive a free print book of Hollow Hearts, book 2 in the Hearts of the Pony Express series. Cleverly disguise your email so the ‘bots don’t find you, but I can. For example, donna AT livebytheword DOT com



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.



www.DonnaSchlachter.com

Newsletter: https://www.thepurposefullwriter.com/newslettersignup

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/DonnaschlachterAuthor

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Donna-Schlachter/author/B01180A2EE

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/donna-schlachter

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14116621.Donna_Schlachter

The Purpose-Full Writer: https://www.facebook.com/groups/604220861766651

Need a writing coach? Or want to write your family or personal story? www.ThePurposeFullWriter.com













Resources:

https://www.civilwarmonitor.com/grants-war-horse-cincinnati/

https://www.presidentialpetmuseum.com/ulysses-s-grants-cincinnati/#google_vignette

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horsemanship_of_Ulysses_S._Grant

https://www.gettysburgbattlefieldtours.com/famous-civil-war-horses/

Vinnie Ream, Sculptor

With Nancy J. Farrier

A friend shared a factual tidbit on Facebook a couple of weeks ago about Vinnie Ream being only 18 when the U.S. Congress hired her to do a sculpture of Abraham Lincoln. A woman. Only 18. I shared that tidbit on my Facebook page and then wondered about the rest of this woman’s story. Fascinated by what I found, I decided to share her information with you.

Lavinnia Ellen Ream, born in 1847, showed an artistic interest at an early age. She studied art in school, but when her family moved to Washington D.C. in 1861 she began to tutor under Clark Mills. Mills was finishing a bronze Liberty sculpture.

While studying with Mills, Vinnie met many congressmen and was commissioned by some to do a bust of them. Her work was so popular that in 1864 Congress asked her to do a bust of Abraham Lincoln.

In 1866, Congress commissioned her to do a commemorative statue of Abraham Lincoln. At that time Vinnie was only eighteen and was the first woman commissioned by the federal government for such a project.

Lincoln Statue
By Einar Einarsson Kvaran

Vinnie made the model for the statue in her studio, but traveled to Rome where she would make the Lincoln statue in Carrara marble. She studied with many artistic masters, some on her way to Rome, when she stayed in Paris and then in Rome when she was at work on the commissioned statue. While there, she also made busts of Franz Liszt and Cardinal Antonelli.

She returned with her creation in late 1870 and the statue was unveiled in January 1871. Ream designed Lincoln so that he is looking down at his right hand, which holds a copy of the Emancipation Proclamation. His left hand is holding back his cloak. The piece is serious and contemplative, possible the way she thought of the former President.

During the next few years, Ream did many portraits of well-known American

Kirkwood: Architect
of the Capital

figures. Among them were General Ulysses S. Grant and General George A. Custer. She also did some sculptures, many of them noteworthy.

In 1878, Vinnie married Richard L. Hoxie, who she met when she was doing a sculpture of Admiral David G. Farragut. She made this sculpture from the propeller of the naval hero’s flagship. The statue was unveiled in 1881.

After the Farragut statue was complete, Vinnie stopped working for a time in accordance of her husband’s wishes. They had one son and she spent time raising him and caring for her family.

Sequoyah

In the early 1900’s she renewed her art work. She did a stature of Samuel Kirkwood, the Iowa governor, and a statue of Sequoyah, the Cherokee who developed the Cherokee written language.

Vinnie Ream was a woman of many firsts, and of great renown. Her story is inspiring and little known. In addition to her art, she used to work with the soldiers at the hospitals during the Civil War, writing letters for them and entertaining them with music. She was an accomplished musician. Vinnie died in 1914 and is buried in Arlington Cemetary. Her grave is marked by the sculpture she did, Sappho.

Sappho
By cliff1066

Have you heard of Vinnie Ream before? Can you imagine having accomplished so much at such a young age? Have you ever visited Washington D.C. and seen any of her art work?

Nancy J Farrier is an award winning author who lives in Southern California in the Mojave Desert. She loves the Southwest with its interesting historical past. Nancy and her husband have five children and two grandsons. When Nancy isn’t writing, she loves to read, do needlecraft, play with her cats, and spend time with her family. Nancy is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of The Steve Laube Literary Agency. You can read more about Nancy and her books on her website: nancyjfarrier.com.