Robert E. Lee's Horse

Traveller had Mason County Roots

Perhaps the most famous and beloved horse was Traveller, the mount of Confederate General Robert E. Lee during the Civil War. What kind of horse was he? Over the years the heritage of Traveller has been given several attributions – Thoroughbred, Arabian and Walking Horse. However, in 1886, the Richmond Dispatch printed his pedigree given by Major Thomas Brown. Brown purchased the horse from Captain James Johnson who gave the pedigree. According to Thomas Brown, General Lee had written his brother in 1868 asking for Traveller’s pedigree, which was provided. General Lee later wrote that Traveller, “ was of Greg Eagle stock.”

Grey Eagle, pride of Kentucky. Traveller was conceived in Mason County, KY, in 1856, when his sire, the great race horse Grey Eagle, was standing on the farm of J.B. Poyntz, near Maysville. Grey Eagle made two seasons there before being sold to Ohio, where he died on July 4, 1863, the day before the Battle of Gettysburg.