Civil War Horseshoe, recovered from the Gettysburg Battlefield (SOLD,B)

A while back I met up with a local Gettysburg digger whom I’ve known for many years. Among a few other relics, I purchased some of the horseshoes he had dug over the years from the battlefield. This is one of those horseshoes being offered, it measures 5” x 5 ¾” and is the last one I have.

It is estimated that the horse casualties at the Battle of Gettysburg alone, July 1 to July 3, 1863, exceeded 3,000. Diaries and letters of soldiers often mentioned the stench of dead steeds rising up from the fields of battle. Horses, mules, and oxen were the main forms of transportation during the Civil War. In addition to carrying riders, these animals pulled supply wagons, ambulances, artillery pieces, and anything else that needed to be moved.

Most horses did not survive their enlistment, since shooting and killing them first during a battle meant a disadvantage to the enemy; cavalrymen ended up on foot making an easy target, and artillery could not be moved into strategic positions. There is a famous photograph of dead horses at the Trostle Farm. I was fortunate to add the hames from one of those same horses to my private collection that was recovered in 1888 (see pictures).

During the hard service at Gettysburg, many horses threw their shoes and weren’t replaced until after the battle. Dead horses were burned to decrease the stench and to ward off disease. The horseshoe is well worn, but still a nice example – a light coat of varnish was applied for preservation.