Sam was a draft horse who took people from train station to the hotel in Coldwater,MI.In 1861 Sam with 199 other horses became part of the Loomis Battery.It was General Loomis who gave him his name.He pulled gun #1,a postion he served four years.Wounded in the battle of Rich Mountain Virginia he still continued to pull gun #1.At the battle of Chickamauga he was the only horse to get his gun to safety.Sam's gun fired the first shot at Baker's Hill.(gunner Andrew Gossey).
Sam returned in 1865 to Coldwater,he was the only survivor out of 200 horses sent four years earlier.One story relates how when set loose downtown for the first time,he headed directly to the hotel.He attended parades and reunions for the survivors of the Loomis Battery.
At old Sam's death,the city refused to allow an animal to be buried in the cemetery with his fallen commrades in Oak Grove.According to local history and legends,Sam was buried in the back of cemetery in an unmarked grave.The surviving members gave him a funeral with full military honors.There is today a large unmarked grave in the back of the cemetery.Which now has a flag.Gun #1 is now located in the four corners park in Coldwater,MI.(grave was unmarked at time this bio was written)
*note:the average life span of a horse in the war was three to five months.Sam lived through four years and being shot repeatedly.Over three million mules and horses died during the war.
Sam returned in 1865 to Coldwater,he was the only survivor out of 200 horses sent four years earlier.One story relates how when set loose downtown for the first time,he headed directly to the hotel.He attended parades and reunions for the survivors of the Loomis Battery.
At old Sam's death,the city refused to allow an animal to be buried in the cemetery with his fallen commrades in Oak Grove.According to local history and legends,Sam was buried in the back of cemetery in an unmarked grave.The surviving members gave him a funeral with full military honors.There is today a large unmarked grave in the back of the cemetery.Which now has a flag.Gun #1 is now located in the four corners park in Coldwater,MI.(grave was unmarked at time this bio was written)
*note:the average life span of a horse in the war was three to five months.Sam lived through four years and being shot repeatedly.Over three million mules and horses died during the war.
Sam was a draft horse who took people from train station to the hotel in Coldwater,MI.In 1861 Sam with 199 other horses became part of the Loomis Battery.It was General Loomis who gave him his name.He pulled gun #1,a postion he served four years.Wounded in the battle of Rich Mountain Virginia he still continued to pull gun #1.At the battle of Chickamauga he was the only horse to get his gun to safety.Sam's gun fired the first shot at Baker's Hill.(gunner Andrew Gossey).
Sam returned in 1865 to Coldwater,he was the only survivor out of 200 horses sent four years earlier.One story relates how when set loose downtown for the first time,he headed directly to the hotel.He attended parades and reunions for the survivors of the Loomis Battery.
At old Sam's death,the city refused to allow an animal to be buried in the cemetery with his fallen commrades in Oak Grove.According to local history and legends,Sam was buried in the back of cemetery in an unmarked grave.The surviving members gave him a funeral with full military honors.There is today a large unmarked grave in the back of the cemetery.Which now has a flag.Gun #1 is now located in the four corners park in Coldwater,MI.(grave was unmarked at time this bio was written)
*note:the average life span of a horse in the war was three to five months.Sam lived through four years and being shot repeatedly.Over three million mules and horses died during the war.
Sam returned in 1865 to Coldwater,he was the only survivor out of 200 horses sent four years earlier.One story relates how when set loose downtown for the first time,he headed directly to the hotel.He attended parades and reunions for the survivors of the Loomis Battery.
At old Sam's death,the city refused to allow an animal to be buried in the cemetery with his fallen commrades in Oak Grove.According to local history and legends,Sam was buried in the back of cemetery in an unmarked grave.The surviving members gave him a funeral with full military honors.There is today a large unmarked grave in the back of the cemetery.Which now has a flag.Gun #1 is now located in the four corners park in Coldwater,MI.(grave was unmarked at time this bio was written)
*note:the average life span of a horse in the war was three to five months.Sam lived through four years and being shot repeatedly.Over three million mules and horses died during the war.
