[Editor’s Note: CQ had a writing assignment to write a newspaper article about a Civil War event.  She wanted to share with her readers her fictional account of a horse race between soldiers.]

by Character Queen

During the Civil War, there was an incident not many people know about.  Just before the Battle of Chickamauga, Generals Lee and Grant got together for a horse race, because they wanted to make use of all the stray horses in town.  Ten Confederate and ten Union solders lined up for a relay race just before dawn.  It was very close, but the Confederates won by just an inch.  The race got the soldiers pumped up for the battle.  This is the only recorded friendly competition between teams in the whole Civil War.   

photo credit: http://www.thc.texas.gov/historic-sites/confederate-reunion-grounds-state-historic-site