Remembering Old Sam The Hero Horse Of Coldwater

Many heroes in the Civil War were from Michigan, but one in particular that has been celebrated is not a human at all, but a horse.

The horse named Old Sam served in the Civil War and has been celebrated with plaques and grave markers in Coldwater, Michigan, where he was born.

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Old Sam’s humble beginning started off in cold water when his job was to pull a streetcar from the train station to the southern Michigan hotel.

But once the Civil War had started, he began his training and was put into service for the Union Army. In fact, he was only one of 200 horses from Coldwater, Michigan, that were donated towards the war efforts, and he would eventually see 12 battles over the course of the war.

As the Restless Viking highlights, old Sam was the only lucky horse to survive the war from his troop:

Even with constant hunger and painful injuries, Old Sam had persevered with his duties! The Loomis Battery had suffered a total of thirty-seven militia men giving their ultimate sacrifice along with 199 horses. Old Sam was the only surviving horse from their troop. On July 28, 1865, 158 years ago, the Loomis Battery had been decommissioned.

Old Sam eventually passed away at the age of 27, but he has been remembered and honored in cold water as a Civil War hero.

Old Sam has been commemorated at the Veterans’ Monuments and at Loomis Park, detailing his life and his time in the service. It wasn't just men who made the ultimate sacrifice.