Little Sorrel (horse)
Birth and acquisition by Jackson
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The horse was regularly described as "unimpressive" or "unassuming" in appearance.{{cite web |url=https://www.wvencyclopedia.org/entries/911|title=Stonewall Jackson|website=wvencyclopedia.org |accessdate=March 16, 2026}} Little Sorrel's breed is commonly described as a [[Morgan horse|Morgan]],{{cite web|url=https://www.morganhorse.com/upload/photos/206LittleSorrelAndRienzi2012.pdf|title=Little Sorrel and Rienzi|first=Kim|last=Mariette|date=August 1, 2012|website=morganhorse.com|accessdate=March 21, 2026}} however historian Sharon B. Smith has argued that his characteristics were much more similar to a [[Narragansett Pacer]]. In contrast to some of the other war horses of the time, Little Sorrel was considered a "pacer", a horse whose intermediate gait between a walk and a run is faster than a trot.{{cite web |url=https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Tennessee/Publications/Special_Surveys/2004equine.pdf|title=Tennessee Agricultural Statistics: 2004 Tennessee Equine Survey |website=nass.usda.gov |accessdate=March 16, 2026 |date=January 1, 2004}} He is described as either 14 or 15 [[Hand (unit)|hands]] high (56-60 inches or 142-152 cm) (the height of the horse from the ground to the [[Withers|withers]]) and "well-formed". |
The horse was regularly described as "unimpressive" or "unassuming" in appearance.{{cite web |url=https://www.wvencyclopedia.org/entries/911|title=Stonewall Jackson|website=wvencyclopedia.org |accessdate=March 16, 2026}} Little Sorrel's breed is commonly described as a [[Morgan horse|Morgan]],{{cite web|url=https://www.morganhorse.com/upload/photos/206LittleSorrelAndRienzi2012.pdf|title=Little Sorrel and Rienzi|first=Kim|last=Mariette|date=August 1, 2012|website=morganhorse.com|accessdate=March 21, 2026}} however historian Sharon B. Smith has argued that his characteristics were much more similar to a [[Narragansett Pacer]]. In contrast to some of the other war horses of the time, Little Sorrel was considered a "pacer", a horse whose intermediate gait between a walk and a run is faster than a trot.{{cite web |url=https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Tennessee/Publications/Special_Surveys/2004equine.pdf|title=Tennessee Agricultural Statistics: 2004 Tennessee Equine Survey |website=nass.usda.gov |accessdate=March 16, 2026 |date=January 1, 2004}} He is described as either 14 or 15 [[Hand (unit)|hands]] high (56-60 inches or 142-152 cm) (the height of the horse from the ground to the [[Withers|withers]]) and "well-formed". |
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Although he had raced horses as a teenager on a racetrack his uncle [[Cummins Jackson]] owned in [[Jackson's Mill]] where he grew up,{{sfn|Robertson|1997|p=14}} Jackson was reputed to have disliked horseback riding, and preferred small, smooth-gaited animals, despite his height of {{height|ft=6|in=0}}.{{cite web |url=https://www.dhr.virginia.gov/VLR_to_transfer/PDFNoms/104-0251_Thomas_Jonathan_Jackson_Sculpture_1997_Final_Nomination.pdf|title=U.S. Department of Interior, National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places Registration Form, Thomas Jonathan Jackson Sculpture|website=dhr.virginia.gov |accessdate=March 16, 2026 |date=June 19, 1996}} Little Sorrel appeared inappropriately small for the man, to many observers. A 1921 [[Equestrian statue of Stonewall Jackson (Charlottesville, Virginia)|statue of Jackson on Little Sorrel]] in [[Charlottesville, Virginia]] by sculptor [[Charles Keck]] was initially criticized as being disproportional, and at the town's request the sculptor made adjustments. Despite that, the horse |
Although he had raced horses as a teenager on a racetrack his uncle [[Cummins Jackson]] owned in [[Jackson's Mill]] where he grew up,{{sfn|Robertson|1997|p=14}} Jackson was reputed to have disliked horseback riding, and preferred small, smooth-gaited animals, despite his height of {{height|ft=6|in=0}}.{{cite web |url=https://www.dhr.virginia.gov/VLR_to_transfer/PDFNoms/104-0251_Thomas_Jonathan_Jackson_Sculpture_1997_Final_Nomination.pdf|title=U.S. Department of Interior, National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places Registration Form, Thomas Jonathan Jackson Sculpture|website=dhr.virginia.gov |accessdate=March 16, 2026 |date=June 19, 1996}} Little Sorrel appeared inappropriately small for the man, to many observers. A 1921 [[Equestrian statue of Stonewall Jackson (Charlottesville, Virginia)|statue of Jackson on Little Sorrel]] in [[Charlottesville, Virginia]] by sculptor [[Charles Keck]] was initially criticized as being disproportional, and at the town's request the sculptor made adjustments. Despite that, the horse stil appeared too small for the rider, but reflected their actual appearance. |
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==War service== |
==War service== |
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