This is not to complicate things a whole lot, and I don't have the answer.
There is a web page on the Richmond, VA civil war monuments which deals
with some interesting myths, at
http://richmond.about.com/library/weekly/aa011101a.htm
The famous sculpture of Peter I in St. Peterburg has both the horse's
forelegs up in the air, but he didn't die in battle.
Ruth Wallach
USC
>Dear Fellow Arlis Members:
>
>The column "Ask Marilyn" in the Sunday, July 15 issue of Parade, a
>magazine insert in newspapers, featured a question: "One often sees
>commemorative statues of soldiers mounted on horses with their
>forelegs in various positions. Is there any significance to the
>difference?" The answer stated "Yes, although some sculptors may be
>unaware of the tradition or choose to ignore it. A historian at
>Arlington National Cemetery explains that when both forelegs of the
>horse are in the air, the rider died in battle. When only one foreleg
>is raised, the rider died of his wounds afterward. And when all four
>legs are on the ground, the rider later died of unrelated causes."
>
>Does anyone know if this is in fact true? If so could
>you please identify the historian and provide an explanation of the
>background of this tradition with references to sources and
>documentation?
>
>
>Sincerely,
>Frances B. Clymer
>Librarian
>McCracken Research Library
>Buffalo Bill Historical Center
>720 Sheridan Avenue
>Cody, WY 82414
>Phone: 307-578-4059
>
>[log in to unmask]
>
>please visit our website at: www.bbhc.org <http://www.bbhc.org/>
>
>
>
>
>
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__________________________________________________________________
Mail submissions to [log in to unmask]
Administrative matters (file requests, subscription requests, etc)
to [log in to unmask]
ARLIS-L Archives and subscription maintenance:
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Questions may be addressed to list owner (Kerri Scannell) at: [log in to unmask]
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