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As an engineer and weapons history lover, and to address the question directly, the original Armalite Model 15 is not very different from the original Colt M16.This is the original AR-15 before it was sold to Colt an extremely rare gun if the one in the pic is original it sold at auction for $63,250 if you wanted it and you lived in Illinois sales tax alone would be $5,400, for reference my first car was $5,000. https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/76/1567/colt-ar15-class-iiinfaAfter that, they called it the 601 and it was still an AR-15, both by name and by design.Here is the Colt 603 (after the 601 and 602) also known as the M16A1. There is also the XM-16 E1 stamped AR-15. An original 601 is about $37,500.The first batch was marked with the AR-15 stamp, which is not the same as a civilian AR-15.The AR-15 marking was removed, after that first test batch, thus solidifying it as a US service rifle.The A1 is the reason people claim of an unstable bullet among the AR-15 platform, this was due to an ineffective rifling rate. Colt added a forward assist which the original designer, Stoner, didn't want but who cares, it's not his rifle anymore. Then changes were implemented, making the M16A2/A3/A4 variations, including the rifling which fixed the stabilization issues.The problem is currently there are no military held AR-15s and they are no longer stamped as AR-15, at this point the M4s are different from them. The civilian rifle platform best know as the AR-15 is very very different from its original predecessor just as we are from apes, if you believe in evolution. For the comparisons, I'm using this as the civilian one.I could even use this California legal one (it’s just such a sad rifle, it hurts to look at) as all the internals are the same as any other civilian AR-15.And this as the military one. I will only be comparing the functional differences, not cosmetic ones (like the asker is).Or any of these.The civilian AR-15 vs the military's M16.M4 vs M16 vs AR15 DifferencesAR-15 vs M16 PartsLonger so that the auto sear can hold it down.Has the extra hook to be caught on the auto sear.Cammed to block auto sear during semi-auto and unblocked for full auto.M16 has the extension at the bottom of the bolt to release the auto sear to fire automatically during full auto.The M16 has more room for the auto sear.The civilian variations are also missing the Auto Sear, its cross pin, and the hole for the pin in the lower receiver.Below is the M-16 fire control group.Below is the civilian fire control group.This video describes the mechanics involved with the fire control group.Full auto works at the limitations of the mechanics in the rifle, around 700–900 rounds/min.Semi-auto works at the limitations of the operator around 300 rounds/min if you don't want to hit anything, really more practically around 45–60 rounds/min.Rifling also changes due to the ammunition used. Military 5.56x45mm NATO running anywhere from 54–68 grain (how heavy the projectile is) most common is 62gr, used in a 1:12 in a rifled barrel which was the standard before using the better 1:7, vs the civilian most common rounds in .223 are 55gr that work best in a 1:8 or 1:9 rifled barrel. Other factors like at what range you’re shooting can also affect which rate is best.I forgot about the feed ramps.Other differences can be found but the list gets longer and longer, with changes becoming smaller and smaller as well as the variations not being universal on all civilian rifles. Honestly, it gets confusing if I go on any more.Putting any of the M-16 parts in a civilian rifle without proper notification and documentation with the AFT could be a felony punishable for up to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000. As well as the ATF seizing of the vehicle (plane/boat/car) the weapon was found in (if it was found in a vehicle).Originally, I included the fire control group only, but I felt like I really needed to show all the differences, the engineering that when into making a civilian rifle and the military rifle. So I added the video, annotations to the changes and why in the part pics, and rifling in the barrel based on standard ammo use.Anyone is free to use this as part of their argument, just maybe link this or something, I don’t really care. I’d rather inform people about their misguided information that goes for both sides of the argument.Also, here's something close to what I have. 10.5″ 300 AAC. I’d just like to clarify its for home defense.Also, let me clear up something, and pretty much below is just a rant about false or misleading claims. I see it everywhere, news, YouTube comments, Twitter, everywhere."AR" comes from the name of the gun's original manufacturer, ArmaLite, Inc. The letters stand for ArmaLite Rifle — and not for "assault rifle" or "automatic rifle."A Brief History Of The AR-15AR just stands for ARmalite, not Armalite Rifle or anything else, just Armalite. Hence the AR-17 shotgun.And the AR-24.The OG Assault Rifle is the Sturmgewehr (Assault Riffle) 44, which is why we call rifles that are similar to it, Assault Rifles even though it was just propaganda. Hitler didn’t even like it and wanted it to not be made.Just like how modern rocket technology built off of the German V2 program, evolved into ICBMs, and now takes people to the ISS.There’s so much crap coming from everyone about the AR-15.Literally the first sentence of the second paragraph.The AR-15 came first, in 1947; the M16 a decade later.Bustle author Kastalia Medrano, What's The Difference Between An AR-15 & An M16?“AR-15 came first”, yes “in 1947” NO.Armalite wasn’t even founded until 1954. The AR-15 wasn’t around until 1956 when it was designed. Before any real data or details given, already inaccurate info and a loss of all hope for accuracy in the rest of the article.So you probably can’t get an M16, but you can potentially get the next-best thing in less than 10 minutes for around $1,000$200 ATF tax stamp or a milling machine says I can have an M-16 and the next best thing for like $500 all over the place if you just want something cheap.yes, a civilian can buy a basically military-grade semiautomatic weapon in (as you might have heard) about seven minutes— background check included.Skip that basically stuff for a hot minute and get yourself a live grenade, live claymore, literal tank, or I don’t know a real M-16. If you really wanted to you just have to be a Type 10 FFL and class 2 SOT then you can make as many as you want for around $1000 a year. Which I might as well do, I can make short barrel rifles, machine guns, suppressors, grenades, and mines once certified, I can even sell them to other certified people. Let me say that again, it is perfectly legal when registered to make these.I think that's perfect and shouldn't be changed for any reason.If you’re going to do gun stuff learn medical stuff. Have a tourniquet and know how to use it, you’re more likely going to be in a situation where you will need medical stuff than a gun, you will also probably need medical stuff if you use your gun. The “hole” idea is to stay alive so plug your holes.I also encourage everyone to carry a pair of medical gloves for many reasons, but definitely, if you are carrying a tourniquet as blood-borne diseases are common. I prefer light-colored gloves, blue or tan so you can see what’s on them, black gloves can hide stuff.Nitrile is best to avoid problems with a latex allergy as nitrile allergies are less common and mainly just hypersensitive related. Latex allergies however can be fatal resulting in 3,000 deaths from 1999–2010 according to the NCHS.Vocal warnings are better than shooting someone you don’t want to shoot. Hear a bump in the night grab that gun, but also yell “who’s there?” or something gives whoever a chance to identify themself or assess if they really want to be doing what they are doing. I like to say “I have a gun do what I say or get shot” it helps sort out any confusion. Vocal Aggression can be very advantageous if you aren’t sure who or what you’re dealing with.

True Kundalini awakening does exist, but not all who claim to have experienced it are truthful.There are charlatans and frauds in every field, so it is wise to be suspicious of the Kundalini phenomenon. Never have blind faith. Be skeptical and think critically when someone claims to have experienced an awakening. As the sun of scrutiny rises, the mist of suspicion vanishes.My experienceIn 1974, I was at a transition point in my life. I had just graduated with a master’s degree in Accounting from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and moved to Chicago in search of a job. I heard Swami Muktananda (known as ‘Baba’) was speaking at Northwestern University in downtown Chicago on September 13, 1974, so I decided to attend his talk. At this time in my life, I had never even heard the word ‘Kundalini,’ and I could never have imagined the drastic and wonderful turn my life would take after meeting Baba.The talk was already in progress when I arrived, but I was nevertheless inspired by Baba’s words. After his talk, I joined the line formed to meet him. When I reached him, I whispered, “Baba, I don’t have a job.” At this, he raised his right hand in a gesture of blessing and said, “Mil jayega” (“You will get it”). I bowed down my head with utmost reverence and felt blessed. As I left the auditorium, I received a pamphlet describing a phenomenon known as Kundalini. Intrigued and desiring to know more, I resolved to visit Baba again the following day.On the morning of my September 14, 1974 visit, when my turn came, I bowed my head before Baba, but as I was getting up, he gently took my arm and ushered me to sit beside him on the raised platform. Honored, I sat silently on Baba’s left side as people in the line moved forward to meet him. During this time, I found an opportunity to ask, “Baba, when will I get the job?” He replied, “You will get the job immediately after your Kundalini is awakened. Take the meditation program. It will be free for you.”I did as I was instructed. The meditation program took place on Monday evening, September 16, 1974 — the day I would regard as the greatest day of my life. The hall in Lake Point Tower was filled to capacity as Baba delivered his meditation talk to a rapt audience. The program began with an opening statement from Baba: “Today’s subject is meditation. The crux of the question is: What do we meditate upon?”I clearly remember sitting cross-legged on the floor while listening to Baba’s words. I was near the front row and at the edge of the center aisle with my eyes closed, quietly focused on my breathing. I recall Baba saying, “Kundalini starts dancing when one repeats Om Namah Shivaya.” I mentally repeated the mantra, which was charged with Baba’s spiritual energy. My breathing became heavier. Suddenly, I felt a powerful force rising within me. The intensity of this rising Kundalini force was so tremendous that my body lifted from the floor and fell into the aisle, causing my glasses to fly off.As I lay there with my eyes closed — my breathing was suspended — I could see a continuous fountain of dazzling white lights erupting within me. These brilliant lights were brighter than the sun, though no heat came from them. I was experiencing the thought-free state of “I am.” I was overwhelmed with the realization that “I” have always been, and will continue to be, eternal. While experiencing this eternal “I am” state of supreme consciousness, I was fully conscious and completely aware.At that moment, Baba delightfully shouted from his platform, “Mene kuch nahi kiya; kisiko shakti ne pakda” (“I didn’t do anything; the Energy has caught someone”). Then he continued, “I [Baba] am like a radar. When something happens, I come to know of it immediately.”The dramatic awakening of Kundalini in me frightened some people in the audience, but Baba reassured them saying, “Do not be frightened. Sometimes Kundalini gets awakened in this way, depending upon a person’s type.”Within me, the brilliant white lights disappeared, giving way to a cooling experience. It was a blissful cooling state as if it were emanating from hundreds of moons. As I was still experiencing this ethereal state of indescribable celestial bliss, Baba commented on the inner state that I was experiencing: “Ab mere me aur isme koi antar nahi raha” (“Right now, there is no difference between his state and my state”).As Baba returned to his talk on meditation, the intense coolness gradually receded inside me, and slowly I became aware of my physical body once again. I felt a slight pain at the base of my spine, but the sensation was dulled by another realization: Baba had become my guru the very moment I experienced my eternal nature. My heart was overcome with tremendous gratitude for Baba’s divine grace.A short break followed Baba’s talk. During this break, I walked up to Baba and fully prostrated before him, to offer my deepest gratitude. Baba’s face lit up with joy as he patted me on the back. He told me to share my experience with others and to read his book (titled Guru at the time. It has since been republished under the title Play of Consciousness). “That’s why I wrote this book, Guru,” Baba explained, because this experience was meant to be shared.I visited Baba every day at Lake Point Tower until he left Chicago. I shared many moments with Baba in those following days, and he continued to bless me with advice and wisdom until he departed on September 20, 1974. Just three days after he left, on September 23, 1974, I found an accounting position at CBS, a well-known television company in Chicago. Baba’s blessing had been fulfilled.In the wake of this experienceMy life changed forever—I was completely transformed—with my Kundalini awakening. That experience of divinity vastly improved my quality of life and altered the way I view myself and the world. I look upon every person as a relative of my innermost consciousness. I see everything in the universe—from the smallest blade of grass to the largest star—is linked through a common, fundamental, pervasive energy called consciousness.The same consciousness that exists within me exists within everyone. With absolute certainty, I understand now that both my physical body and my mind are coverings over the innermost “I am” awareness. This awareness is eternal, beyond birth and death, and it will exist even after my earthly body is gone. Just as rising and setting are illusions of the sun, birth and death are illusions in this “I am” awareness.I frequently see a tiny blue light. Sometimes I see it with my eyes shut and at other times with my eyes open. This has been happening ever since that rebirth and it continues to be my most sublime experience.I am forever grateful to Baba for my new awareness and divinity, for now I do not merely believe in my Self; I know it to be true.Actually, it is my above kundalini awakening experience that led me to write the book, Building a Noble World. The above description is adapted from the said book.Explaining what a firm faith can do, Swami Muktananda (1908-1982) said, "I receive so many letters from people who were reading Play of Consciousness and received shaktipat from the book. They put the book against their hearts and began to meditate."

No. As mentioned in other answers, General Grant rode Cincinnati, a Thoroughbred, and General Lee rode Traveller, an American Saddlebred.However, it is important to note that both of these breeds have changed drastically since originally used by those in the U.S. Cavalry and the Confederate Cavalry during the period of the Civil War (1861 - 1865). The breeds’ modern counterparts are quite different.While both Cincinnati and Traveller were also inbred with the blood of “the first great Thoroughbred stallion bred in America, sire of the fastest horses”, Sir Archy (out of Diomed, c. 1814-1831) - as most American Thoroughbreds were during that time period - both horses were quite different in appearance, build, and movement.First, however, let’s compare Cincinnati and Traveller as mounts.Above: Cincinnati, General Grant’s preferred mount. He was the son of Lexington, the fastest four-mile Thoroughbred in the United States (time 7:19.75 minutes). Cincinnati was also the grandson of the great Boston, who sired Lexington; with Boston sired by Timoleon, the son of Sir Archy.Above: Cincinnati’s sire, the Thoroughbred racehorse Lexington.Foaled in Kentucky, Lexington was bred and owned by Dr. Elisha Warfield. The colt was technically under lease to his trainer, Henry Brown, for his first two starts but raced in Dr. Warfield's colors as Brown, an African American ex-slave, could not enter horses at Lexington's Kentucky Association Race Track in his own right.[…] Lexington was arguably the best racehorse of his day, but his prowess as a racer was as nothing compared to his impact as a sire. His career straddled both the American Civil War and the transition between the highly stamina-oriented heat racing commonplace before the war, and the much more speed-oriented ‘dash’ racing that became the norm afterward.Lexington's progeny proved ideally suited to the new realities of racing, and Lexington became the most dominant sire ever seen in North America, leading the general sire list 16 times.While no records were kept of broodmare sire statistics until much later, Lexington was equally valuable as a broodmare sire, with the result that by the end of the 19th century, a heavy majority of Thoroughbreds produced in North American carried his blood, often through multiple crosses. His male line is now extinct, but his influence lives on in pedigrees around the world.A bay horse, Lexington stood 15.3 hands, and was considered extremely well-conformed, with powerful shoulders and hindquarters…Lexington was inbred 3 × 4 to the stallion Sir Archy, and 4 × 4 to the stallion Diomed, meaning that both horses appears twice in his pedigree—Sir Archy in the third and fourth generations, and Diomed twice in the fourth generation. (Source)He suffered from defective vision (his sire, Boston, had gone blind) and was losing his eyesight by the time he retired from racing as a 5-year-old; he became completely blind during his stud career. His head had a distinctive shape with a slightly bulging forehead, a slight dish at mid-profile and a convex nose, and he regularly transmitted this “moose head” profile to his descendants.During his stallion career, Lexington became known as the “Blind Hero of Woodburn” because of his prowess as a sire and his blindness.During his stud career, his disposition was said to rival his sire Boston's for willfulness and viciousness; as his dam Alice Carneal was also said to be quite high-strung, he was not bred for a placid temperament.Lexington led the American general sire list in 1861-1874, 1876 and 1878. His daughters were highly prized as broodmares, and formed effective crosses with the important sires Leamington (a four-time American champion sire) and Australian. Lexington's record as a sire of winners is all the more remarkable when it is considered that many of his offspring never raced, due to the disruptions caused by the American Civil War.During a February 1865 raid on Woodburn Farm, soldiers seized 15 of Woodburn's horses [for the Cavalry]…Lexington himself was not touched, being 15 years old and completely blind by that time. After that incident, Woodburn sent the bulk of his breeding stock - Lexington included - to safety in Illinois until the conclusion of the Civil War. (Source)Lexington's dominance in the pedigrees of American-bred Thoroughbreds, and the fact that the British Thoroughbred breeders considered him not a purebred, was a large factor in the so-called Jersey Act of 1913, in which the British Jockey Club limited the registration of horses not traced completely to horses in the General Stud Book. (Source)The loss of breeding records during the American Civil War, and the late beginning of the registration of American Thoroughbreds, led many in the British racing establishment to doubt that the American-bred horses were purebred…[the British prohibited] the registration of horses in the [stud] book, unless all of their ancestors had been registered, [and had records to prove it].[This was also compounded with the massive import of, and crossbreeding to, unregistered or undocumented Canadian horses of non-Thoroughbred descent for the Union Cavalry during the Civil War.]Descended from draft and light riding horses imported to Canada in the late 1600s, [the Canadian horse] was later crossed with other British and American breeds. During the 18th century (1700s), the Canadian horse spread throughout the northeastern US, where it contributed to the development of several horse breeds, [but had no established stud book].[…] Thousands of horses were exported [from Canada to the US] in the 19th century, many of whom were subsequently killed while acting as cavalry horses in the American Civil War. These exports decreased the purebred Canadian [horse] population almost to the point of extinction, prompting the formation of a stud book, and the passage of a law against further export [to the US]. (Source)Despite protests from American breeders, the regulation for [English Thoroughbred breeding] remained in force until 1949…Weatherby's further amended its regulations in 1969, introducing the word "thoroughbred" to describe the horses registered in previous volumes of the General Stud Book. (Source)Cincinnati was a gift to Grant from an admirer during the War, and - unlike his sire - had a “placid” manner, and “seldom batted an eyelid at anything”.[1] The horse was large at 17 hands (68 inches, 173 cm), handsome, and powerful, and he quickly became Grant's favorite. When Grant rode Cincinnati to negotiate Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House, the animal became immortalized.[2]“The name excited my father’s curiosity and he called at the hotel to meet the gentleman who told him that he had, he thought, the finest horse in the world, and knowing General Grant’s great liking for horses he had concluded, inasmuch as he would never be able to ride again, that he would like to give his horse to him; that he desired that the horse should have a good home and tender care and that the only condition that he would make in parting with him would be that the person receiving him would see that he was never ill-treated and should never fall into the hands of a person that would ill-treat him. This promise was given and General Grant accepted the horse, and called him ‘Cincinnati.’”Of Cincinnati, Ulysses Grant’s cypher operator Captain Samual H. Beckwith said: “It was not, however, until the Wilderness Campaign, that ‘Cincinnati’ became filled with the martial spirit and frantic to participate in the turmoil of battle. In quietude this famous animal seemed gentle and spiritless, but the battle sounds stirred him with enthusiasm. No artist could paint the beauty of this horse in the midst of action, when the curb was required to hold him back.”Based on photos, General Grant also used an English-style leather stockman's or hunting breastplate when riding Cincinnati, as well as a crupper, to keep his saddle secure. This shows a higher regard for safety and security measures on Grant’s part, especially if his saddle was to slip forwards or backwards on Cincinnati while riding.General Grant also used a McClellan-style saddle and a double bridle. The saddle blanket is also notably shaped like an eagle’s wings, similarly to the depicted Bald Eagle emblem stitched to it, the national symbol of the United States (Union). Overall, Grant’s tack shows a high degree of formality in appearance and equipment, as well as more stringent control and safety precautions.Speaking of McClellan, another Union officer, the McClellan saddle reflected the American (Union) fascination at the time with European cavalry practices and horse breeds.“In April 1855, six years before the start of the Civil War, Captain George B. McClellan sailed to Europe as part of a military commission to study developments in European tactics, weaponry, and logistics.McClellan's focus was the organization of engineer troops and cavalry. After the one-year tour, during which time McClellan observed several battles of the Crimean War, McClellan brought back almost 100 books and manuals. These he read before writing his report, which concluded with his proposed manual for American cavalry adapted from existing Russian cavalry regulations.He also proposed a cavalry saddle that he claimed was a modification of a Hungarian model used in the Prussian service. The saddle was almost certainly a modification of the Spanish tree saddle in common use in Mexico during this period, and which had become common in some parts of the US.The McClellan saddle was adopted by the US War Department in 1859 and remained standard issue, in various models, for the remaining history of the horse cavalry.” (Source)The Thoroughbred was developed in England during the 17th and 18th century, and experienced high popularity in the States at the time as well. The first Thoroughbred had been imported in 1730, and the breed would later gain recognition in 1868.Many casts and statues of Grant depict him riding Cincinnati - his Thoroughbred - and, in fact, very few others were allowed to even mount the famous horse. The only two people ever to ride Cincinnati other than Grant himself were a boyhood friend, Admiral Daniel Ammen, and President Abraham Lincoln.[3]The account of President Lincoln riding Cincinnati is as follows:“General Grant presented to Mr. Lincoln the officers of the staff who were present, and he had for each one a cordial greeting and a pleasant word. There was a kindliness in his tone and a hearty manner of expression which went far to captivate all who met him. The President soon stepped ashore, and after sitting awhile at headquarters mounted the large bay horse, Cincinnati, while the general rode with him on [his horse] Jeff Davis.Three of us of the staff accompanied them, and the scenes encountered in visiting both Butler’s and Meade’s commands were most interesting. Mr. Lincoln wore a very high black silk hat and black trousers and frockcoat. Like most men who had been brought up in the West, he had good command of a horse, but it must be acknowledged that, in appearance, he was not a very dashing rider.On this occasion, by the time he had reached the troops he was completely covered with dust, and the black color of his clothes had changed to Confederate gray. As he had no straps, his trousers gradually worked up above his ankles, and gave him the appearance of a country farmer riding into town wearing his Sunday clothes.A citizen on horseback is always an odd sight in the midst of a uniformed army, and the picture presented by the President bordered upon the grotesque. However, the troops were so lost in admiration of the man that the humorous aspect did not seem to strike them. The soldiers rapidly passed the word along the line that Uncle Abe had joined them, and cheers broke forth from all the commands, and enthusiastic shouts and even words of familiar greeting met him on all sides.”[4]Above: Traveller, General Lee’s preferred mount. He was a grey American Saddlebred (technically a Thoroughbred-Saddlebred cross) of 16 hands (64 inches, 163 cm), notable for speed, strength and courage in combat.Here, we also see General Lee using a traditional military hold on the reins, possibly for neck reining, as well as a single curb bit with a Western-style (“working style”) bridle. The reins are kept relaxed and somewhat loose, as for working horses, a relaxed rein allows the animal freedom to move over rough terrain. There is some slack in the reins, unless the rider needs to tell the horse to stop.Lee’s tack and appearance is far more casual and laid-back than that of General Grant. There is also less focus on tighter safety precautions, later to General Lee’s detriment.“The traditional cavalry hold has the rider place all four reins in the left hand; in this way, the right hand is left free to hold a sword, lance, or other weapon. The precise order of reins has varied from era to era, from country to country, and to suit specific circumstances of battle or pageantry. In every case, a great deal of precise control is needed to selectively engage the bradoon or curb independently.Less schooled troopers may ride while engaging only a single pair of reins for one bit, and allowing the reins for the second bit to bow and thereby apply only the passive effect of gravity on that bit…It demonstrates the horse's throughness, self-carriage, and obedience due to the fact that the rider has little control with the reins except to create flexion. When used, it can increase the difficulty of the movement.” (Source)Traveller, sired by notable racehorse Grey Eagle - a 16hh (hands high) Thoroughbred - and originally named Jeff Davis, was born to [American Saddlebred broodmare] Flora in 1857 near the Blue Sulphur Springs, in Greenbrier County, Virginia (now West Virginia) and was first owned and raised by James W. Johnston.Grey Eagle sired numerous successful racehorses and saddle horses, with “Saddlebred” referring to “saddle” horses, versus “Thoroughbred” for racehorses.Above: Traveller’s sire, the Thoroughbred stallion Grey Eagle.[Grey Eagle] was romantically beautiful, extremely fast, and the pride of Kentucky. Foaled in 1835, Grey Eagle helped establish Kentucky’s reputation as a premier source of great horses, but his influence on the American Thoroughbred went far beyond racing.[…] Grey Eagle was sired by Woodpecker, arguably the first top-flight racehorse foaled in Kentucky. His dam was the gray mare Ophelia, by Wheild Medley, out of a Sir Archy mare, and being a product of his times, Grey Eagle was inbred 3x3 to Sir Archy.[…] At the Oakland fall meet, Grey Eagle captured the patrons’ attention when setting an American record for two miles in a sweepstakes, going in 3:41 in the first heat, and cantering home in the second heat in 3:43 1/2. A week later he won another stakes at the same track and distance.Grey Eagle had grown into a strikingly handsome horse, a light gray with a silver mane and tail, of majestic carriage, graceful step, and the effortless stroke of a true four-mile horse. When his handlers uncovered him at the track, ladies were said to have swooned.[…] He went to stud in 1840 and stood at various farms around Kentucky until 1856, when he was sold to owners in Ohio. He was the second- leading sire in 1850 and 1851 by number of winners. Many of his daughters became excellent producers. His name appears often in American families (Zenyatta, Mizzen Mast, and Runaway Groom trace back to a daughter) and he spread his gray color far and wide.Several of his sons, such as Flying Dutchman and Bay Printer, made contributions to the Quarter Horse, and his speed was used in the formative years of the Standardbred. (Source)As a colt, Traveller took the first prize at the Lewisburg, Virginia fairs in 1859 and 1860. As an adult he was a sturdy horse, and 1,100 pounds (500 kg); was an iron gray in color, with black point coloration; and had a long mane and flowing tail.In the spring of 1861, a year before achieving fame as a Confederate general, Robert E. Lee was commanding a small force in western Virginia. The quartermaster of the 3rd Regiment, Wise Legion, Captain Joseph M. Broun, was directed to "purchase a good serviceable horse of the best Greenbrier stock for our use during the war”.Broun purchased the horse for $175 (approximately $4,545 in 2008) from Andrew Johnston's son, Captain James W. Johnston, and named him Greenbrier. Major Thomas L. Broun, Joseph's brother recalled that Greenbrier:“...was greatly admired in camp for his rapid, springy walk, his high spirit, bold carriage, and muscular strength. He needed neither whip nor spur, and would walk his five or six miles an hour over the rough mountain roads of Western Virginia with his rider sitting firmly in the saddle and holding him in check by a tight rein, such vim and eagerness did he manifest to go right ahead so soon as he was mounted.”— Major Thomas L. BrounGeneral Lee took a great fancy to the horse. He called him his "colt", and predicted to Broun that he would use it before the war was over. After Lee was transferred to South Carolina, Joseph Broun sold the horse to him for $200 in February 1862. Lee named the horse "Traveller".Lee described his horse in a letter in response to his wife's cousin, Markie Williams, who wished to paint a portrait of Traveller:“If I was an artist like you, I would draw a true picture of Traveller; representing his fine proportions, muscular figure, deep chest, short back, strong haunches, flat legs, small head, broad forehead, delicate ears, quick eye, small feet, and black mane and tail. Such a picture would inspire a poet, whose genius could then depict his worth, and describe his endurance of toil, hunger, thirst, heat and cold; and the dangers and suffering through which he has passed. He could dilate upon his sagacity and affection, and his invariable response to every wish of his rider. He might even imagine his thoughts through the long night-marches and days of the battle through which he has passed. But I am no artist Markie, and can therefore only say he is a Confederate gray.”— Robert E. Lee, letter to Markie WilliamsTraveller was a horse of great stamina, and was usually a good horse for an officer in battle, because he was difficult to frighten. He could sometimes become nervous and spirited, however. This, and Lee’s more “laid-back” style, would later contribute to Lee’s lesser attention to safety than Grant cause Lee to be injured.At the Second Battle of Bull Run, while General Lee was at the front reconnoitering, dismounted and holding Traveller by the bridle, the horse became frightened at some movement of the enemy and, plunging, pulled Lee down on a stump, breaking both of his hands. Lee went through the remainder of that campaign chiefly in an ambulance. When he rode on horseback, a courier rode in front, leading his horse.[5]Another souce also recounts the story as such:“Despite the strong association Lee shared with Traveller, he did not begin to regularly ride him until after the spring 1862 Peninsula campaign.From that point on, he was the general’s most-used mount, even after Traveller reared and threw his owner shortly after the Second Battle of Manassas. His hands badly damaged in the fall, Lee was unable to mount up again until the day of the Battle of Sharpsburg.Some of the most dramatic incidents involving Lee and Traveller occurred during the Overland campaign in 1864, when soldiers literally grabbed the horse’s reins to prevent their commander from personally leading attacks on six occasions between May 6 and May 12.” (Source: HistoryNet)Now, when it comes to examining the horses’ conformation - or, how they are bred and built - here is a photo of General Grant’s favorite three horses, from left to right: Egypt, Cincinnati, and Jeff Davis.As you can tell, out of the three, Cincinnati is the one that looks the “prettiest”. The other two - Egypt and Jeff Davis - have heavier heads and thicker builds, more like that you’d find in today’s American Standardbred - or harness-racer, then called a “roadster” in those days - than your typical Thoroughbred, or flat-racer. The Standardbred also began to first emerge as a breed during and after the Civil War-era (c. 1851 - 1875).This is because many Cavalry bloodlines at the time were greatly influenced by the previous standard American breed, the smaller and stockier Narragansett Pacer (c. early 1700’s), as well as the imported Norfolk Trotter from England (c. 1822), albeit later crossed with Thoroughbred blood for greater size, stamina, grace, and speed."They have, besides, a breed of small horses, which are extremely hardy. They pace naturally, though in no very graceful or easy manner; but with such swiftness, and for so long a continuance, as must appear almost incredible to those who have not experienced it…" - Edmund Burke on the Narragansett Pacer, c. 1757[...] Unlike a racehorse bred to produce quick, bursting speed over a flat course, the Narragansett Pacer was a relatively small horse, but bred and trained to move swiftly over rough terrain with tremendous endurance. As a pacer, it had a somewhat awkward high step, but it did not sway from side to side, and could carry a man 50 miles or more in a day.[…] The rider could spend hours in the saddle, even all day, and often did. Before roads were built, overland transportation consisted of following rough trails, pathways, and Indian traces. "Carriages were unknown," wrote one chronicler of 18th-century life in southern Rhode Island. "And the public roads were not so good...all the riding was done on horseback."The Narragansett Pacer had been used by the likes of Paul Revere and General George Washington as prized mounts by the Patriots during the American Revolutionary War, which I wrote about more in-depth on Reddit here.Likewise, Cincinnati’s hindquarters are built more like those of a classic American Quarter Horse - which the Thoroughbred “quarter-mile”, or sprint, racers served as a foundation for - while also retaining the build and stucture of an ideal Thoroughbred for hunter-jumper sports, as opposed to flat-racing.Above: A 1905 photo of “Thoroughbred” Peter McCue, a foundational sire of the American Quarter Horse. He was foaled 1895, and registered as a Thoroughbred, but is of disputed pedigree.At the time, due to how much more common crossbreeding was, Thoroughbreds also had more variation in types. As the Thoroughbred breed became established in America, many colonial non-Thoroughbred horses - primarily native mares crossed with Thoroughbred stallions - were included in the original American Thoroughbred stud books. These horses were used as a work horse during the week, and a race horse on the weekends, reflecting the American attitude and work-ethic.Today, the modern American Thoroughbred, which is largely used for racing only, has been purposefully bred to have a up to twice as large of a heart[6] and lighter bones[7],which have caused health issues in the breed, including heart problems, such as aortic and arrhythmia issues, and sudden cardiac death[8][9]. This is in contrast to the Civil War-era, when horses were bred not just for speed, but also for endurance, including the stresses and demands of everyday riding.During and after the Civil War-era, there was a shift in Thoroughbred racing from endurance to speed, resulting in the changes to the breed seen today. According to Bill Finley’s 2005 article for ESPN, “What’s wrong with the modern Thoroughbred”:“The brittleness of the modern horse is a problem that is getting worse all the time, and one for which racing seems to have no solutions. It's a reason why so many tracks have so many small fields that are unappetizing to bettors, and a reason why racing is losing its appeal with the general public.The sport has no stars anymore, because a true star has to have lasting appeal…It is widely assumed that horses, especially good horses, can't race more than five or six times a year, and routinely need six or seven weeks between races, because the breed is so fragile these days it cannot stand anything more punishing…The theory dismisses the chance that there is the possibility of a chicken-and-egg scenario here. Which came first–wimpy horses, or wimpy horse trainers? Did horses hold up much better 20, 30, 40 years ago because the breed was, in general, tougher and more durable or because trainers made them tougher and more durable? […] Turn back the clock to the forties, and horses were machines…[…] I don't know the first thing about training, but something tells me that a horse has to be mentally and physically battle-tested in order to hold up…This requires a high degree of fitness and the type of experience that can only come from racing [nowadays, as horses are no longer used in war]…”In 2016, veterinarian Dr. Sophy Jesty, who specializes in large animal cardiology, had this to say on the sudden cardiac arrest and death of modern Thoroughbred racehorse Homeboykris:Q: “When Homeboykris collapsed and died of a heart attack on this year's Preakness undercard, a lot of people worried that he had the heart attack because he had had a long race career. Is there any reason these two things should be related?”Jesty: “Homeboykris was nine years old, which is certainly old for a racehorse. Although there are no studies to my knowledge addressing the question of how age affects the risk of sudden death in horses, theoretically, advancing age could increase the risk. At some point, the heart and lungs no longer work as strongly and efficiently as when the horse was younger. As animals age, their arteries lose elasticity, which could increase the risk for aortic rupture during exercise. However, nine years old is not geriatric for a horse, and in many sport disciplines, nine years old would only be considered mid-career.” (Source)The results of a 2013 DNA study of modern English Thoroughbreds - and various other breeds influenced by the Thoroughbred - would also confirm much lower genetic variation in the breed than previous decades, due to the increasing impact of centuries of selective breeding, inbreeding, and line-breeding.“‘The results confirmed what we had previously suspected - that the Y chromosomes of modern breeds of horse show far less variability than those of other domestic animals.’..The senior author on the paper, Dr. Gottfried Brem, said: ‘Most modern breeds were established in the last two centuries, during which time the horse has undergone a transition from working and military use towards leisure and sports…The restricted genetic diversity of the modern horse Y chromosome is a reflection of what has survived the species' dynamic history.’”Today, the Appendix [Quarter] Horse - or half-Quarter Horse/half-Thoroughbred cross - would probably be most similar to Cincinnati. The Appendix also more closely resembles the mixed-breed status of the American Thoroughbred at the time of the Civil War.Above: A modern 17-hh bay Appendix [Quarter] Horse of Cincinnati’s color and build.Likewise, Traveller, General Lee’s mount, would be more similar to today’s Missouri Fox Trotter (below) than your typical American Saddlebred, the latter of which is now bred more for flashy looks and shows than practical function.The Fox Trotter, however, is the descendant of the more “practical-use” type classical Saddlebreds, a breed that, like the Thoroughbred, changed with the transition from “working and military” use to “leisure and sports”. New technology and the mechanization of military over time, gradually phasing out the Cavalry, was also a major factor.Above: A modern gray Missouri Fox Trotter of Traveller’s color and build.The Missouri Fox Trotter was developed from equine stock, including gaited horses, brought to Missouri by settlers from Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia. Breeds that contributed to the Fox Trotter included the Arabian, Morgan, American Saddlebred, Tennessee Walking Horse and Standardbred.By the time of Missouri's statehood in 1821, the horses of the state were known for their unique gait, which was useful in the rocky terrain of the Ozark Mountains. The breed became popular with cattlemen for their smooth gaits and ability to work with cattle.[…] Missouri Fox Trotters are used extensively by trail riders, who appreciate their gaits, stamina and weight-carrying abilities. They are also used in handicapped riding programs, and their smooth gait has proven useful for riders with minor physical disabilities. Crosses between Fox Trotter mares and donkey jacks are often made, creating mules with the fox trot gait that are used to carry hunters and trail riders, especially in the western United States.The US Forest Service also employs Fox Trotters for their speed, stamina and gait, and members of the breed were used to make the first horse-back descent of the north rim of the Grand Canyon.[10]