Proximity, wholeness, and animality: The case of Little Sorrel's repatriation

Frederic Webster, chief preparator at the Carnegie Museum (CM) from 1897 to 1907, is credited by some for “rescuing” Lion Attacking a Dromedary (LAD) destruction American of Natural History. Webster's work on LAD was not his only involvement with preparation and display controversial bones, however. Webster mounted hide bones Confederate General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson's war horse, Little Sorrel displayed skeleton CM. In 1949, Sorrel's were returned Virginia, where it eventually cremated interred under statue Jackson in public ceremony 1997. This article compares return reburial horse continued remains person unknown origin highlight very differing treatment these human equine individuals. By considering be repatriation, I argue that transformed museum specimen into monument, leveling him as symbol Lost Cause further cementing status individual contained within specimen. Through proximity animals, (and horse) become more human, while whose remain treated less than human.