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Another common punishment for soldiers (usually for rioting or drinking) was the riding the wooden horse. In New Amsterdam the wooden horse stood between Paerel street and the Fort, and was a straight, narrow, horizontal pole, standing twelve feet high. Sometimes the upper edge of the board or pole was acutely sharpened to intensify the cruelty. The soldier was set astride this board, with his hands tied behind his back. Often a heavy weight was tied to each foot, as was jocularly said, “to keep his horse from throwing him.”

Author

Project Gutenberg's Curious Punishments of Bygone Days, by Alice Morse Earle Originally published 1896

Posted on

Thursday 19 March 2020

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500*1000

Keywords

Punishment

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