Greetings from a new subscriber in Ohio of the United States.  In 2001 during the renovation of Fort Meigs in northwestern Ohio we excavated a pair of horses likely put down as a result of injuries sustained during the British bombardment and siege in May 1813. Of the two horses there was one noticeably larger and was probably a draft animal considering the large, aggressive caulks on the remaining shoes. Its right forelimb appeared rotated at the knee making the animal useless. The smaller animal we think was possibly a cavalry horse. It was smaller and more gracile than its companion and had lighter weight almost smooth shoes without aggressive caulks or cleats. It had a load of .32 caliber shot in its belly and a .45 caliber ball found under its head and probably had to be put down due to its injuries. The horses were laid on their sides facing each other with their necks and rear legs crossed and the front legs somewhat intertwined in an almost heraldic pose. Some but not all of the shoes from both horses had been removed after they were put in the ground. We know this because we found the nails adjacent to the individual hoofs. Under the shoulder blade of the smaller horse was a boar’s head, from what I understand a common English icon. My question is: does any of this sound like anything in late 18th - early19th century British military tradition. The American army at that time was only a generation or so removed by that time from being British and some older military customs certainly must have survived the changing of flags. Or perhaps it is just as someone told me; it’s just two dead horses and a pig in a hole in the ground. Any guidance that can be provided would be greatly appreciated.
Bill Pickard