May 11, 1863, Semi-Weekly News (San Antonio, Texas)
Gen. Wharton’s cavalry saddle is a magnificent affair. Its mountings are all of heavy solid silver, with stirrups heavily plated with the same metal, and the quilting is of gold and silver threads. The bridle is also heavily adorned with silver, and on the point of the holsters are two solid gold balls half an inch in diameter. The outfit cost, in Mexico $1000 in specie.