Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-07-01
For The Enquirer.
10 the Fourth Regiment Of Cavalry OF the Virginia
Militia.

That a well regulated militia, composed Of
the body Of the people, trained to arms, IS the
proper, natural and safe defence of 4 free State,
is as true Row as in the days Of our fathers,
and, as political liberty can be secured only by
O written constitution. so no defence of the
State is safe, unless il depends on a well rcgu-
lated militia. Tie rapidity with which colnpa-
MICS Of cavalry are springing W under the ln1u-
ence of the law, organizing the militia, and,
aboyc all, the attitude in which the State
placed herself. between 1888 and 1916, when
the number Of cavalry companies rose 10 one
hundred and thirty-two Exceeding the number
Of counties then in the State attcsts the rcli-
ance of the people OIL this arm OF defence
Many of the companies were Us gallant and
well appointed as Champunous, the Hover Of
Tilbury; yet no Asdrubal or kellcrman CT mld
have launched them as u body Of ten thous End
at one moment, and a column of division at
the next.
In the most celebrated battles, ancient and
modern. in which victory has been ascribet to
the influence of cavalry, success has been
mainly due to the superior discipline of the
%victors, and their capacity to be used either as
a mass or in fractions. Gamma and Marengo
attest this truth. Were this the time and
place, it would be easily shown that, whenever
danger, foreign or domestic, has threatened our
peace, almost every county has sent forth its
company of cavalry, composed of its iavorite
SONS. The Lees, the CANDLES. the lleths, the
Millers, and n host Of eminent and patriotic
names, confirm this truth and, at one time,
near nine thousand sabres cleaned in the sun
to attest the readiness Of Virginia's cavalry to
defend the State.
For police purposes cavalry is most valuable,
and for such purposes, and for local distur-
Dances, detached companies with very impcr.
feet discipline, will suffice. But, when or State
is invaded, and We are called on to de.end her
against some great Armada, not Spanisb, French
or English, but oil combined, then we want the
avalanche of the mass or the cutting force of
the smaller column, and then will this right
arm Of the militia be defence, or an unwieldy
and inefi cient mass, according to It's diScl-
pline. BIT how disciplined?
There arc five regiments Of cavalry in the
State. Thu present militia law provides that
the cavaliy and artillery shall be armed,
equipped, instructed and manoeuvred according
to the rcgu lations prescribed for such corps in
the army of the United States; and the rcgula.
tons presc ribc that the cavalry shall be in
structcd ant manocuvred according to the tao
tics prepare, d for their guidance. That they
shall rcceiv, theoretical and practical instruc-
ton. 7hoi' .rery thing IN tie hook and moth
ing out of it shall be taught, and particularly
that cavalry shall be instructed and manocn-
vred as regit nents. Indeed the regiment is the
basis Of ca, airy organization. The necessity
then for assc milling the cavalry as regiments,
If il is ever { o be instructed and manoeuvrcd
,oonrl,r- 20 1our md IL. prNppS 0rp1niT1t.0n
must be apparent. =.
Some Of our cities contain volunteers rcgi-
ments Of infsntry, which in discipline equal the
best regular troops, and in the higher qualities
Of the soldier, surpass them. The Seventh Re-
giment Of New York, on their recent visit to the
city Of Richmond, not only won the APP
plause Of every behol,ier. but exhibited the
spectacle or a regiment OF militia. Thoroughly
instructed and drilled. Noar Of the service
is moro susceptible Of high discipline than the
cavalry and none reed it more; tor 1t is St
once the most agile and useful, or the most VI.
wieldy and embarrassing lin large massey ofal
military bodies. For these reasons we propoS.
to ths companies composing the 4ih regimen;
o caralry, to assemble in camp OF cantonmcnt
at such time and place as a maturity Of the
companies forming the camp Shall appoint
E.rh company to furnish its own camp, stores
and forage, and every other NECESSARY, except
tents.
For the purpose Of ti.;ing the time, place and
period of encampment, and adopting measures
TO promote its success. ~e invite the command
ers of the companies composing the 18th Regi
ment OF Cavalry, to meet us at the Exchange
Hotel, in the city of Richmond, on Tuesday,
tho 10Th day Of July instant, at II o'clock.
!SuERwIx McRAE, Colonel of Cavalry.
J. LrcIus DAVIS, Lieut.. Col. Of Cavalry.
VIZ. II. RICHARDSON. JR., Maj. o. Cavalry.
JouS j. WEHTH, Major Of Cavalry.