Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-07-06
The IrnOner Drill.

The correspondent Of the New York
World describes the trooper drill at West
Point:
The hall is oblong In shape, laid with
sawdust and rooted with an arch spanning
the whole structure from sidewalk to wall.
Around the sides below a wainscot of
boards on end is constructed, slanting
down and inwards, thus preventing horse
from sliding against the wall and crushing
his riders legs On either side of the hall
three posts are set--one opposite the GEN.
ter, under the gallery, the other two near
the angles at the ends of the apartment.
They are set about six feet from the wall,
| leaving Just room enough for horse and
rider TO pass between. On the top of the
first post, near the angle, is laid stuffed
leather pad, of about the size and
consistence of boxing-gleve. Mid
way between that and the middle
post on the ground, lies similar
pad. From light gallows-beam at the
summit of a higher middle post depends all
iron ring, like that at which the knights
tilted at the recent Brooklyn tournament.
Midway on agaln, between the middle post
and the post standing near the farther an
gle, lies another pad, and still another is
| laid on the farthest post The pads repre-
sent the heads or hearts of imaginary enc
mics, on foot or kneeling; the ring the
head of an enemy on horseback. So, while
making the circuit of the hall, rider en-
counters no less than four supposeable foes
on foot, four kneeling with the bayonet, or
lodging his onslaught to the very ground,
and two on horseback in all. This, as
shown by the exercises yesterday, keeps a
cavalryman lively.
The cadets, forty or fifty of them, seated
or hrr +Nryl for
other from the opposite ends of the hall,
clad in gray, presented fine appearance.
| They wore sabres, revolvers, and spurs.
Their horses, freshly groomed and oiled,
showed glistening hides. young cavalry
lieutenant, on distracting gray charger,
directed them with clear ringing COM
mands. Two at a time-on riding out to
an angle of the hall, another to the oppo-
site angle-thCy rode at a gallop around
the building, ''going for the pads and
rings. At the first pad on the first post
every c&valryman fired with his pistol.
Sheathing that IN its holster, he then drew
his sabre and trusted to cold steel. Whaek!
went the blade against the pad on the
ground at the feet of the galloping horses.
Cling! rang the blade against inc ring, carry
ing it way. Thud upon the next pad,
Plug! ana the pad on the furthest post was
spitted alott on the point of the cadets
sabre. So on around. So rapid was the
riding that soon the reports of the revolv
ers and the clang of steel became 1ncessant-
The atmosphere became impregnated with
powder-smoke The riders rode through
smudge. Hurdles were brought in. Over
them they went, carrying away the rings
as they leaped. By this time the horses
were reeking with sweat, which, mingled
with the oil of their toilets, made, them
as slippery as creased pigs. The order
to dismount was given. Off came the
saddles and saddle cloth. ''Mount !
and like Indians the cadets sprang
up into the air, and came down sans sad
dies, sans stirrups, on the horses bare
backs. cit felt," said one of them after
ward, Gas if [ had straddled an enormous
eel. . Again the order to ride was given;
the pistols rang out; steel clashed, hurdles
cracked under rushing horses hoofs-the
horses going at their utmost speed--thelr
rlders keeping their seats superbly, and
cutting, tnruSting and banging away The
horses, excited to degree not surpassed
even III actual battle by this rack and run
ming, got SO restive at last that some Of
the cadets had opportunities to display
their very best horsemanship. To the la
dies IN the galleries the rearing and plung-
ing of the steeds, one or two Of which tried
the experiment of failing in order to un-
ship their clinging freights, were especially
pleasing. -F.e. rs zsiu .sa r-1 . at