The New York herald., 1876-12-19
POLO AND CAVALRY.
What the West Point Authorities
Say About Ii.
THE PRESENT TACTICS
sect Congress TO Appropriate the Money and
Promise That the Cadets Will Make
Good Use Of the Ponics."

orhc HERALD's article suggesting the Introduction sl
polo at West Point was read with much interest here"
SAID Colonel Beaumont after rendering tho hospitality
Of his house the interviewer with the characteristic
courtesy OF West Point officer. "Though not
cessity should regard polo pleasant and bcno-
ncial auxiliary TO our regular tactics" As assistant
instructor in cavalry tactics Colonel Beaumonts views
may be regarded as authoritative
'swhy should you have polo here, then,
Cooncly"
ssThc chief objection would be tho expense was the
reply. "rhs purchase OF ponies and equipments and
tho OF keeping and caring for the extra animals
would be unwarrantabe addition to the regular
penditures, particularly the appropriation Is none
too liberal for tho ordinary and necessary out
lays"
''What isyour usual cavalry dr?"
1--WE employ tho Upton tactics and also elaborate
special drill Tho cadets taught ride bareback,
TO ride without stirrups, 10 jump hurdles, to use tho
pistol and sabre while riding, heads to tho right
and left and other feats. Tho heads leather
balls about i've inches In diameter which
placed on posts of various heights The trooper NOV
ing at rapid gallop must cut these heads riding to
the right and left, and also cut heads resting the
ground the last rather difficult feat when done TO
tho left, compelling the rider to swing the sabre
his Dridlo hand and to reach down from horse
and left cut at the instant Of jumping hurdc.n
Here the Colonel produced o sabre and illus.
trated the motion necessary 10 ''cut head"
In tho various motions, quite convincing
his ntcrocuor Of the difficulty OF the feats described
The most skul maneuvre, he said. Is the cutting OF
head upon the ground between two hurdles placed
about forty feet apart the trooper riding full speed
and cutting to the right and left in tho interval be-
tween leaping the hurdles. ''The trooper is also
circle four yards diameter Most OF these tcats
performed in tho riding hall, room about 100 feet
long by 6s wide, with tanbark floor. Our
parade ground about $50 yards long $50 in width
Tho reporter learned, further that seventy horss
kept in use, the stables accommodating about 00
The animals cared for by detachment of regular
soldiers provided for such servlco the cadets being
too busy TO perform this duty.
~ have heard of the game OF polo among tho caval
rymen the Plans West" said Colonel Beau
mont "They their regular horses, and enjoy the
sport immensely, believe. l suppose we might play
II hero after the samo fashion. have mover seen
polo played, but haye read the reports OF tho games
in the HERALD with great interest, and readily
perceive its advantages in the making Of horscman.
Wo consider drill nearly perfect and have heard
good authority that other cavalry officers the
world excel West Point graduates In respect to
horscmanship; but believe, Notwithstanding, that
the practice OF polo would be very advantageous
s'Do you think the cadets would like itY''
81 am they would. can judge somewhat By
my own recolcctions OF cadet days. and assure you
such an innovation would have been hailed with great
JOY"
Tho opinion among the cadets found very favor.
ablo to tho In PRODUCTION of pel0. As
class men said, 1--WE pressed Tor time and tho
expense OF a polo outfit would be q serious obstacle,
but 1: it were practicable am sure tho cadets would
be glad OF the chance play polo" Tho advantages
of tho game readily admitted and it evident
that II tho cadets had opportunity there would DO
some enthusiastic handling OF the macts on the Wost
Point turf
The following letter from Major General SchoAeld,
superintendent OF the Wost Point Academy, is ev-
dcnce that polo would be welcome at tho Point
UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY
WEST PoISr, N. y, Dec. IL, 1876
To THE EDITOR THE HERALD:-
Ia reply 10 your inquiry will that the question
of introducing Polo Of the OF
Is under consideration. think the present cavalry
exercise is In some respects superior TO polo Yes
polo would bc pleasant and profitable variation Of
that exercise But TO play polo with our present cav.
airy horses would be little more ike real war than
any OF us would wish 10 engage in Tor fun, and ap-
prehcnd Congress will not give the necessary funds
TO buy polo ponies Yet If tho HERALD will persuade
Congress appropriate the money promise that tho
cadets will make good use OF the ponies Very truly
yours J. N. SCHOFIELD.