The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1877-07-26

glnCraCKerY Oh llally DuCKleh or DfasScb.
The drago0n, who wears kepr, u blue
tunic, and pantaloons, with boots coming
up to the knee, carries brcech' loading
krink short rife, not II Carbinc, in a
leather case slung on his back, with the
butt on the right side and the mu2lIe
above the left shoulder, The non.com.
missioned officers carry no rifles, but are
armed with revOlvers, The private dra.
goon has no pistols, He carries a sabre
without a basket hilt Indeed in the
Russian army there are few basket-hilted
swords, in leather scabbard lined with
wood and tipped with brass, and bound
by brass rings. On the sword scabbarl is
aIso the leathem sheath of u bayOnct, for
use with the rifle when the dragOon is
fighting on foot. For the Russian dra-
goon is a dragoon proper, according to
the original acceptation OF the term. lie
is armed and trained TO fight indiflcrCntly
on foot or on horseback; you may call
him mounted intantryman when he is
on horseback, but ! should prefer to call
him dismounted cavalryman when he
is on foot. The Russian Dragons march
in sections Of threes, and at the order to
light on foot, the centre OF threes takes
charge of the horses OF his two comrades,
the sous,capitainc of the squadron taking
charge of the horse detachment, and
while striving TO avail himself of rs much
cover as possible, keeping also as near Il.
possible to the force fighting dismounted
70 sum up, the Russian dragoon has
nothing about him that jingles as he
rides-nothing that by sparkling could
show his whereabouts afar of, He is a
plainly.dressed, workmanllkc, practical
looking soldier, with n genuine love for
his horse, and it appears a real pride in
his profession.
There are no studs AS in Russia for the
supply of horses to the cavalry. Each
regiment has a remomt officer, who has
the duty of buying young horse and o.
taking charge of the remount depot
where thirty-six men Of the regiment are
stationed to look after the youngsters
The remOunt officer buys horses betweer
the agos of one and three years. lie
has all Russia to select from; but the
horses for the most part are brought by
owners and dealers to the depots, which
are located chiefly in the governments OF
TambOf and Narousin on the NOlga,
since in these governments horses suited
for cavalry purposes are more plentiful
than in other parts Of Russia. The limit
of price permitted to the remount officers
is 1873 roubles for horses destined for the
cavalry of the line for the liberal impe.
rial guards the limit rose to 300 rou-
bes At the age of four the young
horses, which have previously been
handled but not broken in, are drafted
into the reserve squadron, where they
remain for u year, during which time
they are broken in; and at the age of
five Join the regiment and service. A
horse is supposed to last seven years from
the date OF his joining the regiment, 50
that the remount officer has to furnish
young horses nearly y to the amount Of
one seventh of the total service strength.
The reserve squadron in peace time is
about one hundred strong, but in war
time it is increased to twice or thrice
this strength to meet drafts made upon
it to supply vacancies of men and horses
in the field squadron. Cavalry recruits
who come from all parts of Russia but
are chiefly drawn from little Russia, the
people OF which are eXtremel y good
horse masters and fond of riding, are sent
direct to their respective regiments, and
are considered fit to be dismissed from
recruit drill in three months, Formerly
the period of training was nine months,
but now they work harder, it seems, and
are sent to duty sooner. | think wan
is likelier to be a good duty.soldier at
the end of nine months fair training
than at the end Of three months forcing
but then it appears tuition is SedulousIy
kept up after the dragoon is sent into the
ranks, and the accelerated training is oI
course a desideratum in war, or when il
is desired quickly to increase the strength
Of the army. The cavalry soldiers tern
Of active service is nominally ten years
with five years in the reserve; but in
practice he is sent home after having
served four or five years, with liability tC
be called from this long furlough at q
days notice. commissioned officer,
may 90 down or remain with the regi
ment at their option; if they engage foI
a second term of service they receive
additional pay. Private soldiers are not
allowed to re-engage.