Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-06-09
DETCAvALRY CHARGE.
A wild Scene on West Potmt Plain
Only One Of the Battalion
EunorSed.

A West Point letter says: The most In
teIesting incident to-day was the drill OF
the cavalry battalion. This Is q spectacle
rarely seen at this distance from the from
tier, " here all the cavalry regiments OF the
army are stationed. A large crowd OF
spectators gathered among the guns oi the
artillery park and under the trees OK the
cadet eucampmenf. along the eastern edge
Of the cavalry plain upon which the drill
was 10 take place. At 4:30 the cavalry
horses. completely saddled and equipped,
were led up from the stables and formed In
lire in front Of the Library. At the gray
column Of adets marched out OF the blrrack-
yard, FLED past the Academic building, and
was conducted by i,s chief To position In
front Of the row 81 horses, where 1t formed,
line 10 the left. and balted. The cadets
were dressed in ridiug-suits Of dark gray.
with sinele-bfeasted jackets, and were
armed with the regulation pistol and sabre.
For the purposes OF this drill the hrst class
was divided INTO three companies. each
commanded by an acting cadet captain. as
sisted by two chiefs Of platOons aud two
principal guides. All Of these officers were
chosen indiscrimuately from among the
members OF the graduating class. The
captains were Cadets McRae, Harris, and
CToXtou. The chiefs OF platoons were Ca
diets Carter, Ilolcy, Penn, Barnum. Shat
tuck. and stevens. Cadets Elliott. Brooks.
c. Baker, Nance. johnson, and Lyman
were assigned as principal guides. Cadets
r. b. Mott and Iiaines acted as diutant
and sergeant-m3ior.
The companies stood to horse. ard were
mounted at command by their cadet cap
taius. At 'adjutant's call" all moved
tr.- Ia. f.r rH 20 tho sntfnH ~ tho A. lkptfN
march, and y ere formed In line against the
markers placed for that purpose by the al
iulant and scTgcant-majOr. Cadet Mott
then gallopcd down the line, turned sharply
to the front, and presented the battalion H.
Captain J. \. Augur, OF the Fifth cavalry.
the officer in command OF the drill. The
first movements were executed at the
walk and trOt. The different formation,
from column into line and the reverse
were executed, forward and 10 either llnk.
Platoon columns were formed, the line wa.
Vlayed into closed order I'm mass and after
ward dCploycd on the head and rear Of the
column. The distances in marching and
Wheeling were well preserved and the
manWuVrcs accurately executed; their pre-
cisiOn in this respect being well worthy Of
remark. when il Is considered that each
horse is not habltually ridden by the same
rider, and all u them are used, not only
for cavalry, but for artillery exercise a.
well.
After a half-hour OF battalion eyOlutions
the drill became more rapid, and the ma
uGuyrcs were repeated at an increased
gait. Interest yisibly increased a the com
panios whirled by at a glllop, and every
spectator was put on akeen edge Of expect
ancy ~ the line was formed at the south
end u the plain for the final charge. The
men crowded forward to points OF vantage
commanding the whole course OF the attack.
The ladies hcsitated between desire 10
witness the charge aud a dreadful fear lest
some accident should Occur-ln event Of
probable, but fortunately infrequent, occur
renee. From the end OF the plain few notes
u buglp-call are heard and "A murmur II
cXpt citation runs through the crowd a. the
llUcs move forward, first at walk. but
rising 10 gentle trOt rs the first third Of
the distance i. passed and the battalion Is
nearly abreast the point occupied by the
Board Of Visitors. Suddenly the gait in
cIea.es. "TIot, march " "Gallop,
march" aud Charge" are given in Ilick
succession. The mass OF men and horses
sweeps across the plain, The >abrCs flashing
in tie sun and the yell OF the charge
rising above the din Of the laundering hOof-
and clashIng ,cabbards. That plain full Of
excited horses, each IN full course, can be
controlled seems impossible Of belief. II
is done, however, though not without
much good management on the part u the
riders. The line IL formed IN front Of the
hotel, and the column uOts slowly back,
each horse in place. the lines perfectly
dressed as il they had not moment before
been upon the verge Of destruction. As the
dust cleared after the command had been
rallied it was observed that one OF the
riders Cadet Carter. Of Missouii-bad been
thrown from his horse Save hard shaking
he fortunately escaped injury. Otherwise
there were no mishapS OF any kind.