Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1888-09-06
NO. "a.
BOOTS AND SADDLES.
Sights and sounds About . Cavalry Cau1
In the Par N~~t.

- A. WblCh fist~-ssU ANFNN-h Akltr tFthS
on it, way from the posts on the Lower
Rio Grsndc to Dakota and Montana
The regiment had bivouacked on n
broad. level plain just NJ the edge OF
the city Long white rows Of army
tents scattered here and there sug-
gcsted dne of the mushroom towns
which in the FAR West often spring up
in IA day. Each troop ensamps by
itself. and 50 regularly are the tents
pitched that from the head tent Ia tho
foot tent straight line might bc
drawn touching each tent between.
A. soou Rs the tents urc pitched all
the stock must he attended Ia. and tho
reg dlar duties Of the day keep tho
men occupied till evening Then
guard mount takes place. twilight
gives place To dark. aud soon
nothing remains OF the busy
hive but few ghoStly tents. lit up
hy the hickering light Of the camp
fires. Every half hour the senti-
neis pacing their weary beats called
out the hour aud ''ali's we'll" Every
two hours came the g1lari relief. and
thus the night passed just ~ th'' night
before had gone and just a. many com
ing nights will 20 with these mem
At half-past four the buglc rpu~sNd
the sleeping camp. and just A. the first
faint streak- of dawn appeared the
amp ouc. more b.,tame a scene of
busy activity- The stock must b. gal
lopcd of Ia the river mile away. and
then horses. and men return a. their
morning meal The horses ar, fed IN
feed buckets which ar, fastened under
their mouths hy a band passing over
the head In short timr horses and
men. iadcd with thou-and-mile jour
ncy. are retnvigoratcsi AMI r,.ady for
another days march To the un-
initiated these ordered preparations
appear like the most reckless CON
fusion. Privatc. in dirty blue blouses
and gr;lss-st tined trousers run lea and
fro; every now and then some i.'tmStcr
gallops oil to the river. followed by In
animated chorus of army mules; wag-
ons are being loadcd; men rushing
here and there filling their cautecns,
debauchecS Of the former night. frantic
ally trying to clear up their bleary
eyes. 4 few minutes. before six gem
eral call l. sounded. and chaos assumes
order. Shortly after comes tho order
to strike tents. and in an instant n Il
by magic. the eneampment ha; disap-
peared While you a-e watching one
tent pulled each man has done his
work. and once again the miniature
town gives place, To the plain Of a day
before. The tents are quickly rolled
up and put in the wagons and tho
boots aud saddles" is sounded Every
man takes his station. They are ranged
in troops. men and horses alternating
Each trooper has his right hand on
his horses bride. faces vacant and eN-
pressionless. eyes adjusted n certain
distance to the front, hoping nothing
awaiting nothing but the order to
mount. This is pres. My given, and
like an automaion each man springs tn
the saddle. The days march has now
begun.
The men all wore cavalry boots.
somew hat the worse for wear and dirt
Their coarse, heavy trousers were
tucked tightly within They We're
seated on a light. cheap saddle. very
unlike the COW boy saddle Of the West
II had small horn, and looked like au
extremely eomfortless seat The stir
rIps are covered and worn very long.
compelling the riders to rest the weight
OF the body on the toes pn the right
side Of the saddle the carbine i slung.
aud on the left tho canteen and feed
bucket must be disposed of. Strapped
Ia the back uf the saddle are the un-
failing slicker and army blankets. \
coarse. blue shirt and an army slouch
hat complete the outfit, and the private
may pass on secure in the conscious
ness that nobody will envy him all hes
possesses The officers were bat Il
shade better of. Their clothes looked
n little newer and their faces We're u
little cleaner. but the bronZed faces
showed life OF hardships. One
fine-looking old gentleman had
a Misunderstanding old pipe and
"a sack of tobacco hanging %
his saddle-bow. IL took about quar-
ter OF an hour for the regiment to fle
past. A huge cloud Of dust was raised.
and glory and dirt disappeared to-
gether. The entire isolation OF army
life aud it, dreary regularity must h.s-
come monOtonous in the extreme.
Social advantages are entirely cut of the
question; friends must be forgotten as
soon a. made; new scenes come to
mean only - much ground passed
over. and new towns are only another
camping ground In winter quarters.
however. pleasures are not so infre-
quent Amateur theatricals and social
events relieve the unyarying mOnOtOny
of camp routine The life must unfit
one for any kind OF business. When a
man has been accustomed To the rou-
tine of orders prepared by superior Of
ficers he finds il almost impossible to
redirect his energies bank into plane
OF perfect independence II Is at its
best a wandering life. with no home
ties---lrkaaSas CITY (kan- Cor. 81
Louis RepE5tic-
True greatness shows itself in ig-
noring. or quickly forgetting. per-
sonal injuries. when meaner natures