Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-07-21
CITY AND DISTRICT.
AT THE BUGLE CALL.
A Day with the Cavalry men at Fort
Myer.

A Day with the CavaIrymcn as Fort
Myer.
HOW TIE SOLDIERS ARE QUARrERED-rHE TROOPER
AND HIS BoRsE-LIFE IN THE BARKACKs-rHR
DRESS PaRlDE-wAyISGP LUNss, FLASHING sABKRs,
AND TRAPPING HORSES.
The tourist visiting Washington is usually
shown an elevated point on the western horizon,
on the edge OF ths Virginia bank OF the Potomac
that be Is told Is Fort Myer. Sometimes the guide
forgers and says Fort Whipple, for such was
its name In former days should the tourist ask
what Fort Myer is used for 1t IL barely possible
that the guide may say for the signal Service but
should the guide happen 70 know what he is talk
ing about he Will say that Fort Myer Is now the
garrison homeof couple OF cavalry troops that
have seen bitter lighting the frontier, and have
been placed In this one OF the pleasantest posts In
thecountry as sort Of reward for their hard knocks
In their country's service. These troops are from
the 4th and 9th regiments OF cavalry Their his
tory as Indian fighters has been told so often in
u TAB Ina1 u - useless 70 repeat It. The post
Is now In command OF Major Louis ii. Carpenter
OF the 9TH Cavalry. Troop b, OF the Attn Cavalry
Is oniesred BY Capt. Henry W. Lawton, First Lieut..
Abel l. smith, and second Lieut. Chas. r. Elliott
The other Is Troop Il, OF the 9th. and the officers
are capt Geo. :. Anderson, First Lieut.. VIM
BARD. and second Lieut.. harrington L. West.
~ would De impossible 10 imagine more de-
nsntrul nome than on this high plateau command
Ing on every side views that are magnificent In
I
but merely a collection or buildings fncloSed by
fence, oaroed wire maybe, with gates at Intervals
that are Hospitality open should the tourist who
was told that the point on the horizon was such a
place take II into his head visit the fort a. did
STAR reporter the other sunday, he would De
surprised as he approached by a weiI-kept road at
the Lack OF martial surroundings The FIRST hint
OF warfare is line OF half dozen old rusty shells
planted on the edge OF a curve in the road TO keep
wheels from cutting the bank. Even when ne en-
tiers the reservation there Is nothing to bring TO
MIND the thoughts OF war that garrisoned post
usually inspires.
RUSTIC BRIDGE
leads the visitor TO the eastern limit OF the plain
where the pretty quarters OF the officers stand.
They are shaded by handsome trees, and sur
rounded by neat lawns and flower beds. From
mere q striking view OF the city Is obtained. the
capitol and monument seeming TO be engaged in
contest 10 reach the sky first. The river that
sumpers below gives the beholdsr a sense Of secu-
MY or separation from the annoying influences OF
Ine city. IL lies Ike barrier between work and
white clad figure leaned on a drawn saber at
the south end OF the row. The reporter, thinking
from his costume-hiS clothes were OF duck and
ne was topped by white helmet-that he was one
% the officers, asked him for permission to visit
the grounds. With an accent that stripped off the
IMAGINARY shoulder-straps ne answered that every
thing could be seen without permission. The re-
porter with the idea that II Is better TO be shown
around than 10 show ones self around, asked for
that sounded well, but its glory was gone when
the soldier said that the officer in question was
Sergeant Major Peter Rennie was suggested as
the most likely man IN the place, and to his quar-
oers the scribe was sent Sergeant ReDnie, being
row or neat cottages some distance behind the
barracks He was at home and more than willing
10 guide the reporter over the grounds.
The sTABLES
The stables were first Visited There are two Of
them, one for each troop, and stand side by side
about quarter OF a mile southwest OF the en-
trance. As there are about seventy men in a troop
ana as each cayalryman must needs have horse
re an humid rafi amt
horses stabbed In these two buildings, the other
ten being extra horses and those OF some OF the
omcer4 The Men were at wOrE grooming their
ANIMALS when the reporter went through They
wear white SUITS and Use curry and brush until the
sleek sides OF the horses fairly reflect the light
Twice day this Is done, in the early morning and
at O'Clock In the afternoon, for forty-n min
utes each time. IN enlisted man in each troop Is
detailed as farrter with duties somewhat similar
10 those OF veterinary surgeon. He has little
room at the end Of the stable where he sleeps, and
eoneocts his condition powders. Across the way
on the other side OF the stable the harness roo
a model OF nestness and order, with the seventy
sets OF horse equipments hanging in
loot Each peg Is numbered, with corresponding
numbers on every article OF the equipment, which
consists OF saddle, Saddle-Oags, saddle blankets
bride, and nOSe-bag. The horses stand In double
stalls on each side Of wide center AISLE the stalls
Is pure, and the usual aroma OF stabeciom is con
spicuOus by It's absence. Under the lines OF equine
noses run railroad tracks, Que on each side. Ihese
are used 70 carry the feed to the horses by means
OF cars that are loaded In small gratn-rooLns at
one end, and then rolled 70 the stalls. The daily
diet OF each horse Is prescribed quantity and Is
as invariable the planetary laws IL consists
OF II pounds or grain and IA pounds OF hay with
plenty Of water. An allowance OF 81 pounds Of
hay Is made In addition for bedding.
THE HORSES.
These horses are kept In perfect condition, and
are watched carefully for the appear ance OF faults
or of the signs or disease. AS soon as II becomes
evident that u horse Is sick he Is condemned
politely and ofiieia!ly-and either sold at once or
treated Tor recovery.
As the visitor passes through the stables he
nctlces, with some surprise, perhaps, that with
but one or two exceptions the horses in each sta
Ole are OF uniform color. In tne stable 10 the
west, that OF the An, the animals are all of a
oArk Day, while In the next stable the horses OF
tne oth are olacS or very DARK brown. Opposite
The troop stables Is the quarJermastcr's stables
containing tn3 rest or the officers horses and the
drausht animals and mules used In the work
around the post Of laying out roads. sc LITTLE
building 70 the right as the reporter and the
geaht-Inajor leIt the quarterInasters stables at
tracted notice by great wooden horseshoe hung
over the door, bearing the words Post Traders
Store. Ihis Individual Is civilian, privileged TO
keep store Tor the sale OF groceries and other
goods TO vs. hoIlsoever may choose TO buy Behind
the store Is arother room where the thirsty son OF
Aars-soldiers are supposed 10 be always thirsty
professionally Tor blood tut are known 10 De con.
ssltut.onany thirsty for other and more stinulat-
ADJUNCT 10 warfare ID kept under the control Of
The military authorities, so that any undue hilar-
A'J vi otner annoy ances are promptly qUelled
The GUARD-HOCsE.
OF course the next step Is to the guard house
both ngura.ively and actually. IL stands alone
as though slammed by Its neighbors a short dis
lance east OF The store, small building with
luminous sratings. and squad oI soldiers loung-
inS on The front porch These men were the guard
ue.ail Tor the day. AT the time Of the reDor ters
Visit the doors were open and all the birds had
nOUn-to the stables, TO clean their horses. The
theory Is that man must keep MS horse In trim
whether he l. able 70 rde IL not and 50 all prs
Oners are taken from tnelr cells al stable calls i'm
the morning aid Afternoon and work for the al
iOteu time Win the curry-cOlnb There are al
pfcsent-Or Father there were when the reDorter
Vas therc--ix men imprisoned in the guard
nOuse iOr VARIOUS Onenses against the ARMY regu-
AteiOna iheJ are Kept in room about Is feet
S40aIe sleeping on mattresses spread on the iIOor
One Oh thein however, prefers sOlIIude 10 company
while Ne sIuIH0ers and has been given one OF Tn.
Small cells, BY 10, where he passes the Night
alone The Onenses for which men are put In Inc
guarc-hodse are usually trivial DRUNKENNESS tnat
Is trivial drCnkenDeSs, outside or the post Deyoud
TINE failure 10 come up 20 time drill work with
an occasional serious charge, such desertlon or
the Like.
The GARRISON OFFICES
In front OF the guardhouse the fag-sta-Y
stands proud, II would seem, OF the nag that
foats from its top. A short distance south
tbe executive building, containing the
garrison oElctS The comInandants office hours
are from IN 10 II III, daily during waich
time he traasacts all the business relating to he
routine OF garrison LIE Inc aIlutant OF the st
lieutenant Baird, has his desk Al the same rom
Across the hallway the seryeant-maJor us erred
lhc reporter INTO "a neat rOOIn which, with . GER
tain ring or pride IN his Tone announced his