The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1888-10-13
A CAVALRY CAMP.
Sights and Sounds Around a
Bivouac on the Plains.
Preparations Before "BoctS
and Saddles" is Sounded.

down to the encampment ct the Eighth
Cavalry, United States Army, which
passed through Arkansas City. Kan.
recently on its way from the posts on
the Lower Rio Grande to Dakota and
Montana
,.no ,ug,racnt nad bivouacked on q
broad, level plain, just at the edge of
the city. Long white rows of army
tents scattered here and there suggested
one of the mushroom towns which in
the far west often spring up in q day.
Each troop encamps by itself and so
~, ...I:J sIo lie tents pitched that
from the head tent to the foot tent
straight line might be drawn, touching
each tent between. As soon as the tents
arc p1rcncu ali the stock must be attend
ed to and the regular duties of the day
keep the men occupied till evening.
Then guard mount takes place, twilight
gives place to dark, and soon nothing
remains of the busy hive but a few
RhostlY tents, lit up by the Pickering
light of the camp fires. Every half hour
the sentinels pacing their weary beats
called out the hour aud ''alps WE'LL"
Every two hours came the guard relief,
and thus the night passed just as the
night before had gone and just as the
many coming nights will go with these
men.
At 4 1-2 the bugl, reused the sleep
ing camp, and just as the first faint
st:eaks Of dawn appeared the camp once
more became scene of busy activity.
The stock must be galloped off 10 the
river mile away, and then horses and
men return to their morning meal. The
horses are fed in feed buckets which
are fastened under their mouths by
band passing over the head. In
short time horses and men jaded with
thousand-mile journey, are reinvigora-
ted and ready for another days march.
To the uninitiated these ordered pre-
parations appear like the most reckless
confusion. Privates in dirty blue
blouses and grass-stained trousers run
to and fro; every now and thea some
teamster gallops off to tho river fol-
lowed by an animated choru, of army
mules; wagons are being loaded; men
rush here and there filling their can.
teens. A few minutes before
general call is sounded and chaos
assumes order. Shortly after comes the
order to strike tents, and in an instant,
as if by magic. tho encampment has
disappeared. While you are watching
ono tent pulled each man has done his
work, and once again the miniature
town gives place to the plain of day
before. The tents are quickly rolled
up and put in tho wagons and then
''boots AID saddles" is sounded. Ev-
cry man takes his station. They are
ranged in troops, men and horses alter
mating. Each trooper has his right
hand on his horses bride, faces vacant
and expressionless, eyes adjusted GER
tain distance to the front, hoping noth-
ing, awaiting nothing, but the order to
mount This is presently given, and
like an automaton each man springs to
the saddle. The days march has now
begun.
The men all wore cavalry boots, some
what the worse for wear and dirt. Their
coarse, heavy trousers were tucked
tightly within. They were seated on a
light, cheap saddle, very unlike the
cowboy saddle OF the West. 1t had a
small horn, and looked like an extreme
ly comfortless seat. The stirrups ars
covered and worn very long, compelling
the riders to rest :he weight of the
body on the toes. On the right side of
the saddle the carbino i, slulg, and on
the left the cantecn and feed bucket
must be disposed of. Strapped to the
back of the saddle are the uufailing
slicker (or waterproof rubber coat and
army blankets. A coarse, blue shirt
and al army slouch hat Complete the
outfit, and the private may pass on Sc
cure in the consciousness that nobody
will envy him all he possesses. The
officers were but a shade better off.
Their clothes looked little newer and
their faces were little cleaner, but the
bropzed faces showed life of hardshin,