Connecticut western news., 1888-08-15
A CAVALRY CAMP.
Sights and Sounds Around a
 BiVouac on the Plains.

Bivouac on the Plains.
 Preparations Before "Boots
 and Saddles" is Sounded.
 Drawn by feeling of curiosity, St. Louis Republic correspondent strollcd down to the cncampmcnt cf the Eighth Cavalry, United States Army, which passed through Arkansas City. Kan., recently on its way from tho posts on tho Lower Rio Grande to Dakota and Montana.
 The regiment had bivouacked on broad, level plain, just at tho edge of the city. Long white rows of army tents scattered here and thero suggested one of tho mushroom towns which in tho far west often spring up in a day. E ,ch troop encamps by itself and so regularly are tho tents pitched that from tho hoad tent to the foot tont a straight line might bo drawn, touching
 
 are pitched all the stock must be attend ed to and tho regular duties of tho day keep tho men occupied till evening. Then guard mount takes place, twilight gives place to dark, and soon nothing remains of the busy hive but few ghostly tents, lit up by the fickering light of the camp fires. Every half hour the sentiuels pacing their weary beats called out the hour azd 'al's we'll" Every two hours camo the guard relief, and thu, the night passed just as the night before had gone and ju as tho many coming nights will go with these men.
 At 4 1-2 the bugle reused the sleep- ing camp, and just as the first faint streaks of dawn appeared the camp once more became scene of busy activity. Tho stock must be galloped off to the river a mile away, and then horses and men return to their morning meal. The horses are fed in feed buckets which arc fastened under their mouths by a Land passing over the head. h a short time horses and men jaded with Q thousand milo journey, are reinvigora- ted and ready for another days march. To the uninitiated these ordered pre- parations appear like the most reckless confusion. Privatcs in dirty blue blouses and grass-stained trousers run to and fro; every now and then some teamster gallops off to the 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. tn, 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 the wagons and then ''boots and saddles' is sounded. Ev- cry man takes his station. They are ranged in troops, mon and horses alter hating. Each trooper has his right hand on his horses bridle, faces vacant and exprcssionless, eyes adjusted a cer- tam distance to the front, hoping noth- ing, awaiting nothing, but tho order to mount This is presently given, and liko an automaton each man springs to the saddle. The days march has now begun.
 Tho men all woro cavalry boots, some what the worse for wear and dirt. Their coarse, heavy trousers were tucked tightly within. They wcro seated on a light cheap saddle, very unlike the cowboy saddle of the West. It had a small horn, and looked like an extreme ly comfortless s:at. The stirrups are covered and worn very long, compelling the riders to rest the weight of tn: body on tho toes. On the right side o1 tho saddle the carbine is s.u,g, and or the left the canteen and feed bucket must be disposed of. Strapped to tho back of the sadllo arc the unfailine slicker Cor waterproof rubber coaD and army blankets. A coarse blue shir and an army slouch hat complete tht outfit, and tho private may pass on se' cure in the coascicusness that nobody will envy him all he possesses. Th officers were Dut a shade better off Their clothes looked littlo newer anG their faces were little cleaner, but th' bronzed faces showed life of hardship, One if looking old gentleman had
 vilainous looking oll pipe and sacl of tobacco hanging to his sad dle bow. It took about qu,rter of al hour for the regiment to file rast. l huge cloud of dust wa' raised, ane ''glory and dirt" disappeared together The entire isolation of army life and it dreary regularity must become monoto nous in tho extreme. S,c1al advantage arc entirely out of the question; friene must be forgotten as soon as made; nov scenes come to moan only so mucl ground passed over, and new towns ar { only another camping ground. h win ter quarters, however, pleasures arc no so infrcquent. Amateur theatrical' aa' , social events relieve tho unvarying mo ,, notony of camp routine. The life mus