, 1889-08-22
OUR CAVALRYMEN.
Duty at Military Post from the
Standpoint of a
Private.
What Two Missionaries Did to
Save Washington and Oregon
to the Nation.
twalla wOlla correspondence, Inter Ocean ]

| tWalla wala Correspondence, Inter Ocean.
Our regular army consists nominally
of $1,000 men. AS no regiment is always
full, probably not more than 23, 900 are
enrolled at once. These men are seat.
tered throughout the country IN military
posts the majority, including all of the
cavalry except two companies at WASH
Mississippi. They lead life of their
own, 80 different from that OF the ecivilian
1t Is utfltcult for us TO realize what 1t is
n few days ut Walla Walla post was
such a revelation to mo that | think
others may be Interested in the details
of military life in time of peace. Cor.
respondents aud stories usually portray
the barracks, which is seldom sketched
Is of wider interest because 1t touches
the larger number of lives.
Walla Walla is considered very de-
sirable post II certainly has many at
fractions. 1t is an Old post, having
been established before there was any
town here Its first site was near what
beautiful valley of Mill creek. but this
was an open plain upon which the lndi-
ans could easily swOop down from their
businesses in the Bil1 mountains adia-
cent. \ mile away was a mesa, or ele-
vatod plain containing about 800 acres ;
II rose twenty feet above the level with
sharp, precipitous sides, difficult of as.
| cent by the Indians, and therefore easy
OF defense. Tho square mile con-
tanning this elevation WAS appro-
priatcd by Uncle sam. and the
post removed to the mesa. Here il has
grown TO quite village in itself while
below, on its old site, the town OF Wulla
Walla has assumed City-hke proportions
with railroads, street cars, electric lights
ANA other modern Improvements. The
post Is commanded by Colonel David
Ramsey Clendcnin, of the Second caval-
ry and Is almost thc only strictly caval.
~ post III the country. only five troops
troops in cavalry answering to com,at.
MES III iniantry--are here at hcauQuar-
tiers, the rest OF the twelve, which make
regiment being Htationed at different
posts IN Idaho, California and Washing
ton, all sending regular reports to the ad.
jutant here. ono of the troops here j.
dismounted all Tits horses havingdied
OF an epidemic while stationed at Spo-
kane few months ago, and new horses
have not yet been secured for thsm.
THE PARADE GBoUND
occupies the center of the mesa. II is on.
trely enCir2led by officers quarters, the
barracks, offices, store, gUard-hOuse and
school is 10 be sustained at each post on
which Attendance is compulsory by en-
listed men whom the company officers
designate rs needing its instruction.
Others may attend, bat these must. ON
sunday this room Is occupied by q Sab
bath school supcrintcuded by the wife Of
the commaudant. Its pupils are mainly
children ut the post, Though soldiers are
cordially invited and heartily welcomed
when thcy come. There are usually
eight or ton officers families and about
he same number of soldiers families
tCrc.
Each troop has its own barracks, and
there l. often healthful rivalry as to
which shall be kept in best order All
are built on the same plan; ON tho
ground hoor are the company office,
reading-room, amusctnent.r0om dining.
room, Kitchen, store and bathrooms;
above are the dormitorics; surrounding
all, below and above, are broad porchcs,
most of them well-shaded by trees Alb.
sOlute cleanliness rcigns everywhere:
oven the floors are scrubbed till they
look clean enough to eat from. Cooks
are detailed tor each troop, and become
adopts in their art. IL is said that no
other government gives its soldiers
suOh abundant rations as does
onrs. The ritions served ont
here are certainly OF excellent quality
and quantity, furnishing an excess
which the men trade OIL Tor articles not
included IN the list Then each troop
has garden where it raises vegetables,
often more than 1t can use, and sells the
excess. Most of them own cows, which
supply them with milk ana butter. All
their physical wants are thus provided
for, yet 1t seems to me that nothing can
make up FOR the lack of home life which
these defenders Of our country must
= : "a No. ,1 rfg.1
enlisted, nor are they allowed to marry
during term ot service. There are al.
ways exceptions, however. and every
post has few houses where wives Of
soldiers live, anL they usually make
much lnurt money a. !aundrGsses than
40 their husbands as soldiers.
The officers quarters are plain, COM
Portable houses, whore usually graceful
hospitality rcigns, An uuwrittcn law
of etiquette prevails as it does at Wash
ingtOui visitors are soon made to feel
themselves welcome by calls from the
officers us well ~ their wives, and life at
the post can be made very pleasant
thing.
IL Is by no means a life of idlcness;
each officers wife has her nome cares
from which she cannot escape when
tired by breaking uD housekeeping and
boarding at "a hotel. Officers and new
men have their daily routine of duty;
here is the programme tor to-day, 10.
morrow il will be slightly varied RGve-
lille comes at sunrise, o'clock now;
fifteen minutes before the trumpetcrs
sound the first call-every man up. In
cavalry trumpets take the place of
buglcs in the iuluntry. a. their call is more
penetrating and thus better heard above
the clinking of sabcrs. Bach troop has
two trumpctcrs, aud they are about the
most conspicuous figure in everything
going on, their calls regulating every
OF horse rs well as man. The
notes of these various calls are given in
the tactics, but the boys
SET woEDs TO THE MUSIC
TO suit the occasion. For example, for
reveille call:
~ can't get EN- up, can't get 'em up
CNn get 'om up IN tie morning;
cant get cm up, ] can't get 'em up.
can't get EN- NJ at all"
So pat do the words tit the music that
having once heard them the btgler |
seems to say them after. But they do /
not tell the truth, for every man l. up. /
dressed and In line for roil-call by tic |
time the sunrise gun is fired. Roll.call !
comes three times II day--at sunrise, al
sunset and at o o'clock at night-when |
every man must be present or accounted |
for. The Stable call follows rcvciIle, and |
every man answers by going to the sta
BILE 10 feed and groom his horse. This
lie does twice a day. The horses soon