The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-10-16
Revolver or Sabre.

Revolver or Sabre. ~;
Few soldiers, says Youths ConlpaasonJj
were ever braver than General Custer
but even he was not without some feel:
ings of nervousness as he rode into his.
first battle, the battle of Bull Run. he.
was hardly more than boy, only three
DAYS out of West Point, and was in front
of company of old soldiers, all ct whom
would have sharp eye upon their new
Lieutenant. He knew also that Walker,
one of his brother officers, man fresh
from civil life, was looking up to him as
West Pointer, who, of course, knew all
about the art of war. "a;
As we rode up the hill, he in front lsf.
his platoon, and 7, abreast of him, in'
front of mine, Walker inquired IN tine
most solemn tones: s93ss
"Custer, what weapon are you going
to use in the charges" g
From my earliest notions Of the true
cavalrymen I had always pictured him in !
the charge bearing aloft his curved sabre
and cleaving the skulls of all with whom
be came in contact. We had but two
weapons to choose from; each OF us car
ried sabre and revolver. I promptly
replied: stThe SABRE" and, suiting the
action to the word, I flashed my bright
new blade from the scabbard, and rode
forward as if totally unconcerned. I.
Walker, yielding, no doubt, to what he
believed was e'the way we do it at West
Point" initiated my motion, and forth
came his sabre. But if seemed to him
unconcerned, was far from enjoying
that feeling. Is we rode at deliberate
walk up the hill, I began arguing IN my
own mind as to the comparative merits
of sable and revolver as weapons OF at
tack. If I remember correctly, i rea.
soned pro and con about as follows: Il
Snow, the sabre is q beautiful weapon 8
it produces an ugly wound !; the term
sabre charge sounds well, and, aboyet
all, the sabre is sure; it never misses fire.
It has this drawback, however. In orr
der to be made effective, it is indispensa-s
BILE that you approach very close to your
adversary, so close that if you don't un-
horse or disable him, he will most likely
do as much for you. s X 81: e
$50 much for the sabre. Now, as TO-
the revolver, it has this advantage over
the sabre. One is not compelled to range
himself alongside his adversary before /
beginning his attack, but may select his Z
own time and distance. To be sure, one
may Miss his aim, but there are sir. cham
bers to empty, and if one, two or thres I
miss, there are still three shots left to
fire at close quarters. AS this is my hrst
battle, hadn't I better defer the use OF
the sabre till after have acquired lit
tie experienced" Il; e
The result was that I returned my sabre
to its scabbard, and, without uttehngs "a
word, drew my revolver and poised It
opposite my shoulder. Walker, as II
following me in my mental discussion
no sooner observed my change OF weapon
than he followed suit. With my revolver
in hand, I put it upon trial mentally.
First, I realized that in the rush and ex-
citement of the charge it would be dlfti-
cult to take anything like accurate ann.
Then, might not every shot be fired with
out result7 by which time, in all proba-6
biity, we should be in the midst OF our
enemies and slashing right and left at z
each other, in which case sabre would
be of much greater service than an empty !!
revolver. This seemed concincing- so
much so that my revolver found its way
TO its holster, and the sabre was again az
my shoulder, and again did Walker, as ~
in pantomine, follow my example. s.
How many of these changes OF purpose
and weapons might have been made9
know not, but meantime the cavalry
reached the crest of the hill, and, find
ng that no direct attack upon our bat
terry was meditated by the enemy, re-
turned to sheltered position. !.