The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-22
7ROT-G LOI'-tY.fRGE!
The Feelings ofn Cavalry mnn When In the
DAVIS OF Death.


Jaws OF Death.
A regiment. brigade. or division OF infantry
may charge at a run. hut the movement Is as
often made at a steady step. 50 the alignment
can be maintained nearly perfect With
cavalry it is always Trot-EalIop -charga."
There is, therefore. an excitement about it
that puts the fear o! death awav. Cavalry in
waiting may exhibit signs OF nervousness.
and the faces OF the men will grow pale und
fingers clinch more tightly. but when the nd.
vance begins those same pale faces flush with
excitement. and every man feels like cheering
and docs cheer.
1t matters not what you are charging
aGainst-lines Of infantry. a battery. or masses
OF cavalry--there is no mental figuring on the
result. You feel yourself u part Of a living
wave which is bound to roll on and on and
overwhelm everything before it. This result
does not always follow. but you forget that.
A charge OF cavalry has been completely
checked by two or three murderous volleys,
but no such instance occurs to your mind as
you grip your sabre and feel your horse strong
and steady under the saddle.
What are the thoughts Of u cavalryman as he
charges? 1t would be hard for him to answer.
He docs not always know what he is riding at.
The lines may have been facing the west,
where tho enemy was visible at the edge OF q
wood or behind fences long way of. A dam
ger threatens which even his officers, with their
glasses have not seen; Ar aid rides up. de-
south and go rushing away as If the. fate Of the
battle depended on the few hundred men. The
vision. or tn. Held in that direction may TO
perfectly clear-it's al the same to the rider.
He is listening tor the further notes Of the
over,exerted horse: looking at tho earth Inn
medately in front to guard against ditch or
r. cannot tell whether he has callopea
snS his s. s9s there sbs
TO his ears above the din OF the charge. but Ie
does not wonder II i is In line with him. i
three or four mon and horses. but he simply
hears the explosion: and d9ess not turn his
or sudden mass OF cavalry appears be:
o @ aosy th we're SaetS @
surs but havo Wheeled Into Ine and theFo i y
some confusion among them. He has only
officers when the shock takes place After
that no man can say what really happens.
Knocked down. II you are. in the front rank
you may be tum bled out Of your saddle by a
shot from n rey1lysf your horse dropped un-
strike your enemy and roll him over and over
aud then go down after him. II you are in tho
some obstruction or become one himself. and
It is pine chances to one that you are UNI
nOrSPu.
1t is a melee. n riot. a free fight after tho
collision. The smoke speedily ooscures. all
formation is lost. and friend and foe are sound
ing bugle calls ut the same time You arc
there to strke-to wound and kill. The entire
mass OF cavalry seems to be circline to the
right or lett. 1t is sometimes SO. but you
would have the same idea II advancing or rs.
treating: You fire your revolver at the half
hidden figures before you-you may fling It at
thoroughly up in sabre exercise, but you will
use only the down cut in the melee.
How lnnO has lnGf rod NnI have Il
What has happened The enemy has re,
once you recognize tho rally. call OF your
familiar bugle. The troopers rally. horsed or
way. and presently. the smoke thins out until
you can see the field oyer which you have
fought Wounded men limping and crawling
abont-horses gallopng wild and furious q
and there until the number is over hundred.
The lines move back toward our original po-
stion: Horses are painting and men inclined
to he hystercal. Within ten minutes you can
not find face which does not show. pallor-a
trooper who IL not trembling. That's o reac-
ton OF charge into the jaws OF death.