The morning call., 1893-02-23
CITIZEN TROOPERS.
National Guard Cavalry at
the Preside.
Washington's Birthday Celebrated in
the SaddIe-CuSiiiOn Chairs Are
Now in Great Demand.

About seventy members of the First
Troop of Cavalry responded to the orders
for he mounted drill, held Yesterday at the
Preside. They formed at their armOry al 9
O'Clock and went out to the reservation.
where they Immediately got down to busi-
ness, resolved to get the full amount OF
riding out Of their horses that they had
paid for 1t may be we'll to mention at this
point that. as much as the State of Calfor-
MIA brsgs about its only cavalry troop, and
as much as they detail them for escort duty,
the trooper who attends these exhibit
tions Of horsemanshlp must pay for his own
mount, and the State does not allow him
cent fer his expenses. However, the troop
has such efficient officers. captain and lieu
tenants, that the members always come
back from a drill or ride perfectly satisfied
to have been present
The troop drew up in line on the Preside
drill grounds and Captain Blumenberg laid
out the plan Of action for the mornings
dril. which was composed OF platoons and
squad movements. principally extended
order in platoons. AS there were three
platoons these movements were very pretty
to anybody who understood them. and
many who did not know what formation
meant applauded the efforts Of the troopers
by waving handkerehiefS at them.
Several companies Of The Boys Brigade,
who had marched 10 the Preside 10 drill,
forgot all about their own maneuyers in
their interest in the cavalry.
The troop proved that it was composed
OF human beings at lunch time, when they
tied their horses TO the trees ana sur
rounded the commissaTy wagon and got
their generous allowances of ham-sand-
witches and PIE, which they mad to bolt in a
hurry and hasten back TO prevent their
Steeds from rolling with their saddles on
aud becoming entangled in the straps. A
number of the regulars who were mounted
acted az voluntary stable-Euard for the
National Guard. Among these We're Sergeant
Lambert, Corporal Fuller and Private
Ratchford Of Troop B Of the Fourth United
States Cavalry.
After lunch the trumpet sounded "Pre-
pare to Mount, Mount" aud after fifteen
rounds Of ammunition had been served TO
each man they moved on 10 the hills back OF
the reservation. where they held an imagin-
airy battle against a still more imaginary
foe. drilling wholly by the trumpet in the
hands-OT rather mouths-of Trumpeters
Russell and lessen, who. with the captain,
were stationed several hundred yards back
of tile skirmIsh line uOon a small hill.
The three lleutenants gave personal in
stTuctiOns to the platOOns, al times recklessiy
placing themselves in danger of the i'm
aginary bullets to tell one of the soldiers
that mis- saddle was coming loose"
The enemy that did not exist was at last
routed, and the victorious troops marched
back 10 their armGry, " here the real fight
ing commenced. This battle. which was bv
far the most dangerous 10 life and limb. was
for the possession of the only cushioned
chair in the roon1-, which was finally Cap
tured by Corporal Beatty, who then at
tempted to recine IN the chair in such
- Il
he so much needed, and at tie same time
not let any portion of his tired frame touch
even the cushioned surface of the chair.
1t is surprising what an interest in the
troop is taken by the regular troopers at the
Preside. An incident occurred yesterday
which clearly demonstrates tie regard of
the real soldier for the CITIZEN troopers.
An infantryman-a National Guardsman,
by the wsy-was criticizing the drill to
member of the big broher troop of the by
National Guard troop; in other words.
Troop b OF the Fourth Cavalry, which has
won for itself. in Indian warfare, name to
be proud Of. The infaniryman was very
free in his snesrs Of he way in which the
amateurs managed their horses.
Said he: Just look at the wav that those
fellows spread around the fed when they
wheel in sets of fours. isn't it ridiculous"
Now, see here" said the regular, you
have probably seen our troop dash around
the field without any apparent effort and
90 through the motions like clOckwork?
Well the difference between those men on
field and US. and it makes all the difference
IN the world. 10 that our horses are tlaned
10 obey the bugle calls and we can't make
them go wrong without considerable effort
In fact | often lay the Ieins upon thu horses
neck and let him 90 where he will, il is
second nature for our horses 10 20 right.
Now look at those horses out there. But
few of them ever heard a bugle before to-
day and these few. why you can tell ct
glance that they were broke into tbs busi-
ness. | think the boys do well with the
mounts they get, and / doubt. if troop of
United States cavalry were put upon such
sorry-looking beasts, If they could 60 any
thing better than The guards do. They may
be called tin-soidiers in comparison tn the
regulars, but they are first class as far as
their equipment will allow them to be-"
The ipfantryman did not say any more.