Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1895-08-22
THIRD u. S. CAVALRY,
HISTORY OF THIS FAMOUS ReGl-
MENT.
Organized In tsi6-Has Taken Part In the
Mexican Wars, the Rebellion and Had
AWARDED Career on the west
ern Frontier.

The Third regiment of cavalry was or
ganizcd by an act of Congress approved
MAY 10 1876 as regiment OF mounted
hinemen Pcrsfer j.. Smith of LOUISIANA,
b lawyer by profession gentleman OF
culture and ability, was It's hrst colonel
John c. Fremont. lieutenant OF lopo-
graphical engineers, then ossaNlhS 'hc
conquest of California, was appointed me
first lieut. cuaut-C colonel but resigned March
b.. 1873, before joining the regiment
George S. BurbridSe of kentucky ut-
ribbed as "A county merchant ana pom
tician,' was hrst mayor, nut resisHe"
january y. lNN. Inc line ana slal oliiC'I9
we're appointed from all parts OF the OHII'"
states hut mostly from the Suulh' ne
rompauics were recruited in Maryland
'CnusN lvania. Virginia, Nortn CHfoIla'
ohio. Indiana, illinois. Kentucky, rem
rcsscc Missouri and Louisiana Inc men
worc of superior material and were armed
with a hunting rifle called the wager
with hayonet.
The fall of 1916 found the command UNI
der orders for Mexico and in December
several of the companies had arrived at
the mouth of the Rio Grando. March,
I1Si7 they Joined Gen. Scott at Vera cruz
l1vhere the first soldier of the regiment to
fall in action was killed during the engage
lnent March H. in which the mounted
4rincs participated and which resulted in
the investment of the city. From this
Rhine until the capture of the city of Mex
leo the regiment led the advance of the
american army, and was present in the
action at Plan del Rio, near Cerro-
IGordo National Bridge, Pass of La
|Hoya, San Juan de los Lanos, San An
honio Contrcras and Cheruhusco. Moline
del Rey Chepultcpcc. and city of Mexico.
Ut is reported of them that they fought
hravely. usually firing one volley with
their rifles and then closing with the
sabre. They captured many prisoners,
cannon and colors, and were often men
toned for galantry by their brigade COM
mander, Gen. Smith and after the severe
struggle at Chepultepcc, in which they
" ere I'm the advance, Gen. Scott, riding BY
the regiment, halted, took off his hat,
land bowling low said: Brave rifles, Vet
Grams you have been baptized I'm fire and
blood and have come out steel"
Tho regiment left Mexico by water for
New Orleans, Louisiana. July 18th, 1915.
ARRIVING there 10 days later tho proceeded
up the Mississippi, arriving at jefferson
Barracks near ST. Louis. Mo-, July oath.
May 10TH 1919 they were ordered to
Oregon and made a long heavy march of
$500 miles, which was accomplished with
much suffering and privaton.
In 1851 the regiment returned to the
Estates, the horses and all the men but
about seven non-commissioned officers to
each company being transferred to the
First Dragons The regiment left Van
|couver May Sth and reached jefferson bar
racks via New Orleans, July 10th to re-
cruit and organize for the third time at
the same place within five years The
companies were soon filled and in Decem-
Der, 1851. and January, 1852, with the ex-
ccption Of two companies who joined them
later the command was transferred to
Texas. Here and in New Mexico and
Arizona they were over four years serv-
ing in hard field work continually with
the Comanche and Lupin Indians who
had for two centuries terrorized the coun-
try Tho combats participated in by these
brave men from the time of the Mexican
war until the spring of 1861 number over
a.. When the war of the rebellion broke
out the rank and file remained loyal to a
man, though some of the commissioned
officers went over to the enemy. After Il
stubborn fight at Mesilla, New Mexico.
July 18th, 1851, and the abandonment of
Fort Gilmore at midnight July 26th. and
the surrender at San Augustine Springs
the next day, two officers an SIS men We're
made prisoners. These were paroled and
sent to Fort Wayne. Mich. to remain
until exchanged. The surrender at San
Augustine Springs was protested against
by officers Of the Mounted rifles, but in
obedience to the orders of a traitor or
worse, Major Ltnde, they had to lay down
their arms with the Seventh infantry
August Sd. 1861. by act of Congress.
the name of the Mounted rifles was
changed to the Third regiment of cavalry.
The companies We're now called troops
and two more were raised for the COM