The herald., 1895-06-08
N. q. G. CAVALRYMEN MEET
They Listen to Some Good Speeches
but Do Not Organize
Delayed by a Desire to Maintain the Ex-
elusive Character of Their Organiza-
tion-No News From the North

tion. Captain Overton delivered an in
terestng speech in substance as here
gwen, first thanking his audience with
few choice and courteous expressions
that conveyed his appreciation OF the
honor done him. In his remarks he
spoke entertainngly OF cavalry. ancient
and modern, and of his personal exper-
fences in army life. More presently in :
teresting we're his illusions to the troop
now forming and his advice to the or
ganizers.
In part he spoke as follows: "In the
few m oments that have had to consider
what | shall saya to you, | have been
puzzled to knows exactly what would be
of interest or of benefit to your scheme
or organization. That you have under
taken to originate crack cavalry troop
in this beautiful city, is now matter OF
great public interest and we all look
forward with anxious expectancy to the
successful accomplishment of your laud-
able purpose. That you will succeed,
have no question.
"In Boston there is body known by
the rather lengthy title OF the Ancient
and Honorable Artillery. 1t is composed
of men like yourselves, drawn from the
higher representative class, and its social
standing, while it was unquestioned
from the first has, year by year. grown
stronger, and the people OF that city
point to it with great pride and hold 1T
in much esteem.
"In Philadelphia they have what they
call the city troop, which ranks very
high socially and presents u very credit
able appearance upon parade; but. like
the "anclent and honorable artillery of
Boston," it's organization is more social
in It's purposes and results than military.
1t is a crack troop, and entrance into it
is and has always been exceedingly
difficult. These two organizations stand
almost unique among those of our coun-
try. inasmuch as they have military
basis but their purposes are more social
than military.
That your organization will, as time
rolls on. partake OF the characteristics of
those have mentioned. there is but little
doubt; but we must let the future take
care of itself. Tonight | see before me
only body of vigorous men. any one Of
whom should be able 10 vault into the
saddle from the ground without the aid
of stirrup; and with such material
your immediate future at least promises
great effectiveness. If you start in right
and each and every one of you deter
mines to do his full duty to engender and
keep alive proper esprit de corps, [ be-
lieve that you will never regret having
organized your troop. Cavalry has been
held IN high esteem and has alway
u1aWn the more utSHlHS eltuleHt. lSN eli
today in the service OF the various civil
lized governments that now exist. the
cavalry arm is regarded as the crack one
and the cavalryman is apt too apt, per-
haps) to hold in contempt his comrade
who marches on foot, whom he deslg-
mates by the reproachful term Tin our
servIce) OF mud crusher' or dough
boy;rn, a., ,7.,.o, o.,4o -
! found it in September, 1861. was Il het-
eroogous mass OF awkward farmer boys
and spiightly city youths. such as, per-
haps. had never before been assem- bled.
They were drawn sogether from all classes
the rich, the poor. the low, the high. the
ignorant and the educated. Few OF them
had ever had any experience rs horse
men. and in this condition they were
huddled together on the banks of the
Potomac clothed in uniforms that ap-
pear from this standpoint TO have been
Portable and untitled for their service.
Without discipline. without any real
knowledge of what was before them. they
were. to all intents and purposes, hope
less and IA sorry lot when | first Joined
them; but these same men by the con-
slant pressure OF discipline by the con-
slant practice OF drill and by the examp pie
Of the few old soldiers scattered among
them. in remarkably short time became
fairly effective; and when they remained
for year or more in the servic ice they
developed with astonishing rapidity
many of the characteristics OF veterans.
81 have always been very glad that he
fortunes of war cast my lot with the cav
airy. 1t is a service of hard work. but it
is a dashing one and with better promo
tion usually than results In either of the
other arms. Had | time and had you
the patience, | could tell you of some
very curious experiences. | could COM
!, ,x.h.. tod
boy of 16 years-having just taken my
jackets off to put on th. more or less
Dutch uni .orm of the then celebrated
Bleucker 'sDutch brlgade--tell you how we
began dsorganized and apparently al.
most hopeless body OF raw recruits. and
finally terminated in q splendid organiza-
tion OF veteran cavalry that was fully
able to cope with the dextfous foe we
had t. encounter. could tell you of
long hard raids of night marches, OF the
destruction of the railroads. bridges and
telegraph wires; of the capture of pIckets
and of all the incidents that are en-
braced in active warfare. At rare inter
walls o existence was more or less pleas
ant but the majority OF the time iL was
drilling, marching, scouting and tight
ing.
but this | want 10 say and empha-
size Be particularly careful in the
selection OF your officers. Do not look
positions men who will first command
your respect, and second, men who will
compel your obedience, and third, men
who have the time and the knowledge to
devote to your interests, and fourth. men
who can bring to those positions good
experience.
Having organized, you must all put
your shoul .ers to the wheel; you must
originate and maintain the strongest
possible esprit de corps; you must feel
that admission to your troop is some
thing to be longed tor. and you must
carefully close your ears against the appl.
cations for membership of all persons, ex-
cepting those whom you can carefully ap-
prove morally. socially and physically.
"Whle your organization will have
very attractive social features, you must
never lose sight of the fact that as part
of the militia of the state you will be
liable to be called upon for duty, and at
such time your watchword must be for
ward and your motto must be loyalty
and devotion"
General .lohnstone Jones was called
upon and spoke very entertainingly on
the subject OF cavalry in general He
emphasized his pride in the movement
and hold up before the young men the
examples Of great cavalry leaders OF every
age. He was applauded freely
The committee on organization re-
ported and was discharged ut the request
Of Chairman +. X Rule. In place OF its
report the gentleman submitted reso-
luton to appoint a committee on organ
ization and membership that Wouid Pass