The evening times., 1895-10-05
FORT MYER'S CENTAURS
Troopers Ride as if They Were
Part Of the Horses.
Hundreds of Spectators Watched the
EvolutiOns of Four Cavalry Com.
panies Under Col. Gordon.

The first public dress parade of troops
A, +, and II, of the Sixth Cavalry, sta
toned at Fort Ayer, was held at that posi-
yesterday afternoon.
The vast parade ground, gray with dust
and yellow with Eunburnt turf. looked like
a field of Mars, clamOrous with dashing
riders, musical with the bray of brass, the
boom of sheepskin, the beat OF hoof, the
orders OF command and the clangor OF
saber hnd biossoming with nodding plumes
and I ftering flags.
The tun shone into the field with all
the luster and much of the yigor OF summer
noon and fitful weEt wind swept across
the plain, whispering to the trees OF Airing
ton and stirring into being, dancing, whiri
ing. eddying flashes of Virginia dust Ovel
the tree tops, red with autumn's bushes. rose
the 'dOInes and spires of Washington. Here
and there, glimpscs could be had OF the
Potomac rolling peacefully far below like
flood of ripping, liquid Eilver. Through
the cemetery foliage, the gold dome OF the
Library sparkled like distant jewel set In
granite. Notasuggcstion orcloud yelled the
dazzling blue of the great concavc.
The day was In sympathy with the event.
Hundreds OF spectators leaned upon the
wire fence marking the eastern boundary
of the field. Scores of vehicles were halted
Onthe Isty road, and Knockers were every
where perched on tine ivy-grOwn stone wall
which hens In Arlington cemetery on the
west.
Two companies, on horses of orthodox
gray, stood fasing the amI entranee & from I'll the
Off, bugles We're singinR their signal songs,
and the merry jingle OF boots and saddles"
came family to the people at the parade
ground. Soon folio wing was the gay and
catchy call, assembly.
Daring all thus the post was boIsterous
with the din OF preparation. Hoerse shouts
to the ears of the guests. The first to
enter the field was the mounted reglnental
Dand on steeds OF night, headed by Leader
Lntzinger. This is said to be the best
cavalry hand in the army. 1t moved at an
easy walk across the field away down
to the south, took position at the extreme
right, and faced left In troop front. Some
applause pattered among the spectators as
the soldier -Inu sicians rode by, with the
trumpeters OF the battalion in the rear.
Attcr tie beard had taken up its stand,
Major Lebcau, with Acting Adlt Short on
his lett. preceding an orderly. and sergeant
major, :. cf,u from the north. a few min
utes a ter Col. Gordon and aff rode in and
faced about a. the center. The distant
flashing OF Steel, the cloud of dust, and the
sw aging waves oil blue and yellow, her
aided The 6nComing OF the troops. Each
er:ered in troop front, breaking INTO platoon
front.
The ranking troop as A, Capt Kendall,
follow ed by H, Capt. Craig, Haunting the
regimental coiors, " hiCh are yellow field
with a tpread eagle. Behind them trod +.
Capt. Cheevers, and on the left was G,
Capt. West.
'Adjulant's CALI rings out clear and
bright, the band strikes up a festive gallop.
the troops go TO the left troop front ana matt
in battalion front facing their commanding
officer and staff. After dressing to the
right, the order boons forth, draw sabers!'
AT the word draw" three hundred white
gloved hands reac1 to the le Il side and a the
word .'sabers' three hundred blades flash
from their scabbards. Then the band
strikes up, moves rom right TO left counter
marches in review and halts. Then the
colonel puts his neutrality-suspicious.: Present
sabers!'' Raise sabers!'' Garry sabers!"
"Ch arge sabers"' Garry sabersl"
Return sabers!'
After notice to "prepare to parade"
the first sergennts reported TO the center;
Officers reported TO the adjuiant, and the
adlutant TO the colonel. the commanding
officer and staff rode to the riga { and tu the
strains of the band passed in review. The
Officers went to post
'Fours right, platoon right, forward,
guide right, march!" and to the inspiration
OF their band the troops passed In review In
platoon front.
"Trot" was sounded on the bmgIcs and
the horses were off. The fronts were eN-
ceilent with the possible exception Of
the second platoon Of A. the alignment
was perfect. the fronts being well pre-
served at the turns. Clouds of dust went
up from the Gathering hoofs of the trottin ing
steeds. At dress parade n gallop usually
follows a trut, but short, sharp Eote OF
the bugle sang halt" and a long none
'ront into line. trot," and CLOSE in on
first troop" were the next orders executed.
The men passed in review in battalion
'front.', the staff left the field. foliowed by
the troops who had answered the com
mand, Right forward, fours right!' Tie
lay was done. Nothing like 1t had hecn
seen since the troops of the Fighting
Seventh Cavalry gave their farewell drill
at this post year ago.
One OF the pretty incidents of the event
was the eGuestrianshp OF Miss Gordon,
daughter OF Col. Gordon and 1.-The daughter
of the regiment. She galloped around
the post unattended at lively clip on an
easy-going bay rag. but during the drill
she took post outside the lines at front
center and watched her papa with fond
eyes and surveyed the martial array with
the critical eye OF a veteran. She is n
pretty lady OF eighteen, is the pet OF The
garrison. and is alleged never to have
been In an engagem ent.
One of the commissioned officers lost
his scabbard on parade. Dress parade
will be held each Friday at p. m.
until cold W Gather sets In.