The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-07-11
u. 8. CAVALRYM EN-.

Wonderful TESTS Which, Prove Our Troopers
Equal to Any BorseDaen i'm the World.
Few people know that some of our cavalry
troopers are the best drilled horsemen in the
world, not excepting the Arabs, the Cossacks,
the Indians, the cowboys, or the riders of the
circus. At our Western frontier posts they
are drilled in all kinds of horseback feats, not
for show, but because ali this is of practical
value in the service that they have to render
in Indian wars.
The troopers, in tleir drill, do everything
that the hOrSemen of the arena do, and without
the aid of padded Backs, rosined shoes. and
other artificial accessories They are perfect
athletes, in full sympathy with theirinteligent
horses, and heavily aecontdred with regimental
uniform and cavalry bopts. Hurdle,jump-
ing, standing in short icross-stirrups, is taken
with ease, and also afoot, the troopers vault
ing to the saddles Just as the horses take the
leap. And what magnificent jumps they
make. Every animal is n perfect specimen
of horschcsl1, large powerful, and we'll bred,
and selected with great care.
The men mount aud dismount in every
conceivable way, glide back and forth over
the backs of their horses, change their posi-
tons dozen times while firing at an imagin-
airy enemy, and perform ieats that make the
visitor hold his breath. Not only do they
mount and dismount their own horses, but at
a signal. jump from one horse to another
while in full gallop. One man will ride
single horse, or four of them at once, stand
ing erect in the saddle, with his heavy cavalry
boots on and weapons and cartridge-belt at
his side.
A sham-battle of the cavalry on the plains
is a sight never to be forgotten. 1t is Indian
nj I'LL
the sayagcs Oh their own ground and after
their own style of fighting. There is wild
dash across the plains, the troopers standing
up III their short cross-stirrups and holding
their weapons ready for instant use.
As they draw nearer TO the enemy a Hgu-
lar fusilade of shots is fired. Probably long
ditch must be jumped before they can reach
the opposing forces, and while the horses are
high in the air, they continue their shooting
without interruption. Then, at bugIe call,
the horses come to a standstill in the twink
ling of an eye, and drop down in the grass as
if shot.
Behind this living rampant of bodies the
troopers crouch and prepare for the charge of
the enemy. The horses remain mOti0nless,
as If dead while the shots are rafting away
over their heads. As further test of the
perfect discipline of the animals, several
troopers viii run over the forms of the horses,
from one end of the line to the other, and not
one OF them will bulge. Two or more troop
ers will ride across the plains and suddenly
disappear from sight, rs if swallowed up by
the earth. At given signal from the riders
the animals crouch down in the tall grass SO
low that the enemy might pass within hun
dred yards of them and not discover them.
A running retreat is remarkable sight.
Threatened with capture by an Overpowering
foe, the signal is given to retreat. Every
horse wheels around as if by instinct, and
fiattens out his body TO half its size as he gal
Tops rapidly away. The troopers change their
positions also, facing around so that they will
have the enemy in full sight. With their
bodies lying close against the backs of their
horses, and with their heads almost upon
their launches, they make q running fight
with their pursuers.
The troopers can shoot almost as rapidly
and rs accurately in this uncomfortable posi-
ton as If standing erect in their saddles, fac
ing the other way. In a running side-fight
they shift their positions again, almost con-
cealing their bodies from view on the sides of
their horses. ire.
In actual battles with the Indians the cav
airy troopers have shown that their discipline
Is hob lor display, but Tor real hghting pur-
poses. Some OF the longest and hardest rides
ON record have been made by members OF the
81 U. >. Cav, and they have proved more
than match for the Indians in every equal
combat. One trooper is generally considered
good for two or three Indians, and the latter
show their respect for the troopers skill and
courage by never initiating an attack unless
their force is considerably the larger of the
two.
by close study of Indian ways, the cavalry
stationed in the West have not only been able
to adopt all of the tricks and methods of Indian
warfare, but they have improved upon them
and are more than match for the red men,
They know when to charge in the open and
when to seek cover behind trees, rocks, or
ramparts made of the bodies of their own
steeds.
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