The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-08-28
United States Cavalrymen.

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 all this is of
practical value in the service that they
have to render in Indian wars. The
troopers, in their drill, do everything
without the aid of padded backs, ros.
sories. They are perfect athletes, in
full sympathy with their intelligent
horses, and heavily accoutered with regi-
mental uniform and cavalry boots.
Hurdle-jumping, standing in short
cross-stirrups, is taken with ease, and
also afoot, the troopers vaulting to the
saddle Just as the horses take the leap.
And what magnificent jumps they
make! Every animal is perfect speci-
men of horseflesh, large, powerful, and
well bred, and selected with great care.
The men mount and dismount in every
conceivable way, glide back and forth
over the backs of their horses, change
their positions dozen times while fir
ing at an imaginary enemy, and per-
form feats 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 an
other while in full gallop. One man
will ride single horse, or four of them
at once, standing 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 sight never to be forgotten.
1t is Indian warfare, and the troopers
are drilled to meet the savages on their
own ground and after their own style
of fighting. There is wild dash across
the plains, the troopers standing up in
their short cross-stirrups and holding
their weapons ready for instant use.
AS they draw nearer to the enemy a
regular fusillade of shots is fired. Prob
ably long ditch must be jumped be.
fore they can reach the opposing forces,
and while the horses are high in the air,
they continue their shooting without
interruption. Then, at bugle call,
the horses come to standstill in the
twinkling of an eye, and drop 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 motionless,
as if dead, while the shots are rafting
away over their heads. AS a further
test of the perfect discipline of the
animals, several troopers will run over
the forms of the horses, from one end
of the line to the other, and not one OF
will hn6na
ers will ride across the plains and sud
denly disappear from sight as if swal-
lowed up by the earth. AT a given
signal from the riders the animals
crouch down in the tall grass 30 low
that the enemy might pass within a
hundred yards OF them and not discover
them.
A running retreat is a remarkable
sight. Threatened with capture by al
overpowering foe, the signal is given tc
retreat. Every horse wheels around
as if by instinct, and flattens out hi
body to half it's size as he gallops rap
idly away. The troopers change theil
positions also, facing around 30 tba
they will have the enemy in full sight
With their bodies lying close agains
the backs of their horses, and will
their heads almost upon their launches
they make a running fight with thei
pursuers. The troopers can shoe
almost as rapidly and as accurately il
this uncomfortable position as if stand
ing erect in their saddles, facing tn,
other way. In running side. igh
they shift their positions again, almos
concealing their bodies from view or
The sides of their horses. In actua