The San Francisco call., 1896-11-09
Colonel Young of the Fourth
Cavalry Is Coming to Inspect
New Horses.
some RECENT PROMOTIONS
Reports on Athletic Exercises-Con.
ditions of the Obstacle Race in
the Cavalry Camp.

The regular routine of military duty has
been resumed at the Presidio. Fort Mason
AIcatraz and Angel Island. Artillery
men, according to orders, we're brought
over from the island posts last week and
given instruction in the handling OF the
dynamite and mortar batteries and the
12-inch rifles. The officers and enlisted
men OF the Third ARTILLERY welcome the
change from Florida and Louisiana to
California with delight, but perceive al
ready that the duty in the harbor is to be
active The magnitude of the fatigue par
ties going out early every morning to
work on the Notifications indicates that the
life of the soldier is not an idle one. Dur
ing the past week the weather has been
favorable for work and drilling.
Lieutenant Colonel Samuel B. Nj.
Young, Fourth Cavalry, will be in town
for TWO or three days this week. He is
coming in from MADEIRA, where his troop
ers are now stationed, to inspect some
horses recently purchased in Southern
Oregon by the quarteTmaster's depart
ment. Colonel Young will ins pect twenty
eight horses.
On Friday, December 4, Colonel A. s.
Kim mbail, chief quaTtermaster of the de-
partment, will open proposals for twenty
three horses. The process of selecting
horses for the cavalry is interesting.
The cost averages $12S per animal, but not
more than one of every twenty horses
offered is accepted. The horses 10 be re-
ceived must conform TO the following
specifications:
They must be sound, we'll bred and OF a SUI.
perior class; gentle under the saddle; free
from vicious habits; with Tree and prompt ac-
ton a. the walk, trot and gallop; ;twithOut
blemish or defect; OF kind disposition, with
easy mouth and gait and otherwise to con-
form to the following descriptions Geldings
OF uniform and hardy eoiors; in GOOD condl-
tion; from fifteen and one-fouTth 10 sixteen
hands high; weight not less than $50
more than 1150 pounds; from four to eight
years old; head and ears small forehead
broad; eyes large and prominent; vision per
feet in every respect shoulders long ana sloP-
ing we'll back; chest full. broad and deep;
forelegs straight and standing we'll under;
barrel large and increasing from girth toward
flank; withers elevated; back short and
straight; loins and launches broad and mus
cular; hooks well bent and under the horse;
pasterns slanting and feet small and sound.
A horse under years of age will not be
accepted, unless he is n specially fine
animal. we'll developed. OF the twenty
three cavalry horses required, two must be
blood bay color, six must be iron gray,
seven must be black, seven must be dark
bav and one must De gray.
When q band of horses is chosen for
instance in Southern Oregon, the Chief
Quar.ermaster sends man there to make
a preliminary inspection. The first in
SpecIlOn Is SO L0OIOugH tldL tue QOrSeS
which pass are almost sure to be accepted
at the Presidio, unless bruised or blem-
ished by transpof tation.
There is some rejoicing in military
circles of San Francisco over recent pro-
motions. Lieutenant Sydney A. Cloman,
First Infantry, has been advanced one
grade in the lieutenancy. The promotion
follows so soon after his successful sire
ship of the united service jinks at the
Bohemian CLUB. that there is sure to be II
demand in army circles for the honor of
string links.
James NJ Lancaster, Third Artillery,
has been promoted to MAJOR, Fourth Ar
tillery. Joseph NJ. Ca:iff has been pro-
NOTED from first lieutenant to captain,
Third Artillery
Morris K. Barroll has been promoted
from first lieutenant, Second Artillery, to
first lieutenant, Third Artillery.
Additional Second Lieutenant James n.
Pickering, Tenth Infantry. is to be second
lieutenant, First Infantry, Company D.
Lieutenant @. K. Irwin, Third Artillery,
has been ordered from Jackson barracks,
La, TO his battery at Angel Island.
Major John A. Darling, Third Artillery,
has been Granted leave of absence un til
June Z. 1897, with permission to go be-
yond the sea.
Burroughs have been granted to John
Jacoby, Company G, First Infantry, and
Charlie Morton, Battery II, Third Artil-
lery,
A general court-martial is to meet in
camp at or near MADEIRA, California. on
November 20. Following is the details for
the court:
Captain George H. G. Gale, Fourth Cavalry
Captain James Lockett, Fourth Cavalry; Cap
tain Merritte w. ireland, assistant surgeon
First Lieutenant Harry c. Benson. Fourth
Cavalry; First Lieutenant John A. Lockwood,
Fourth Cavalry; First Lieutenant Alexander
T. Dean, Fourth Cavalry; First Lieutenant
Paul F. Straub assistant surgeon; Second
Lieutenant Milton F. Davis. Fourth Cavalry
Second Lieutenant Samuel McP. Rutherford,
Fourth Cavalry; Second Lieutenant Thomas
G. Carson, Fourth Cavalry, judge advocate.
The Secretary of War has given the fol-
lowing Instructions with reference to par
agraph 555 OF the Manual OF Heavy Artil-
lery Service:
In all modern emplacements where guns
and carriages are mounted and have been
trans ierred to commanding officers of troops
for care and maintenance, If the platforms
have been completed for a less time than two
months their carriages shall be traversed daily
SO as to change their places of rest on the ira.
been completed for two months or longer it is
directed that the carriages be traversed
weekly.
Circular No. II from headquarters De-
partment of California contains elaborate
extracts from the reports of athletic ex.
ercises at Alcatraz Island, Benicia Bar
racks, San Diego Barracks and camp OF
Troop C, Fourth Cavalry, Weishar' s
Mills, California.
The "obstacle race" in the cavalry camp
must have been interesting. These con-
ditions were prescribed:
Contestants in underclothing, with saddle
blanket, bed-blanket and sheets half spread
beneath them. BY them their outer clothing
oYercoat leggins and spurs. Also nose bag.
Complete kit on racks fifty yards distant. all
loose. Also brown canvas clothing.
Horse on picket line, 100 yards distant from
racks
Signal ITO horse.''
ORDER OF EXECUTION.
Dress, put on leggins and spurs. Roll over.
coat and blanket.
Fold saddle-blanket.
Go to and pack saddles.
Bring up horses from picket line.
Saddle and bride.
Put on accouterments
equipped.
Rest until last man has led out.
At signal:
Unsaddle and lay out kit in front of horses
per drill regulations.
Return horses to picket line. Come back to
racks, take off blouse, spurs and leggins and