The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-01-30
SPLENDID s ERs.

United States CavaIrym.-fhnot Be Sur
| passed.Y
| Up 10 comparati'P. recent date
individual horsemanshi JqE \ the train
ing of horses received . htEyStematic
attention in the caval fvice. The
nature of the duties mel he1 of that
arm Of the service, VIII y. bit it in the
field from the early1 Ell ontil the
SHOWS of winter-andS htly all the
winter-made it impI IA Alto engage
in instruction beyon,f ANY simplest
movements of the dI& L Negotiations.
No adequate facilities I'VE afforded
at the recruiting depot folTRstruction
in equation, and cavalry RECRUITS rare
ly knew anything beyond the manual
of the carbine and saber when they
Joined their troops. The men and
horses frequently arrived on the eve of
campaign, and even during a cam
paign.
Alter a time the men made good sol
diers, and in some respects gold cav
airy soldiers. The handy men and
those who had some previous knowl-
edge Of horses and riding caught on"
but the inexperienced, the clerks,
shopkeepers, foundry men, etcy who
had never been on horses back, kept
the surgeons busy patching uR their
skins, and the veterinariarS busy
patching up the horses skinM When
IL new man and a new horse hme to-
gether it was tough on man u beast.
Nothing could be done in way of
horse training beyond rifiigss TN
with a stiff curb Bit in the column day
after day. Field work is good school
in many respects, but it is Impractical
BILE to instruct new men in the many de-
tails absolutely essential 10 make a
horselnan, and it is impossible to sub
sequcntly cure the bad habits con-
tracted by green hands when left to
themselves.
Notwithstanding these drawbacks,
the American cava rymah hes always
been able to meet any emergency as it
arose, and, while he may not have been
a finished horseman or have ridden
a trained horse, he las had the faculty
of getting there" III good and effective
shape. But he has been forced, in a
great measure. to work out his own
salvation. IT was, in most cases, a
quest on of the survival of the fittest,
and some splendid specimens of rough
riders survived.
The passing away of constant field
service, the concentration of troops in
large garrison, The erection of riding
halls. etc, have made itnot only possible
for, but incumbent upon, every COM
mander of troops TO educate his men
in every detail entering into the make
up of a trained soldier.
SO well has the opportunity been
seize, by the cavalry branch of she
service that [ say without hesitation
the American cavalrymn is to-day the
best soldier on the face of tie earth,
barring none. | don't believe any
army IN the world can parade ten regi-
mems of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS hus-
sars, or what not-possessing the stfen-
sive ard defensive qualities of our ten
regiments of cavalry.
Not only this, but they are the best
rough riders in the world. They can
fight on the ground or on horseback,
with saber or revolver. as occasion re-
quires. Their ability to shoot with in
fantrv has been attested year after
year at the target competition, and
their proficiency with the revolver
mounted is such that five years ago
it was believed to be impossible of at
tainuent. At all the larger garrisons
cavalry progress has been most salts
factory.
The post at Fort Riley has che of the
finest iding halls in the world, built of
stone, lighted through the roof and in
closing an open clear space of 100 by
800 feet. During the season, from jan
uary 10 to May l, each troop az the post
(eighF organizations) exercises in the
hall Que hour every day, except Satur-
days and Sundays. At other times
during the year the hall is utilized for
the instruction of recruits, under tie
direction of an officer specially adapted
to tie work
The instruction Of the troops IS under
the direction of the respective troop
commanders, supervised by the squad
IOn anu Tic Nl'CCUOE VI
the cavalry school.
Biting, supplirg, turning, backing,
passaGing, accusto!ning to sound of
fireal ms, teaching to lie down, jump
ing, eating to the regulation PAGES; in
fact, everything a horse should know,
goes on at the same time as the instruc
ton of the men, as provided in the drill
regulations.
AS means of relaxation and relief
from the tedium of formal drill, riding
school movements and acrobatic feats
are introduced by some officers, and
others even employ the tricks of the
sawdust ring to the same end.-Maj.
4. A. Darlington, in Rider and Driver.
| In 1900.