The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-07-27
HORSES In OUR ARMY
A CAVALRY SOLDIER WRITES WITH
FEELING CONCERNING THEM.
A Recruit Horse IL Very Like Recruit
soldier-Intelligence displayed by the
Animals Their Love OF Play Poor
Dandy's Grief.

Animals Their Love OF Play Poor
Dandy's Grief.
Perhaps few persons are on more init
mate terms with the horse family in gen
eral than some old cavalry soldiers. To
DO the friend Of his horse the soldier must
be "A good one. A horse was never known
TO favor bad one with his confidence, for
horses are ipfallible judges of soldiers.
In the old frontier days cavalry soldiers
thought far more of their horses than they
do now, for their lives often depended on
them, and II a man neglected his horse he
was sure to have TO march on foot before
long, which is very distasteful TO cavalry
man. Indeed, il was necessary 10 guard
the forage wagon and the water holes to
prevent men stealing more than their al
lowance for their horses. Even now, If
the "stables" of q cavalry troop, you will
see they have not forgotten TO be greedy
on behalf of their mounts.
A recruit horse is like recruit soldier,
apt to be clumsy, unevenly gated, saucy
and conceited. The old horses in the stable
yard treat him exactly as old soldiers treat
q recruit. They attempt to brighten him
by biting at him, kicking him, chasing
other, pulling his name and ears-in fact,
they try to make his life miserable in
every way. This lasts for q few days only !;
then the new horse gets a chum, and they
make an agreement to stand by each other.
This offensive and defensive alliance pre-
vents the rest of the herd from taking any
more liberties with the recruit.
The "chum business" is one Of the most
rHah NJ In
army. The"chums" are inseparable. As
soon as the herd is turned out into the
yard the chums seek out each other, as If
for a oining "confab," and remain to-
gether all day. Looking into the yard at
any time, one can see them rubbing noses,
blinking at one another or following each
other around the yard. Take new horse
away from his chum and he will greatly
resent 1t. Tie him near the stables and he
will whinny plaintively to his chum, who
will answer from the corral.
All horses In our service are. Taught to
lie down. A new horse, when first thrown
in the riding hail. with straps the use of
which he little suspects, is greatly sur
prised. This painless throwing of horses
is very effective in disciplining morally, for
the horse soon realizes that he is complete
ly mastered, and after he has been thrown
a number of times a marked change takes
place in his temperament.
Soldiers who abuse their horses in any
way are severely punished. There is, in
deed, no sight more obnoxious TO a good
cavalryman than TO see a horse abused
The old cavalry horse seems TO have
great disdain for a new soldier. When
ridden by a recruit, he appears as If lit
Il, insulted, and am sure that some of
these old horses can tell a recruit from
veteran as quickly as can the adjutant at
guard mounting"
It is customary TO turn all the horses
out TO graze-or "to herd, as it is called
under a guard whenever the grass is good
and the weather pleasant. The horses re-
gard "herd time" as proper occasion for
fun and frolic. They enjoy the herd as
much as a lot of schoolboys do their recess.
In every troop are some old horses that
are full of mischief on herd and are invet-
crate stampeders. If they can only get the
rest of the herd 10 follow them and run
ahead Of the herders, they are delighted.
The herd guards have 70 watch these old
rogues vigilantly, for once they obtain a
start, stampede is sure 10 follow Then,
If no obstacle prevents, the herd will run
for hours-herds have bean known 10 run
40 miles before they could be stopped. Most
bold and daring riding on the part of the
herd guards Is required To head off a cav
airy stampede and turn the leaders.
Horses soon learn all the trumpet calls.
"Stable call" in the afternoon is the favor
lite one, l imagine, as it means dinner.
A trumpeter's horse in a certain troop dt
a western post was condemned for disabil-
ity and sold TO milkman. One day, when
the milkman was driving near the drill
ground where the troop was drilling, his
horse at the sounding of the "charge" by
the trumpet bolted for the troop. OF course
the funny sight Of a milk cart charging
with troop of cavalry caused great merri-
ment 20 all except the milkman.
During the Geronimo campaign some
yearsago in Arizona, a remarkable illus
tration Of how great an affection can exist
between "a soldier and his horse occurred
in troop in which was serving. An old
Irish sergeant had splendid brown horse
called Dandy, TO which he was so singular
ly attached that the care and caresses he
bestowed on it would have satisfied the
most exacting sweetheart. The beautiful
and intelligent animal seemed 20 be al
most human, SO much did he appreciate
the affection of his master.
Now it happened that during a long
march the sergeant became very tipsy by
drinking some fiery Mexican mescal.
Keeling in the saddle 10 and fro he jerked
the horses sensitive mouth with the cruel
curb till 10 hled profusely, and every little
while his sharp spurs would tear Dandy's
flanks. Suffering all this pain, the horse
calmly walked in ranks without showing
any resentment and apparently knowing
that his master was out OF his senses.
Shortly after this happened we were
fired upon from an ambush. The sergeant
who was in the lead, was shot dead i'm the
saddle while riding along the brink of one
of those steep canyons which abound i'm
that part Of Arizona. So he pitched head
foremost out Of his saddle down hundreds
Of feet into the canyon bed.
During the next few days Dandy ate al
most nothing and appeared dull and list
less. All the men being mounted, he was
led and pack saddle put on him. About
week later, as we were riding along the
brink of another canyon, very similar TO
that in which Dandy's master had found
n grave, the command was halted for a
rest, and the men, dismounting let their
horses Craze on the few punches Of dry
grass i'm the vicinity.
Presently we saw Dandy walk 20 the