The Portland daily press., 1897-08-14
TROOP F.
Gave an Interesting Exhibition Drill on
the Way to Portland.

When five or six miles out from Ply
mouth, Tuesday, says the Journal cores
pendent, two mounted men appeared IN
the distance, who appeared to be scouting
also. These turned out to be MAJOR
Frank Russell, formerly of the Sl1tn
United States Cavalry, and Cap1' ueorge
II. Colby, Paymaster of the Ihlro hegi-
ment, New Hampshire State Militia, who
welcomed Capt. Dodd and his command,
Troop f, Sd Cavalry, and presented the
freedom of their city. Plymouth N. H.,
is very happily remembered by Cart.
Dodd's command for the reception given
them last year. and it was assured In ad-
vance that no better camping place could
be found on the way. Ju st across the rlv-
er a wide field spreads its acres most in
willingly to cavalry troop and camp was
pitched very speedily; then there was
nothing too good for Capt. Dodd and his
men, and in return Capt. Dodd showed
his appreciation by complimentary drill
of his troops on the green meadow, the
first since leaving the post.
In the afternoon drill had been
Plymouth began to crowd around the
little camp, inspecting every nook and
corner, seeing the canvass houses OF the
men and officers under the great elms,
and then as tie troop mounted and took
the field, they followed to see Uncle Sam
cavalry in the exercises which Capt. Dodd
has invented, which makes his command
he of tba lon bn
buttons began by the troop changing from
company formation (single rank) at
the rear of the field to the front, by mo-
wing from the right by trooper, the horse
"passaging'' on the trot till the moving
troop made a letter S. This movement of
the horse called ''passaging" is executed
by the animal stepping sideways by an
overlapping step, movement requiring
a careful drill of the horse. Then the
troop moved out and down the field to
tho right, and returned at the gallop; as
quickly, they came about and returned,
only to come back standing in the sad
dies, waving their hats and yelling like
demons. Right and left scuttled the
crowd, but the soldiers had stopped before
the line was reached, and came about in
to line. Out of this the horses move till
an interval of twelve yards exists between
each horse, then the rider at the word of
command makes his horse turn in his
bTdChS 10 UN6 rlRnU, 10 UD0 l6IU ana 6DOuU.
At the comamnd "Draw Sabre" the
weapon flashes out into the air and begins
an unique drill which approximates quite
closely to the movements of wand drill
in the gymnasium, but adapted to the
conditions of a man on horseback. The
sabre is grasped in both hands, and to the
left and the right, up and down, over the
head, and then the man leans back till
his head touches the horses back; first to
the left then the right, the rider thrusts
down his blade, to right and left it flash
es, in zigzags and revolutions it is moved
about, and all the time the horse stands
like statue.
The next move gives the horse chance
to show his drill as a solder, for the
troops are dismounted, and each trooper
causes his horse to lie down, dismounting
as he kneels, and drops into a crouching
position. The rider having Gained his
horse, draws and loads his pistol, and
fires it into the air, but the horse is not
disturbed, he has heared that music be-
fore. To vary this the alternate rows of
troopers are ordered up and mounted in
the rear of the recumbent horses; they
load their pistols and dash on the gallon
among the band they left firing and yell
ling; the troopers on the ground return
the fire, till the scene is most animated,
the cracking fire from the revolvers; the
dashing horses, all conspire to make
sight the peaceful Plymouth plains are
quite unused to.
But the most amusing acts were to
come. The troop deployed to the right
and left from each flank till each horse
stood alone, the rider dismounting and
removing superufluous impediments. Then
follows series of rapid movements, the
men vaulting onto their horses from
either side; turning on the horse till he
faces to the rear, turning as he dis
mounts, mounting in front and behind
the saddle. At the order "Dismount
over the head the man stands in the
saddle and "leap frogs" over the horses
head; he also dismounts from side seat
by turning back somersault. Then the
rider stands on his shoulder on the horses
shoulder and completes the exercise by
running and jumping on to his horse
from the rear. A few minutes general
exercise was allowed, and the men
mounted and dismounted on the trot,
rode double on bucking horses, stood in
the saddle and slashed about with the
sabre, and played all the tricks they
knew A much delighted crowd dissolved
as the troop trotted off the field, and the
old veterans present rubbed their eyes and
wondered if they had seen Alright, for they
never did such things.
The village of Plymouth, as the even
ing came on, began to open it's doors to
the troops, both private homes and the
public hall, where a complimentary dance
was given. The evening was made most
delightful to the VIII Die troop by these
pleasant entertainments. James A. PEN
niman Post, 6. A. R., gave reception
to the troopers, and DIR. Robert Burns,
Surgeon of the Third New Hampshire
Repilnent Volunteer Militia oDeped his