New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-03


OF CONGRESS OF BOOKS RE
LATINO TO CUBA.
,-..,,,c.on April 2-There are no more en-
/ ..i,s,,c advocates OF war than the men who
n -.,,se the cavalry at Fort Myer. The officers.
.,,uraI,v. will not talk on this subject. They
,.usbingly say that boots and saddles are an
-.,v wav TO pay off debts but it is difficult for
,,., 10 hide their ardor There is no attempt
~ ,hs mart Of the boys" however, to dissemble
.hs,- feelings They read with eagerness every
.,ing relating to our relations with Spain. and
a;ecuss the matter with intelligence. Thought
~ neither the enemy's bullets nor the yellow
bcs inspires them with fear, and their attitude
e worthy Of the Bloody sixth
This name the 9th Cavalry won during the
civil War wncn it was commanded hy Colonel
Starr the famous Paddy Starr. because OF
me number # men il lost in every battle it par
a,ipated in. At Winchester this gallant reg-
rent Of cavalry was General Shcridan's body
.scort Il came out OF that historic fight with
or,y 90 men. but ii helped save the day, and
winchester IS one Of its proudest memories
After tn wa the 9Th Cavalry was stationed
IN the West. where ii remained until three years
ago. fighting Indians. maintaining order and
adding in many ways TO its splendid history;
then was divided, and four troops were sent
10 the cavalry school at Fort Leavenworth, two
70 Fort Robinson Nebraska, to keep watchful
eve over the Indians OF the Pine Ridge agency,
md four were stationed at Fort Myer. where the
duty is Of 4 peaceful and agreeable character.
Fort Myer IS the headquarters Of the rcgi-
rent and IS in command Of Colonel Sumner.
The youngest officer of this rank In the Army,
and son Of that gallant old General Bull" sum
ner as whose aid Colonel Sumner. who was
scarcely more than lad at the time. served
through the whole Civil war. In appearance
he is a typical soldier; personally he is at
tactive and interesting; as a commander he is
able and intelligent, and he has the affection,
confidence and respect Of his men.
The Bloody Sixth" boasts several mcdal-of-
honor men among its officers. Captain Frank
West Was decorated by Congress for distin-
gulshed galantry in charging with small de
tachment into a ravlnc and dislodging a band
Of Indians who held possession OF it and were
keeping up a deadly fire on his men, Captain
Harry Cheever received the same distinction for
leading his troop across a river Of broken ice
to join his advance guard. who were attacked
BY Indians I.en,enaai 4Iawze wears medal
he onemy's guns.
The weekly drills Of the cavalry have been
q feature Of the social life hero. and Fort Mycr
Is crowded with visitors from town every Friday
afternoon when the drill takes place. The
nanmuvrcs If the troops are nothing short Of
wonderful an have been Of especial interest 10
the foreign visitors here. who compare them to
their advantage with the European cavalry.
large majority Of the men in the 9th Cavalry are
Americans but there are few Englishmcn and
Irishmen These make good cavalrymen. the
officers say-are neater than Americans. as a
rule more careful about their accoutrements-
bot they have to be educated to the rough riding
which the United States cavalry are accus-
tened to.
When asked where the horses used by the
cavalry, which taught TO do such marvellous
things and show almost human intelligence
ome from. and II they were thoroughbred. an
officer Of the 9th Cavalry said:
Our horses come from Kentucky. and are
coarsebred A Thoroughbred horse cannot stand
the work, especially in the Western and South
western country. where the troops frequently
get out Of forage and the horses have to content
themselycs with whatever EIows in the locality
Neither can a Thoroughbred horse carry the
weight for long distances. he frets. and Worries
and excites himself 4 coarse bred horse on the
contrary, goes along the road quietly under all
conditions and can be taught 10 d. anything.
He hardly tremblcs when a shot is fired over
aim, and he falls down at command If his rider
wants 10 use him FOR a breastwork.
"Of course one cannot train all horses. AMI
mails are cowardly brave. just like human be
and he 10 rd q
B let go; there Is no use working over him. a