The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1898-05-16
ORGANIZING CAVALRY
In this City Leads to Some Interesting
Remarks from Local EX-Cay.
alryman and Indian Fighter.

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1t is expected that under President
Mckiney's second call for volunteers
will come request for volunteer cav
airy. Anticipating this step old cavalry
men and others in this city desirous Of
entering that branch of the service, are
agitating the organization of a troop in
Wilmington.
Conspicuous in this movement is John
Guthrie, ex-Indian fighter and United
States cavalryman. Members of the
Wawaset Gun Club are also identified
with the endeavor to form the troop and
the workers hope to have a sufficient
number of enlistments to have the COM
pany completed in about fifteen days.
In speaking of the organization of
cavalry, yesterday, Mr.. Guthrie said:
"Whenever there is talk of war there
is supposed to be an excellent demand
for horses for the cavalry service.
The fallacy Of such reasoning is ap-
parent only after one has stood by and
seen drove of horses examined by gov
ernment experts, and has observed how
carefully these animals are weeded out,
and how few horses answer to the re-
quirements.
Many men have fancy that if they
can ride well-that is, gracefully and
safely under all ordinary circumstances
they will have no trouble whatever in
getting into he.cavalry service.
1t takes, however, but a very short
time for them to discover that their
previous training and preconceived ideas
are of very little value in this new field.
The recruit is placed on horseback with
out saddle, and is not permitted to
touch the reins. The instructor leads
the horse and manages him entirely.
The rider is set to learn the motion of
the horse and must guide him entirely
by the movements of the body or the
pressure of the knees.
In active service he is supposed to
require his hands for other purposes,
and must, therefore, be entirely indie
pendent of tfeir use as far as his horse
is concerned. Once the preliminaries
are gotten through the man may take
The reins, but must not use them.
rrotting comes next, but the horse must
be guided in the same way; then he
goes off at gallop, turning, swerving
md maneuvering apparently at the will
)f the rider.
The theory and practice of frightening
horses into submission is not only fail
Ire as far as theory and practice are con-
,erned, but it makes stupid towards of
ahimals so taught. And it is the train
ng by fear that makes horse dumb
fraid." 1t is not difficult to see how
horses of this description would be use
ess for cavalry service. A well-trained
animal ridden by an intelligent trooper
will advance to the very mouth OF a
battery without flinciing. Especially is
ne confident when he can occasionally
eel the hand or hear the voice of his
'ider.
Troopers become greatly attached to
heir horses and seek to teach them
many things. What is called trick or
ancy riding is of very little use in active
service, and the cavalrvman really learns
very little from the cowboy.
One of the few valuable points is to
rang upon the horses back Indian fash
on, using the animals body as shield
rom the bullets of the enemy. The
lmateur cavalryman must therefore
ealize that he has much to learn. not
,nly about horses. but about the man
gement of himself and everything that
belongs to his relations with the steed
hat carries him.