The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-08-23
mans won through the superiority of

mans won through the superiority of
their rifles
In the civil war. after the first vol
ley, 1t was possible for body OF cav
airy to charge a force of infantry be-
fore another vOlley could possibly be
hred' and the impetus of the charge
was terrific. The hollow square was
practically the only formation that
could withstand such a blow But,
armed with the modern rapid firing
rifle, what show would the cavalry
have in charging against a force of in
fantry? The foot soldiers could pump
lead into the charging force so fast
that with any accuracy in marksman-
ship the cavalry would be cut to pieces
before it could come within striking
distance with a saber
At least this is the opinion Of such
veterans as Colonel Grigsby, who
fought through the civil war, and is
leading the Third United States vOlun-
teer cavalry in the present conflict. Col
onel Grigsby is not of the opinion that
the cavalry branch of the service has
entirely outlived its usefulness, by any
means. Far from ii. He holds it cssn
be made one of the most effective
branches of the army, but to accom-
pliSh this there much be a radical
change in the equipment of the modern
caValryman, and all the useless arms
must be discarded. For instance, of
what earthly use is the saber. so far
as the trooper is concerned? By what
maneuVering can the troops be cOS-l
Quoted safely within striking distancei
of an enemy armed with a Mauser, as
the Spanish are, or the KraS- JOrgenSen
rapid-tire rifles of the American regu-
lars?
These are questions confronting army
officials. and they also came to Colonel
Grigsbys mind when he sought the
authority of the president to raise a
regiment of rough riders in the north
west. He could see how ii was possible
to make a regiment of cavalry effective
as scouts. but he did not like the idea
OF impeding il with such a useless thing
as the large cavalry cheese knife. As
a consequence, he sought the president
and asked permission to arm his men
for effective work instead of complying
with the army regulations, having
them carry carbines and sabers. His
plan IS TO substitute for the saber a
arge caliber Colts revolver This Weap-
on-If he gets what he wants-wilI be
Of the long barrel kind, and will shoot
at almost as long range and effec-
lively as the rifles used during a pOr-
lion Of the civil war. Each cavalry
man, under the present regulations,
carries a Colts revolver, but it is the
iesire of Colonel Grigsby to have for
mis- regiment two of these vicious weap-
)ns for each trooper, and do away with
he saber excepting for officers. Then,
instead of the carbine, Colonel Grigsby
wants long-range magazine rife. that
"lH scatter lead so rapidly that it will
give the enemy the impression that
here are several regiments instead of
me, in the brush when the cowboys so
Eto action.
OF course it is the plan to keep the
lorses to make the cowboys more eff
ective. In this way they can strike an
nemy hard, make matters lively at a
,iven point until the infantry comes
lp. and then suddenly make a dash to
Iother point, striking again in a re- i
short time miles away. -