The times., 1898-04-06

popular idea that the Ninth goes South
because the torrid regions are the natural
element of the negro is a great mistake.
The regiment has fought as well in the
North as in the South. The members
have stood the cold better than the white
troopers. and so have they stood the
heat. Veterans who have observed the
colored troops think the negro can stand
any extreme climate better than the
white man"
The Ninth ought to be a revelation to
the world if they are called into action,
for, of course, few people outside OF the
West know what fighting these coiored
troops have done against the Indians
They ride like centaurs, and can shoot
revolver with each hand, holding their
bride reins in their teeth while their
horses are running. Their warfare with
the Indians adapts them to fighting mod
ern guns particularly, for it is conceded
that there cannot be such thing as q
charge of cavalry en- niasse since the
rapid-fire machine guns are used.
The scatter fighting the Ninth is used
to in the West viii be the very thing for
this new service. The troop can scatter
over mile. charge like ~ whirlwind and
face anything Their revoIvers can be
fired almost rapidly as a machine gun.
+. When they go into action they resort to
ali the tactics taught III 1ndian fighting
to conceal their bodies, and Spanish sol
diery will be given a lesson in rough and
tumble fighting if they ever meet the
Ninth.
Lieut. Col. Hamilton is in active COM
mand of the Ninth nov, Col. Perry being
away on sick leave. Trtrmpeter George
Hayior on April ] completed thirty years
service with this famous command. He
was the second man to enlist at New Or
| leans, and is one of the five members of
! the original company who have survived
the terrible service of the Ninth. Unless
an exception is made these five old fight
ers will be discharged from the service
this month All are afraid the limit of
their service will expire before they get
a last chance to fight for the Cubans.
They are all over 50 years old except
Taylor, who enlisted when he was IS
years old. AS an Army officer recently
remarked: There are some awful hard
customers in the ranks of the old Ninth
but they are all first-class fighting men .
One of the most notable achievements
OF the Ninth Cavalry, and in fact one Of
/ the most extraordinary incidents in the
history of the operations in the Indian
country, was the dash of Troop ID of the
Ninth on October g. 1879. at Milk River
when they went to the rescue of Thorn
burgs command which was hemmed in
by hostile White River Utes. Troop d
was sent through the lines of the Indians
with hurrah. Every horse in the
troop was killed. not one getting inside
the breastworks. Yet, remarkable TO re
late. not one member of the detachment
was killed. Many members of the Ninth
carry merit medals for deeds of daring
and bravery in action.
The only history OF the command is
that in the United States Army au-
thorized by Congress in 1896. 1t is a brief
but exceedingly well written sketch by
Lieut.. Grote Hutchinson. of the Ninth
Cavalry. He is a West Pointer. who
Joined the Ninth at Fort Sill in 1854. and
is at present adjutant of that command
and on the personal staff of Gen. Cop
pinger, of the Department of the Platte.