Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1899-08-12

nRIVATE JOHN SCHUYLER was a
member of Troop N, -th United
States cavalry. BE was an old soldier
who had worn the blue uniform of
the regular army for over % wears.
The sleeves of his dress-coat, as he
wore II on Sunday morning inspections,
showed six service and three campaign
stripes. He had served in every branch
of the line-infantry. cavalry and artil-
1ery-and his sleeves, from the fore
arm to elbow, showed an artistic and
picturesque display of blue, yellow and
red. Above the elbow, where the chew
rons of non-commissioned officers are
worn, no badge of rank appeared.
Schuyler had never been promoted; at
least he would never admit that he had
been, although it was said by some
without any apparent authority for the
truth of the story. that he had been a
corporal for q short time in the in
fantry. he had always been q mounted
soldier, with the exception of three
years as an infantryman, which always
remained TO him as kind of night
mare.
mo more 'dough-boys' for me-" he
often said; "rve carried Long Tom
all ever viii. No more trumping all
day, witfs blistered feet, over the
plains, carrying 40 pounds of ball. my
blankets, haversacl<, canteen, and part
of shelter tent. Oh, mol I'm q
mounted ma. and q good duty man,
II do say it myself. AS long as can
get three or four nights in bed and
horse to ride, am going to stick to the
cavalry" And stick to the cavalry he
did, waiting until 90 years OF service
should be up, and he could join the
battle-scarred veterans at the soldiers
home.
- Schuyler was a born cavalryman- He
was over six feet in height, and as
straight as an arrow, with closely
cropped gray hair on splendidly
shaped head; an aquiline nose; aris-
tocratic features, and everything about
him showed the gentleman. by nature
and breeding. Drink had brought him
into the army, and drink kept him there
. private, while his fellow-soldiers, not
half rs well equipped mentally OF
physically, had attained non-commis-
stoned rank and some of them their com
missions. As private he had fough'
valiantly all through the civil war, and
had been wounded twice. When th'
war was finished he served three year.
A the infantry, but always said tina
doing so was the great mistake of hi
military life. He made q splendid sol
dier-perfectly fearless, as brave as
lion, and in charge was usually tn
first one to reach the enemy. But Will
valiant in repelhng one enemy. an
other always made him surrender. II
was always in some sort of troubl
through his one weakness and was i
the guardhouse about half the time.
His first enlistment came from a
impulse at the end of long debaucl
though he was yet young man.
sTwant to enlist in the regular army
"Ohl We do, Ell? Well, ye LUX Z
though it would be foine thing fC
ye," said the sergeant. "Can We roidei
"Tve been a rider of horses all N
life," said john why do you ask
'We're wanting some recruits for Il
ould First Dhragoons. Did We ev
hear of 'emP" asked the sergeant.
John was obliged to confess that
never had.
''Shure such ignorance niver hea,
of. Ye've heard of the Mexican war
suppose?"
'Yes, of course" he replied.
"Well, didn't think We had, or
would know about the First Dhragoo1
That's the regiment 1 belong to, a
there's no finer in the sarvice. wi
through the Mexican war with !
throop, and many brave lad tumbl
out of his saddle by greaser bulle
DO We see this7" and the sergea
pointed to long, white scar, exteI
j-r hr,f-v-av Tcross his torches
-'Wan q ;hrir iarrers gave me tn
%pt a saber cui iirn down shor
Sfther." and his eyes glared at the T
objection.
''WheD I go in don't care how sc
meath comes" said John, slcoroiIy.
One night while on stable qua
land with just enough whisky in
ITO be ugly. he gave mis- horse do
las''-a beautiful bay and the b
horse in the troop-a terrible beat
with a stable broom. The snorting
HTIfTashing of the horse in his stall,
his half-human cry of distress, part
" sobered Schuyler and showed
what he was doing. Dropping
broom he went into the stall, put