The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-07-29
NILES LONG RIDE
AN OBJECT | LESSON
TO YOUNG OFFICERS
General Rodenbough Declares
That the Ninety-Nine Mile
Trip on Horseback Was a
Wonderful Physical Feat.

ut was wonderful personal physical
achievement; it fully demonstrated the
vigor of a man who will be retired from
the service ia a few months; it was an
object lesson to our younger officers,
but as demonstrating anything of prac-
teal value beyond these points it is
valueless.''
Gen. Theophilus Rodenbough, the
speaker had asked for an opinion upon
the ninety-nlile ride of Gen. Miles from
Fort Sill to Fort Reno. Gen Roden-
Dough, late commanding the Second
United States cavalry, had seen the
hardest kind of service. He left his
right arm upon the battlefield of Win
chester, Va. He was retired from ac-
tive service in 1878 and is now secre-
tary of the Military Service Institution
and is also the editor of its bi-monthly
publication. Gen. Miles was at one
time president Of this institution.
Gen. Miles ride from Fort Sill to
Fort Reno is marvellous feat for a
man of his age" said Gen. Roden-
bough. ut is a wonderful tribute to
his physical condition, and do not re-.
call that any man at his time of life
has ever undertaken or accomplished
a similar feat. -
while there was apparently no ef-
fort to make a record, still the time was
excellent. and it must stand as an OBJ
ject lesson to our younger cavalry
officers. 1t shows conclusively the re-
suit that careful, even life may pro-
duce, even with age as handicap, and
it illustrates the physical advantages a
man gains from life spent in the sad
die. 1t may also possibly give rise to
the question: Are we not retiring our
officers too soon? But that is ques-
ton that am not in position to dis
cuss.
Gen. Miles has virtually spent his
life in the saddle, and without the
handicap Of years his ride would not
be remarkable. He has long been an
advocate of long-distance or endurance
rides. I remember at one time 1 had
occasion to collect some statistics on
such operations, and found that in
1877 Gen. Miles organized in Arizona
practice for accustoming men and
horses to severe work. This was by
severe rides across the plains by
party Of raiders followed by another
party of 'pursuers.' The parties were
usually about twenty strong, and I be-
lieve that Gen. Miles took an active
part in a number of these rides.
Scheme to Gain Endurance.
"The pursuers were not allowed to
start until eighteen hours after the
raiders, but the raiders were bound to
rest six hours after marching eighteen
hours, and again twelve, after march
ing twelve more. The pursuers could
go as you please but they were or
dered not to injure their stock by hard
riding. OF these rides. which were not
under the spur of necessity or compul-
sion, there were many of interest.
Troops of from seventeen to twenty
seven men covered distances all the
way from seventy to 100 miles In from
twenty to f1fty-four and a half hours,
respectively.
"These rides were one-horse rides
and were of practical value to the cav
airy branch of the service. The relay
ride Is not a service ride. The one
horse ride is the service ride. and one
of the most important things in con-
nection herewith is that both horse
and rider shall be brought to the OBJ
jective point in such condition that
they may be ready for active service.
There have been some wonderful
relay races. Take, for instance, the
ride Of Jimmy Powers, in 1853 In San
Francisco Powers rode $50 miles in six
hours and forty-three minutes The
fact that he frequently changed horses
only added to the splendid character
of the feat, SO far as the man was con-
cerned, but it would have no value
from a military standpoint.
Cavalry officers must have training
as long distance riders. Usually when
a man reaches Gen. Miles age some-
one else does his long distance riding
for him. .
THE. ride of seven score of army
officers between Berlin and Vienna
was interesting. ,
Some Great Rides.
las the crow flies. it is 325 English
| miles from Berlin to Vienna. By road
1t is estimated to be about $50 miles.
Count Stahremberg. the winner, COW
cred the distance in some minutes less
than three days. Commenting upon
this performance. from an American
standpoint, Brevet Lieutenant Colonel
T. A. Dodge, U. S. A. probably the best
authority on horsemanship in this
country. said:
This sounds like wonderful per-
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