Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1906-01-31
ARMY HORSES IN BATTLE.
Sixth Cavalry Horses, "Old Billy
Tartar" the Generals Roam
and NV "Charley."

not be in as common use as he was be-
fore they introduced, multiplied over and
over again and brought electric railroads
to their very high state Of perfection, and
since the coming of the automobile and
its widespread popularity among those
who possess them, and their marvellous
increase in number, but he still holds his
place. and warm one it is, too, in the
affections of his admirers. But this is
not to be an essay on the horse and his
lovers. Inc object is to present interest
ing stories about horses.
In 1900, when President Mckinley
selected Gen Adna R. Chaffee, then a
colonel of regulars and volunteer brig
adler, now lieutenant general, to join the
powers in the expedition to Pekin for the
purpose of rescuing the imprisoned and
endangered foreign officials on duty there
when the Boxer troubles broke out, he
asked the general what regiment he would
like to have accompany him. He prompt
! ly replied that he would prefer his old
regiment, the Sixth cavalry, which, when
boy of Is, he joined as a private, and
remained with it for thirty years or more.
In the shortest possible length of time
that regiment, with its full equipment
and its carefully selected and finely cared
for horses, was assembled at San Fran
cisco. Two large transports had been
fitted up to take the horses to China,
while Gen. Chaffee and the regiment, then
commanded by Lieut.. Col. Theodore j.
Whit now brigadier general and COM
mander of the department of the Mis-
souri,. embarked on the transport Grant
Horses and men parted at the Preside
the last week in June Of that year, and
did not meet again until the first week in
August, at Taku. China. Indeed, all but
two troops of the regiment had gone to
Tien Tsin before the horses were landed
No one, who had never before wit
messed such scenes. will forget what hap
pened as those horses, that for a month
had been on the water and standing STILL
unsteadily walked from the point of land
ing to where the two troops of men were
stationed. Those who know what close
friends the good cavalryman and his
horse are cen well understand that these
Yankee troopers, who had parted from
their four-footed friends six weeks be-
fore. scrutinized each horse as it passed
along in front of them. On the other
hand, the horses looked as earnestly at
the soldiers as the soldiers did at them
Pretty soon there was Hello, Charlie,
old boy" A quick response with a whin-
ner, and soldier and horse met-the
formers head on the latter's shoulder,
with a pair of soldier arms about the
animals neck. | could not say that there
were tears in the eyes of the horse. but
can say that there were tears in the
eyes of the American cavalryman. Prob
ably the soldier boy was thinking of the
far away home country and his dear ones
when his arms twined about the neck of
this good American friend. When the
horses that belonged to the two troops
came along there was apparently as joy
Gus a reunion as soldiers ever partici-
pated in. Horses were talked to as
though they were long absent friends,
just returned, and | guess every horse
belonging to the two troops was given a
genuine soldier hug. Soldiers and horses
looked their happiness at the glad meet
ing.
Societies for the prevention of cruelty
to animals need waste no sympathy on
cavalry horses, for the average cavalry
man thinks of his horse before he thinks
Of himself, and is as gentle with him as
if he were brother instead of his horse