The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-06-05
CAVALRY DAY At WEST POINT
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Tho fhlHas fhev itf with tiHsif sleegia eefs
the stn,nafv ~ ths training that Unrta
aatu gives he emhfyo eHteett Nv ,he srhaul
N military WI semnnship. Il vas esaceiy
nne hour and hve minutes N afialltna dsiil
and hufuss and men hnsw ths, ,hefe had
bern ssfne,htne dolna stan y va ovet
Squadron DIN snd fryleN 10 shat cha sss
dlefa call NJ
A few minutes bsfafs to'rinck The afattta.
tins ciass formed In tho afra harfaets and
wprs matched by Caslet Wainwright, hrs,
Captain ~ he corps ~ rade,s. ~ tho cavalry
plain for tho last cavalry dfill In witch they
Sotild participates Ne cadets. Oru. Porter
stood with uen Mills ~ watch the anru
vrra, With 0en, Chafec, Senators Blackburn
and iietnanN ay aud other mcfnbera ~ tho
board clore by. A. tho aou,h cnd NJ tho
plain by Tho chapel. the horses wrts waiting
tho cadets and we're standing In lins.
Cadet Wainwright, having reported n
Capt O. H. Mcdonald. cavalry instructor
that all tho troopers were present, faced
about and took the horss he had ridden for
tha last year. Then the bugle sounded
prepare Ia mount and then Mount
and seventy eight cadets swung into the
saddle, Cade, Wainwright commanded the
frat troop and Cadet ~Quekenmeyer the
paign hat, a gray shirt. q black tie, gray
riding brooches, leggins and spurs.
When all the troopers had swung them
selves into their saddles, the order Right
forward, tours right" was given by the
commander, and the bugles sent the order
echoing over the plain. Instantly the
squadron moved forward In column OF
tours and proceeded to execute what is
known in the drill regulations as the school
Of the squadron" Most Of the drill was
conducted by the cadet captains them
selves; the practice in the first class year
being q rule to allow cadets to command
the troop and squadron, the instructor
of cavalry merely supervising the work Of
the cadets and correcting and explaining
errors. The school of the squadron con-
sists mainly Of performing on horseback
marching evolutions, much like those
performed on foot by infantry.
After this had been concluded, the troopers
were drawn up facing the board Of visitors,
In squadron front. Capt. Mcdonald rave
the order Draw sabres.' and seventy
eight blades flashed from seventy-eight
~scabbards in the sunlight. The squadron
wa then presented to Gen. Horace Porter,
who exactly forty years ago was taking his
own graduation ride at West Point. Cen.
Porter raised his hat to acknowledge the
salute for the board of visitors.
With Capt. Mcdonald on his magnificent
brown four-year-old horse at the head
of the column the squadron then passed
in review before the board. first at a walk,
then at a trot and then at a gallop.
When this review was over the squadron
was drawn up at the south end Of the plain
by the chapel. Then the first troop at
the bugle's call swept up the plain at full
speed clear to the hotel hedge, and the
second troop followed suit. Then there
was a brief delay till both troops could
form in squadron front at the south end
Of the plain again. A brief rest for horses
and the squadron charged the length Of
the fields. sabres raised and pointing at
an imaginary foe, horses doing their utmost,
every rider yelling like a demon. the ground
ringing with the clatter Of hoofs and the
jingle Of sabres, till a cloud Of dust swept
up behind and blotted the spirited sight
from view.
Another march past in column Of fours to
the chapel and the first class had ridden its
last as West Point cadets. Enlisted men
Of the cavalry detachment led away the
horses and the dust covered troopers
following an ancient custom, they gave
their class cheer for the last official ride.