Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-04-28
THE GREATEST RIDERS.
fhey Are the CavaIrymes of the
American Army.

American Army.
American soldiers have made some
long. hard rides la the campaigns In
which the forces have been engaged
since the first regiment OF regulars
was made possible by the law OF the
land. In recent article the magnih.
rent horscmanShp Of an individual sol
der was touched upon more than
briefly. but II should not be understood
that endurance and skill are not the
part of the vast majority Of the mem
bcrs of Uncle Sans mounted service.
No army in the world. perhaps. has
bad the same opportunities 10 test the
endurance OF cavalrymen and cavalry
horses as has the small regular force
OF the United States. The long, level
stretches of the plains aud the activity
OF the marauding Indian mounted on
his tirciess broncho have been IN part
the conditions which gave TO the
mounted arm OF the United States
army It's matchless chances for long,
forced marches.
Colonel Theodore Ayrault Dodge Of
the army has collected the official rec
ords of long distance cavalry riders
ana has made them public 50 that they
may he compared. II one wishes the
comparison. with the performance OF
the soldier forces of other nations.
Some time ago squadron Of the
Natal Mounted rifles rode eighty five
miles In twelve consecutive hours. The
English press speaks of this ride as
being Il remarkable achievement. From
the standpoint Of the American caval-
ryman the ride Is almost the reverse
of remarkable In the year 1891. at the
time of the Sioux uprising in South
Oak Jta. Captain +. :. Fountain, Unit
cd States cavalry. with detachment
OF his troop. rode eighty-four miles In
eight hours. This record is vouched
for. and 1t Is better than that OF the
Natal Mounted rifles by about four
hours. the distance being within one
mile of that made by the South AT
rican troops. For actual speed this
forced march stands perhaps at the
head Of the American army record,
though other rides have been more re.
markable in other respects.
In the year 1879. when the Ctes sue
cecdcd in getting some United States
troops into what afterward was known
us "'rhornburg's rat hole" three mount
ed courers succeeded In slipping
through the circling line OF sayages
Every one of them reached Merritt'i
column. l1O miles distant. In less thar
twenty-four hours. The exact time
was not taken. As Colonel Dodge puts
than records"
Ii must he understood. OF course. thai
these rides. all of them. were made
without changing horses. The steed al
the start was the stced at the finish
The best rider. according 10 cavalry ex'
perts. Colonel Dodge In particular, Ia
not the man who takes IA five barred
gate or who can ride standing, but the
man who by instinct knows the condi
ton of his horse and. though getting
the most out OF the animal. knows how
10 conserve his strength.
In tie year 1876 Major Henry W
I.awton. who afterward. when he had
won his stars. met death in the Philip
pines. rode from Red Cloud agency
Nebraska. 10 Sidney. IN the same state
Il distance of l25 miles. in twenty-fouI
hours. General Crook had sent hin
with dispatches. The road. where there
was II road. was of the worst. but Law
ton delivered his message, though he
looked five years older than he did
when II had been given him the day
before. The horse that Lawton rode
was III for service again inside OF 9
days time.
Four troopers OF the Fourth cavalry
who had volunteered for the particular
service rode IN the summer of 1876
from Fort Harvey to Fort Warner with
dispatches. Their route lay through
an Indian country. and the men were
told to make the best time possible
without killing their horses.
The troopers were on their mettle
They made the distance-140 miles. 2t
miles of the way being through loose
sand-in 30 hours. the actual marching
time being ~ hours 80 minutes. Al
Fort Warner they rested one day and
then returned to Fort Harvey on the
same horses NJ the uniform rate OF
sixty miles II day.-Chcago Post.