Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-08-24
DETACHMENT HERE
Detail of Three Men of 18th Cav.
airy Arrive in the City
in Advance.
TELL OF THE LONG JOURNEY
Men and Horses in Splendid Condition
Notes and Stories of the Ride
From Fort Riley.

Corporal James O'Brien and Privates
Smith H. and Smith G." of the 18th
cavalry arrived in the city late yester-
| day i'll advance of the first squadron OF
| that regiment marching enrOute. The
| detachment came on ahead to see about
a quantity of freight that is to be ship
| ped to this point. The men are brown
ed by wind and sun, and show evidence
Of continuous exposure In speaking of
the ride, they are high in their praise
of roads through Iowa, but condemn
| those of eastern Kansas and northern
Missouri as villainous. Corporal O'Brien
stated that there was almost COntinu
Gus rain the first week out from Fort
| Riley, the starting point, and that on
account of this the column was thrown
! considerably off schedule, which they
| have been trying to make up ever
since Ii was their opinion, however
that the time would be made up when
he troops arrived at the arsenal and
| chat they would be able to lay over 4
couple of days in this vicinity. He also
lstated that, while a surgeon and a de
ltachmCnt of the army medical corps
was with the command there had beer
no necessity for their presence up tC
this time.
| The horses are i'll the best of condi
ton it is stated with one or two ex
lceptiOns. In northern Missouri two OF
the animals became sick and had tC
be shot, and the command now are
leading two. 1t is not known whether
they will live or die.
| Horses in Stampede.
| About the only excitement which ha:
occurred during the entire trip to breal
1.-The mOnUtOny was a stampede which
occurred at Winton, Mo. There the
Ihorses became frightened at a train
land stampedCd, causing considerable
Hurry for a short time. No one wa!
injured. however, and but little tim,
Twas lost.
The command numbers 275 men ant
labout $50 horses, also a train of Il
wagons drawn by army mules.
| AS an example of the intelligence o
lanimals, it is stated that the mules
upon entering Missouri, began to talk
particular notice. Great rivalry wa
CVinced between them and the nativ'
product. and as for kicking propensi
ties there is no doubt i'll the minds o
any of the "whackers' that the Unite,
States specie has any other long-eare
lquadruped faded to a dim chrome
Upon entry into Iowa, it is said, how
ever, the beasts became as docile a
Davenport saloon keepers.
Taking Notes of Trip.
( The line of march is formed in co
l umn of squads with 200 yards betwee
troops. The column is under comman
of Major Lewis, and Captain Fitzhug
S Lee and Lieutenant Phil Sheridan. sp'
I cial military aides to the presiden
, who are making notes of the trip an
photographs for the compilation c
data in regard to the endurance of me
and horses Oh long marches. The tw
staff officers have ingratiated then
j. selves i'll the opinion of the men an
are among the most popular of the o
ticers with the command.
On account of the demands mad
upon the stock, no field maneuvel
! have been attempted, although
- places where stops have been mad
special drills have been ordered frol
time to time. 1t is not known wheth,
anything of the kind will be unde
taken here or not.
The command is now living in she
ter tents. two men to tent At IL
start the conical war tents were use
but in the rain these became so dan
that the increased weight on the wage
train with the decreased FEASIBILITY
the roads was too much and they we
shipped on ahead and the shelter ten
adopted On this account, as we'll
/ others, the camp of the soldiers wht
pitched on the island will prove of va
i interest to the thousands of tri-ci
people who have never seen a sight
the kind.
Differs from Infantry Camp.
A cavalry camp is so essentially d
fercnt in appearance from that of al
nj baf hroncb IF he .I,o