The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1908-12-29

but half-broken bruteS, which had
been brought up by the Imperial au-
thorities from the Free State herds
and delivered in Pretoria for our use.
Hardly had Captain Jackson van
ished when an orderly galloped down
from camp, bringing me urgent or
ders from the commandant that
was to mount and parade my men.
III these lines should ever chance to
be read by a cavalry officer, let him
reflect on what would be his feelings
If he were told suddenly TO mount
sixty men on sixty horses, many OF
which he had reason TO believe had
never yet felt the weight OF a saddle,
and to parade them instantly for
active service.
However. the thing, or the nearest
approach to it possible I'm the circum-
stances, had to be done somehow.
The corps fell in, and their saddles
and brides were served out to them
from store. Then off we marched
through the town toward the govern
mont stables of which | have spoken.
| leading them, CALAMITY mounted on
my best horse, great blac.. stallion.
The line looked like one of gigantic
mushrooms, for each warlike trooper
carried his saddle on his head, while
the bit and stirrups dangled grace
fully round his neck
AS we went, n dreadful problem
agitated my mind; Upon what pos
sible principle was to serve out the
horses. seeing that every trooper
;-l,
and tamest? BY the time we reached
the stable where the horses were tied
up, l had come to the conclusion
that 1t would be wise to allow the
men to settle the matter for them
selves. Accordingly. having paraded
them in long line in such fashion
that all might have an equal chance,
l shouted in stentorian tones:
Troopers of the Pretoria Horse.
select and saddle up your horses!"
Before the words were out of my
mouth, the lines of human mush-
rooms were dashing madly at the
shed, whence there arose presently
most indescribable noise OF neigh
ing, whoaing and quarreling. All
this while the sky had been banking
up for thunder. and now 1t came
such storm as 1 have never seen
out of Africa-accompanied by tor
rents OF rain and binding flashes
Of lightning. IN the midst of this
hideous tempest my troopers began to
reappear, each of them dragging after
him, or being dragged forward by,
some snorting and fear-stricken
brute.
At last all were out. Getting them
into line as best / could, | ran my
eye down that dripping company.
Never afterward, although I'm later
years l passed some ticklish hours in
their company, did l see the Pretoria
Horse look half as frightened as at
that moment. 1 also was frightened,
for watching the aspect of the Free
State equine mob. l guessed what
must happen. However, my orders
were imperative.
Mount" 1 roared, and they
mounted like men. or tried to. There
was scramble, and in an instant it
seemed as If couple of shrapnel
shells had burst among those squad
rOns. Some of the horses we're rear
ing high into the air; one or two had
thrown themselves down, their riders
clinging to their backs; others were
boiling I'm every direction. till they
were lost TO sight in the binding mist
of rain. And to my dismay I saw the
sergeant-major. the officer upon
whom l most relied for assistance,
being dragged along the ground, his
foot fast in the stirrup, with the
brute he had tried to mount kicking
viciously at his head
At last something resembling order
was restored. The sergeant-maior
was carried off insensible to hospital
with another man. and the injuries
of several others were attended to on
the spot by the doctor of the corps.
Then we rode, or rather bucked off.
to our rendezvous, those men whose
horses had proved utterly unmanage-
able following on foot
Never shall / forget the night
which followed. Ny orders were TO
post pickets all round Pretoria. and I
obeyed. sending out men two by two
TO patrol the various approaches to
'h' ''Wu anu AtillNh luflu ildL IOtN
would be relieved at certain points
at midnight But they were never
relieved. for the simple reason that
the darkness this night was so i'm
peneirable that nobody could even
attempt to find them until the break
OF day. when they were discovered i'm
all sorts of strange llaces. such as
/ deep bitches and quarry-holes, into
which they had fallen
Meanwhile the tumult I'm the town
was very great for as darkness be
gan 20 close I'm, panic seemed to get
the people by the throat In every di-
rection Kailrs, carrying their children
with them. might be seen flying 70
the hills. White men. too. were bury.
/ ing their papers and valuables. and
some of the women had given way "a
/ hvsteria am of which was little TO be
/ wondered at, seeing that everybody
\ was convinced that the Zulus were
/ about to attack the town. and that
/ our chance of seeing the sun was OF q
very shadowy nature
ON the market square defense
meetings were being held. NJ which
/ government officials were engaged fin
serving out rifles and ammunition tC
am able-bodied citizens. At other
points also. attempts were made tC
arrange barbados and laagers bu