Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1913-07-17
BugIes Sounding In The Valley.

The famous Shenandoah Valley, where
fifty years ago the flower OF the troops
of two great armies commended against
each other, is TO hear again the song OF
the bugle, the galloping OF horses, the
crack of carbines and the boom OF cannon,
for the War Department is trying out the
cavalry and has chosen the Shenandoah
Valley as the bloodless battle-ground.
For two months this summer full bri-
gade of cavalry and battery OF horse
artillery will maneuver and fight over
the roads and the green hills and fields
near Winchester that figured in great
cavalry battles in the Civil War. The
department has leased tract OF ground a
mile broad and two miles long, and or
ders to the troops have been issued.
Two regiments of the brigade, those at
Fort Ethan Allen, VT, and at Fort Ogle-
thorpe, Ga, have ridden 700 dusty miles
under summer sun TO reach the camp,
where they must report July 20. The
first squadron of the 18th Cavalry, at
Fort Myer, Va, has TO ride only the dis
tance from Gettysburg, and the horse
battery from Fort Riley, Kan., will make
the trip by rail.
Probably as an individual the best cav
airy soldier in the world, the American
trooper, has for forty years been so hand
icapped by defective organization as to
make poor showing in comparison with
the magnificent sabers OF the great con-
tinental armies.
In the early '70s the old organization,
founded on the European practice, which
had stood the tremendous test OF the
Civil War, was abandoned upon the rec
concentrations OF a board which was
seeking to carry out theoretical plan OF
uniformity of organization in all the
branches of the military ser vice. So the
cavalry arm was forced to adopt the in
fantry organization OF twelve companies,
three of which composed a battalion, and
four battalions composed regiment.
As the cavalry had for the most part
scattered around the country in small
bodies, doing the duty of rangers among
the Indians and the like, the defects of its
organization never were apparent until
recently.
But the ambitious plans of the general
staff for the organization OF the army, so
as to prepare It for the defense OF the
country against attack by great external
military power, soon disclosed the TACT
that the cavalry organization must be
completely hanged.
Aboard fisk cavalry officers was Sentto
Europe last, year to make thorough
study of the cavalry arm of Germany,
Russia, Austria-Hungary, France and
England. -Four months time was spent
in that work.
Since its return 10 the United States the
board has been engaged in the prepara-
ton of plans for a change in the cavalry
organization of our own army. Before
adopting these the general staff decided
that they should be submitted TO prac-
tical test. Therefore Secretary Garrison
authorized the gathering OF full brigade
of cavalry and full battery ofhorse artil-
lery in the Shenandoah Valley.
The tests OF the new methods OF Or
ganization will take place under the direc-
ton OF Col. c. H. Murray, of the 18th
Cavalry, as Brig. Gen. E. ]. McClernand,
the head of the cavalry board, is prohib-
tied from exercising actual command by
virtue Of his retirement. Gen. McCler-
nand, however, with Lieut.-Cols. ]. T.
Dickmann, Fred S. Foltz and Maj. Jesse
Mel. Carter and Capt Frank Parker, all
of the cavalry arm, and members Of the
board which visited Europe, will be pres
ent during the drills and observe results.
Some OF the practical questions to be
worked out are how large command
a captain may handle and how many such
units can colonel handle 10 the best ad-
vantage under conditions approximating
hostilities ? The new formation OF the
cavalry into double ranks will also be
tried out on large scale.
Great interest attaches 10 the encamp-
ment. Secretary Garrison aud Maj. Gen.
Wood, chief of staff, will be frequentviS-
itors, and President Wilson may summon