Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-05
bUGLE WILL SOUND
IN VIRGINIA VALE
Section Made Famous by Phil
Sheridan to Be the Scene of
Military Camp.
MANEUvER GROUNDS
ARE NEAR WINCHESTER
Plans for Change in Cavalry Or
ganization to be Tested-Full
Brigade and Battery.

Sheridan made his famous ride fifty years
ago. ID 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
as the bloodless battle-ground.
For two months this summer a full
brigade of cavalry and a battery Of
horse artillery will maneuver and '-ught''
over the red roads. and the green hills
and fields near Winchester that figured in
great cavalry battles In the civil war.
The department has leased a tract of
ground mile broad and two miles long
in the heart Of the Shenandoah. seventy
miles from Washington, and orders to
the troops have been issued.
Two regiments of the brigade those
at Fort Ethan ALE, VT, and at Fort
Oglethorpe, Ga, must ride 100 dusty
miles under a summer sun before they
report July ~. The 1st Squadron of the
10Th Cavalry, at Fort Myer, Va, will have
to ride only the distance from Gettys-
burg. and the horse battery from Fort
Riley, Kan, will make the trip by rail.
Probably as an individusA the best cav
trooper has for forty years been SO
handicapped by defective organization
as to make a poor showing In compar-
ison with the magnificent sabers Of the
great continental armies.
Old Organization Abandoned.
In the early '7Os tho old organization,
founded on the European practice which
had stood the tremendous test Of the civil
war. was abandoned upon the recon-
mendations of board. which was seek
ing to carry out theoretical plan of uni
formity of organization in all the branches
of the military service. So the cavalry
arm was forced to adopt the infantry
organization of twelve companies, three
of which composed 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 uh-
til recently.
But the ambitious plans of the general
stan for the reorganization OF the army,
so as to prepare 1t for the defense Of the
country against attack by a great exter-
nal military power, soon disclosed the
fact that the cavalry organization must
be completely changed.
A board of six cavalry officers was sent
to Europe laAt 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.
Decide on Practical Test.
Since it's return to the United States the
board has been engaged in the preparation
of plans for change In the cavalry or
ganization Of our own army. Before
adopting these the general staff decided
that they should be submitted to a prac-
tical test Therefore Secretary Garrison
authorized the gathering of a full brigade
of cavalry and a battery of horse artil-
lery in the Shenandoah valley, where the
great federal cavalry leader. Sheridan,
made his famous ride during the civil
war.
A board headed by Brig. Gen. c. A.
Devol OF the Quartermaster Corps has
just returned to Washington from a visit
Of inspection to the country in the neigh.
borhoOd of Winchester, Va, where 1t
picked out and leased a tract OF land
which will form the camp site and ma
neuver grounds. The troops to be gath
cred at that place will include the 10th
Cavalry, from Fort Ethan Allen, VT: the
11th Cavalry, from Fort Oglethorpe. Ga !;
the 1st Squadron of the 18th Cavalry,
from Fort Myer, Va. and battery of
the 9th Field Artillery, from Fort Riley,
Kan.
The tests of the new methods of or
ganization will take place under the direc-
tion of Col G.. III. Murray of the 10Th
Cavalry as Brig. Gen. Z. j. McClernand,
the head of the cavalry board, is prohib-
tied from exercising actual command by
virtue of his retirement.
Will Observe Results.
Gen. McClernand. however. with Lieut..
Coils ]. T. Dickmann, Fred s. Foltz and
Mai. Jesse Mel. Carter and Capt. Frank
Parker all Of the cavalry arm. and MEM
bers of the board which visited Europe,
will be present during the drills and OBJ
serve results.
Some of the practical questions to be
| worked out are how large command
may a captain handle and how many such
units can q colonel handle to the best adj
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 to the encamp-
ment. Secretary Garrison and Maj Gen
| Wood. chief of staff. will be frequent Wis
itors. and President Wilson may summon
the White Houseautomobile some Satur
day and make the trip TO Winchester
/ The general Stairs decision for a reor
! ganiZation of the cavalry brought t.
| light the urgent need of a readjustment
| and the military authorities are hopefu
| that the coming trial of the new plan.
by the crack organizations selected Il
participate viii result in bringing tn,
mounted service nearer the point of per