Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-11-12
BLUES ARE RAPIDLY
BECOMING HORsEMEN
Daily Drill i'm Cavalry Tactics in
Preparation for Coming
MancuyerS.
CLARE EVANS WRITES HOME
Son OF Major w. MEX. Evans Tells
OF Conditions in Camp of Rich
mOnd SoidierS-GOt Horses From
Illinois Cavalry.

The Richmond Blues are FAST de-
rcbping into real cavalry soldiers. re-
pors Private Clare Evans. Of Troop u.
IN letter received yesterday by his
father. Major w. Mex. Evans. Health
morals and spirits are all IN good con
ditiol in the camp Of the Virginia
horsemcn. according to Private Evans.
"Orr horses have At last been AS
signed To US. and while | wasn't able
To get the pony have been riding
since got here. ! 90, a very nice
horse and very good looking. Most
Of these ponies have been used by the
Illinois cavalry. which we relieved
down here. and from wha, We hear
from The regulars they were very
badly treated. think. with little
Kindness ard attention. we are going
to have !, nice looking bunch Of horses.
We vent through a real cavalry in
Spection yesterday. our equipment is
the most complete thing you ever saw.
The regulars have the same equipment.
but the other troops have the McCl.l-
Ian saddle. These regular Instructors
tell W. VIC must have had drag with
the government 10 get it. and say the.
wouldn't have the old equipment now
because the new Is 80 much easier on
both horse and rider
APPRECIATES WORK. OF
CAVALRY ISSTHJCToRS
The colonel vas very much pleased
with our showing yesterday, and Lieu
tenant Peabody says il he had com
pie,c charge OF Us he would develop
one OF the best cavalry squadrons In
the United States. That sounds very
nice and makes the men work all the
harder TO please him. lie is one OF the
best instructors ! ever saw. He never
gets mad. is always willing TO help
and YOU can ask all the fool questions
you want and will get "A reply.
"Of course. We arc all strange to
this mounted work. and it Is especial
Is hard because the officers and horses
don't know amy moro than VIC do. but
we viii learn and 1, won't b. long
either. understand that the las, part
OF November Will be devoted 10 ma
neuvcrs, and that ought to be very in
tcresting work.
Our ridin. instructions consist Of
what they call monkey riding To give
one firm scat. We take our stirrups
of and Ii" our r.inS over tho horses
heads and go through these different
exercises while tho horse is first walk
ing and then trotting. II is remark
able how soon you can learn 70 balance.
or course, YOU have the pommel OF the
saddl. In case you feel yourself falling,
bu'. YOU ar. instructed no, To uss. that
method II possible.
Altogether. am very well satisfied
here. The work is hard but ne are
getting on 10 IL much better now. and
in Il little while viii be able To do il
III half the time. | have no desire to
get out before my enlistment expires
Ia February. but don't think | viii re
enlist because can't have i, int.rfer-
ing with my business like this again
| have never felt better in my life. This
country IS great for that. We have
had no sickness since landing. Well
dad. II il mess time now. and under
stand W. have mighty good sunday
dinner. and I'm hungry. 50 VIII cut
this on