Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1916-09-21
LIGHT DRAGONS
VERY EFFICIENT
ONE OF THE BEST CAVALRY Or
GANIZATlONS ON THE BOR-
DER-YoUNGES COLONEL.
WITH THE BOYS AT FIT. BLISS
Interesting Happenings About the
South Carolina Soldiers Now In
Camp, on the Mexican Border That
viii Interest Our Readers.

Camp. on the Mexican Border That
viii Interest Our Readers.
In Camp with the South Carolina
Brigade. in the El Paso Patrol District.
The Charleston Light Dragons are
rapidly becoming one of the best train
ed cavalry organizations on the bor-
der. In recent test by army officers
the Dragons came out with a score
of 100 per cent in appearance and care
of equipment, got second place in prog
ress and equitation, and third in bit.
ting and saddling. SO noticeable is
the progress which the Dragons are
making that the Massachusetts, offi.
GERS, squadron of whose cavalry is
in the provisional regiment with the
Dragons, have complimented the Pal
metto horscmen highly One of the
Bay State newspaper men said to this
correspondent that the officers of his
state had praised the Dragons and
one of their leaders predicted that the
South Carolinians would soon have an
efficient and we'll trained group of
cayalrymen as there is on the border.
The Dragons went into a provi-
sional regiment along with a squadron
OF cavalry from Rhode Island and a
squadron from Massachusetts and both
OF these had been on the border sew.
eral weeks before the Palmetto boys
arrived, and yet in the inspection the
Palmetto boys showed up in the front
ranks with the horsemen from the
other states. The Bay State people
praise especially the personnel of the
South Carolina organization and fore.
see an ideal cavalry troops after a few
weeks training on the border.
Always At Work.
The Dragons aEe working from
$3.50 a. m. until 8 p. M, and even
after that hour the officers and non
commissioned officers are busy study.
ing the various problems laid out for
them and brushing up on military
lore.
The Dragons in company with the
other troops OF their regiment are
having troop training this week and
are undergoing troop tests. They are
having daily training in eQuitation.
troop drill and short marches. A com
plete field inspection of the regiment
of cavalry took place on Saturday,
the men and horses having complete
marching equipment
The first regimental review and pa
Tade took place on last Friday after
mono. Without previous intimation
the call for regimental parade and re-
view went forth and the Dragons
were right on the job The regiment
al drill lasted four hours. under Col
Hornbrook the commander
The Dragons had to excavate two
feet before beginning to build their
mess hall They began on this mess
hall 81 days after the other cavalry
organizations but completed their mess
along with the rest.
The officers of the provisional cav
airy regiment are having daily les
sons in courtmartial work Capt w.
Manning OF the Dragons has been
appointed inspector for the regiment
in the courtmartial work.
The officers OF the Eighth and Sew
enteenth regiments had an obstacle
ride. TO which the officers OF the ORA
goons were invited and attended.
The Dragons have frying size
"dominecker" rooster which they
brought along with them from South
Carolina The rooster was the gift Of
negro man who worked around the
mobilization ground, it was mis- sign Of
appreciation for several extra meals
from the Dragoon's kitchen This
rooster walks around the Dragons
tents very much at home and every
night walks up to the kitchen for the
company cook to put him to bed He
is thriving on the plains OF Texas and
gives promise OF growing into vigor.
Gus fowl II not captured by ma
rauders.
Col +. M. Blythe OF the First was
a visitor to Cloudcroft, New Mexico.
on Sunday. This is the garden OF
the West, being 10000 feet above the
sea, and It's fame and beauty attract
visitors from all over the country.
w. A Horner OF the Navy Y. NJ. C..
A. OF San Francisco spoke to the men
OF the Palmetto regiments on Sunday
night. An open air stand was erected
between the regiments and four big
gasoline torches lighted up the space
sufficiently for everybody to read. The
Second regiment band furnished the
music. Mr.. Horner spoke on religion
as applied to soldiers life. His talk