Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-03-30
DARE DEVIL DOOl LEADS HUNT
Former Fort Ethan Allen Officer
Now Chasing Villa.
colonel of United states Cavalry Won
Fame In New England while Cnp-
thin of Famous T. Troop mt the
Post.
UieLt. Col. j. s. 1nrrows in the Bos-
ton SupIou pout

flttcen or twenty years ago, If any
one had asked the people of upper New
ENGLAND who was the best officer in the
United States cavalry they would have
Immediately said, Captain Dodd" for
no was probably the best known over
n large area of New England of any
OFFICER in the service To have n rcputa-
ton as soldier among the quiet citi-
zens of the peaceful New England sec
ton must have been due to peculiar
conditions, and II Captain George A.
Dodd, now Colonel George A Dodd, of
the United States cavalry, leading a
provisional brigade in Mexico had such
reputation 1t was because he had been
seen under favorable conditions by many
people and because he and his famous
command, TROOP r of the Third cnval-
r." had appeared not only in Boston
but also on the principal thoroughfares
between Bangor, Me, and Springfield,
Mass, and all over Vermont and New
Hampshire.
After Fort Ethan Allen at Burlington,
Vt, had been completed ard was sufti-
Client for n REGIMENT OF cavalry. it was
occupied by the Third Regiment, of
which not much needs to be said, other
than 1t was organized May 49, 1S4G; serv-
ed through the Mexican and Civil wars,
spent many years with the Indians, and
then about 1896 came to peaceful rest
Ing place among the Green Mountains.
! An active regiment of horse soldiers
had little to do in that out -of-the- way
post, SO it is easy to understand how an
ambitious officer like Captain Dodd. Of
f troop, was anxious to keep his men
/ pmnlOEp1 lry-
men.
Captain Dodd had seen some Of the
smart cavalry organizations in Eng
land and France while on a foreign tour
some years before, and he had been
working out his theories of making the
man and horse single working unit
instead of two units, sometimes at odds
he had the sanction Of the higher au-
thorities to drill his troop as he saw fit,
and he further developed his ideas until
he had men and horses in splendid
/ athletic condition.
CALLED MONKEY DRILL"
AS is usually the case with old SOL
| diers, those who had served several
enlistments did not take very readily
or kindly to this monkey drill" but
the recruits who had no perspective and
no traditions to offend were more tract.
able.
| captain DOdd was strict dscipin-
arian. but he recognized the possibili-
ties Of aiding and enforcing discipline
through the medium OF the horse, and
he strove to cultivate in his men a
love and respect for the animals they
rode. In this he succeeded. and while
in many commands 1t was necessary
for a man to have pass in order tc
take his horse when he had leave, i1
F. troop the soldier was allowed to take
his horse out, without other permission
than 1t was right at certain times
Captain Dodd trusted his men anf
they recognized his efforts to help then
when off duty. This liberty with the
horses was instantly stopped, at an,
time trooper abused the privilege OF
his horse he was promptly punished b,
being deprived Of the particular noun
assigned him, for so long a time as tn,
enormity Of his offence deserved
Before coming to Vermont the Third
Cavalry had been assigned to patrol q,
the Mexican border--the only frontIe
of the country that required such at
tenton. Here the wild riders OF tn,
done with horses. and the soldiers of r
troop were not far behind them in som,
of their feats. At the same time Captair
Dodd was becoming acquainted with tn,
peculiar environment of the Arizon;
side Of the Rio Grande, and he knew
what 1t meant to chase smugglers ant
small raiders from over the line. TIL,
Vermont border was far different. anc
instead or watching for smugglers tn,
troop turned to other fields Of conquest
In those days the uniform and equip
ment of the United States cavalrymar
We're but little changed from the days o
the plains. He still rode the McClella,
saddle, wore a uniform of blue, and ii
service brown felt hat "Olive drab'
had not been thought OF then, ant
winter or summer the soldier was on O.
1.-The boys in blue"
RODE TO COUNTY FAIRS
The shine of the buttons and the flut
ter of yellow plumes above helmet hac
distinct charm in those days and a.
the DAYS or war games had not be
gun there was little outside the post tt
take up the time of the soldiers I'm tn,
summer, until the managers of some o
the fairs in New Hampshire and Yer
mont discovered that a troop of calvar,
could be secured to add attraction t.
the programme
Then began tours of the country, 10,
the troops travelled by their proper
means or locomotion, and they marched
from place to place, seen by the peopl,
or the countryside and having practica
drill In campaign marching
| The sight Of tbiS troon ,,arct,;,,,
through the peaceful country was on,
not 10 be forgotten In a lifetime by tn,
persons VINO rarely saw anything OF
military nature, but to have seen tn,
troopers without saddles careering owe
flelo' riding In all sorts Of positions
waiting on and off the horse when OF
the gaIiop, standing on the horse or OF
TWO or nore-it was equal to any circus
ana recognized in much the same light
although Captain Dodd was teaching
inc couhtrymen what could be &C
comphshed with a horse of rather com
mon STOCK, VI only properly handled ant
taught.
IN those days Captain Dodd was az
, interesting ran to watch. OF determined
men, he was Of equally determined
character His military training ant
, MS position had made him Il fearless
man lie had been in tight places witt
desperate men he was the captain ant
rather or CD men who depended on him
he could not show the white feather II
any way, and he did not.
CAPT. DODD's ORDERS WENT"
"hth he uttered an order 1t was in