The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1916-09-27
LIGHT DRAGONS
VERY EFFICIENT
ONE OF THE BEST CAVALRY Or
CARNATIONS ON THE 5oR-
pER-YoUNGEsT COLONEL.
NEWS FROM BORDER CAMP
A Weekly Letter, Prepared Especially
For Our Readers, From the South
Carolina Guardsmen Eneamped at
Fort Bliss, Texas.

IN camp WIN tne SOutu Se'AOAAAAA
Brigade. in the Ell Paso Patrol District.
The Charleston Light Dragons are
rapidly becoming one Of the best train
ed cavalry organizations on the bor'
der. In a 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 OIL
GERS. a squadron Of whose cavalry IS
in the provisional regiment with the
Dragons, have complimented the Pal
metto hocsemen 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
cavalrymen as there is on the border.
The Dragons went into provi.
sional regiment along with squadron
OF cavalry from Rhode Island and
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 horsemea 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 few
weeks training on the border.
Always at Work.
The Dragons are working from
$50 a. N. until 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
pIete 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
rade 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 ha.i. They began on this mess
nall q 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
enteeath regiments had an obstacle
ride, to which the officers OF the Dra-
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
a negro man who worked around the
mobilization ground, it was his sign OF
appreciation for several extra meals
from the Dragons 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. E. NJ. Blythe Of the First was
a visitor to Cloudcrott. New Mexico,
on Sunday. This is the garden OF
the West, being 10000 feet above the
sea, and its 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
zansic. Mr.. Horner spoke on religion
as applied to a soldiers life. His talk
was much enjoyed and was the first
OF several which will be put on by Il.
P. Demand in charge Of the Y. NJ. G.