The United States Cavalry

The cavalry—The cavalry is no more. But it has a glorious past. It was the elite corps of the Army because it was small and because,

throughout the ages, glamor has surrounded the horseman; in any age, at any time, he is a knight in shining armor wearing a bright plume! Perhaps the most famous poem lauding the valor, color and courage of the cavalry is Lord Tennyson's "Charge of the Light Brigade" (an action of British Cavalry against the Russians in the Crimean War in 1854). Probably the best known stanza is:

"Forward, the Light Brigade!" Was there a man dismayed?

 Not though the soldiers knew
    Some one had blundered:
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
 Theirs but to do and die;
Into the valley of Death
    Rode the six hundred.

The insignia of the Cavalry was crossed sabers (the hilt down).

The Cavalry's color was yellow.

The national and organization flags carried by the Cavalry and other mounted troops were known as standards rather than "colors."

The U. S. Army does not now, of course, and did not always, include Horse Cavalry. Mounted troops were not continuously maintained as part of our Army until 1833. Such mounted troops as were organized prior to that time were generally known as Dragoons.

The three regiments of cavalry and one of dragoons authorized by Congress shortly after the independence of the United States were never at their authorized strength and were subsequently disbanded, so that between 1802 and the beginning of the War of 1812 our army included no mounted troops. The two regiments of dragoons authorized, and partially organized just prior to the War of 1812, were disbanded in 1815.

The 1st U. S. Cavalry Regiment was organized in 1833 as the Regiment of Dragoons; its designation was changed to the 1st U. S. Cavalry (Regiment) in 1861. The 4th Cavalry Regiment was designated the 1st Cavalry in 1855 and changed back to the 4th Cavalry in 1861.

A "Mounted Riflemen" regiment was voted by Congress in 1845 as part of a program of frontier defense. Military posts were to be established along the trail to Oregon. The Mexican War broke out before this Regiment could take up its posts and it served in Mexico before settling the Oregon Trail.

The U. S. Cavalry was prominent in the Civil War (as was the Cavalry of the Confederate States), in the Indian Wars (Custer's last stand) and in the Spanish War in Cuba.

Virtually, there was no mounted Cavalry in World Wars I and II. However, a provisional squadron of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment participated in mounted action in the Saint Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne operations during World War I, and the 26th U. S. Cavalry (Philippine Scouts) were in mounted action on Bataan in the Philippine Islands during World War II. During the early days of World War II, the 1st and 2nd Cavalry Divisions and the 112th and 124th Cavalry Regiments were organized, trained and equipped as horse Cavalry until they left for overseas assignments. During World War I, most of the Cavalry units were converted to horse-drawn field artillery. During World War II, Cavalry were converted variously to mechanized reconnaissance regiments or groups, armored units and infantry. The 1st Cavalry Division—consisting of the 7th, 8th, 5th and 12th Regiments, supporting artillery and other divisional troops—fought dismounted as infantry as an element of the Sixth Army, distinguishing itself in the Southwest Pacific on the Admiralty Islands and in the Philippines. It was first in Manila and first in Tokyo. Although all of its combat operations were in the role of infantry, the Division retained its Cavalry designation throughout.

The cavalry regiments of our Army have been designated Dragoons and Mounted Rifles as well as Cavalry—but it has never contained any Hussars or Lancers.

Hussars were light cavalry armed with a saber and often distinguished by brilliant uniforms.

Lancers were light cavalry armed with lances.

Dragoons were cavalry equipped for fighting on foot, and often did so. They were in effect mounted infantry.

PERSONALITIES-The first Chief of Cavalry was Major General Willard A. Holbrook. The last was Major General John K. Herr.

Famous U. S. Cavalry Commanders include: William Woods Averell, John Buford, George A. Custer, D. M. Gregg, Benjamin H. Grierson, Hugh Judson Kilpatrick, Ranald S. Mackenzie, Wesley Merritt, Alfred Pleasanton, Philip H. Sheridan, George Stoneman, John Moulder Wilson, John J. Pershing, Willis D. Crittenberger, E. N. Harmon, Kenyon Joyce, Geoffrey Keyes, Ben Lear, John Milliken, George S. Patton, Innis P. Swift, Lucian K. Truscott, Jonathan M. Wainwright.

Famous Confederate Cavalry Commanders include: Bedford Forrest, Fitzhugh Lee, W. H. F. ("Rooney") Lee, John Hunt Morgan, Thomas Lafayette Rosser, J. E. B. ("Jeb") Stuart, Joe Wheeler, Turner Ashby.

ORGANIZATION—For many years the seat of Cavalry activities was at Fort Riley, Kansas, location of the Cavalry School. Prominent also was Fort Bliss, Texas, home of the 1st Cavalry Division.

At its greatest strength, the regular horse Cavalry, consisted of two Divisions, the 1st and 2nd and (including regiments in the Divisions) 13 regiments—the 2nd through 12th, 14th and 26th (Philippine Scouts). (The 1st and 13th Cavalry Regiments were the first to be converted to armor.)

The Cavalry Division was somewhat smaller than the infantry division, approximately 11,000 officers and men; the Cavalry Regiment about half the size of the infantry regiment, approximately 1500 officers and men.

The horse cavalry before it was disbanded included in its arms the following weapons: rifle, pistol, light machine gun, heavy machine gun, 37 mm gun (one pounder), .50 caliber air-cooled machine gun (antitank), 81 mm mortar, carbine, sub-machine gun (Tommy gun) and rocket launcher ("bazooka"). The saber as a weapon was abandoned in 1933.

The Regiment comprised two squadrons (corresponding to infantry battalions) and the squadrons were, in turn, sub-divided into troops (each corresponding to an infantry company). In addition, the regiment contained several separate troops (machine gun, special weapons, headquarters, and service). Just prior to the deactivation of the cavalry, a rifle troop consisted of seven officers and 166 men—a rifle platoon of one officer and 28 men.

The chief characteristic of cavalry was its unusual cross-country mobility combined with fire power and the capability of surprise shock action.

Missions assigned cavalry were reconnaissance; counter reconnaissance; advance, rear and flank guard; raiding; exploitation of victories (pursuit); the seizing of ground and holding it until infantry arrived; delaying action, etc.

The mounted cavalry trooper was armed with a rifle and pistol. The distinctive cavalry sword was abandoned in 1933. THE CAVALRY HORSE-The U. S. Cavalry Mount was generally one-half or more Thoroughbred—usually by Thoroughbred sires out of light or medium weight mares of the Thoroughbred type and a good infusion of that blood. However, there were also some Morgans, Arabs and Standardbreds. Both mares and geldings were used. Cavalry mounts were obtained by purchase through remount agents, largely in the western and southern states. They were usually horses sired by Government stallions.
The price paid by the Government for cavalry mounts averaged in the order of $165—and did not exceed $200. In general, cavalry mounts averaged 15.2 hands in height and about 1,000 pounds in weight.

The Army mount was easily identified by the Preston brand on its neck (on the near side). This consisted of three numerals with a preceding or following letter. (There was both a WOOO and an OOOW.)

At the peak of World War II, the Army had about 21,000 mules— largely in the China-Burma Theater and in Italy and in the Alps. These were obtained by purchase from private breeders. (The Army helped by providing farmers with suitable jacks.) Mules were used primarily as pack animals in units trained to operate in mountainous and other difficult country. They were also used as dray animals in the normal "housekeeping" of posts, camps and stations.

A remount was a new, young or "recruit" horse—one not yet trained to the prescribed standard or finally assigned as a trooper's mount. The Army operated three remount stations (breeding and training establishments) at Fort Reno, Oklahoma; Fort Robinson, Nebraska; and Front Royal, Virginia.

The loss of animals in all wars has been very great. During the Civil War, in 1864, the Federal Army required more than 500 horses each day to replace losses. During the first eight months of 1864 the Cavalry of the Army of the Potomac used up 40,000 horses—an average of two remounts to each man. During the Russian Campaign of 1812, Napoleon crossed the Niemen with 187,000 horses. Six months later he recrossed the Niemen with 1600 horses.

TACK—The most distinctive item of equipment in our Cavalry was the famous and long used McClellan saddle. This was a slight modification of the stock or western saddle; it had no pommel horn, but a rather prominent pommel and cantle and fitted over a folded blanket. It was designed to carry a pack on the pommel and cantle, a rifle and saber; the stirrups were hooded. If properly adjusted, it was easy on the horse's back and unlikely to give him saddlesores. It looked like this-

Officers generally used a "Flat" or "English" saddle with extended cantle panels. This was the Saumur saddle. (The official name was Officers' Field Saddle.) Cavalry officers also used a nearly conventional "Flat" saddle known as the Phillips Training Saddle.

Cavalry bridles contained a bit and bridoon, both suspended from the same cheekstrap. A halter shank clipped to the bridle and fastened around the horse's neck—in appearance like a Martingale—was also standard equipment.

THE PACK—The trooper's pack weighed about 65 pounds; it was carried in a pommel roll, a cantle roll and in two saddle bags. These, in addition to the Cavalryman's rifle and pistol (and earlier, his sword) and the weight of the trooper himself, comprised the cavalry mount's load. Cavalry pack horses carried about 250 pounds.

MARCHES AND GAITS—The longest peacetime march made in a day by horse cavalry with full equipment, terminating with the command in good condition, was—believe it or not—100 miles! This record one-day march was made by the Cavalry School Brigade, Fort Riley, Kansas in the spring of 1931 and again in the spring of 1932. A satisfactory day's march for trained horse cavalry with full equipment was, however, only about 35 miles.

Cavalry marches are generally made at the rate of about six miles per hour—at the trot and walk—with at least a five-minute halt each hour.

Cavalry horses were trained to:

Walk at 4 miles per hour. Trot at 9 miles per hour (and at times 8 miles per hour). Gallop collected at 12 miles per hour.  Gallop extended at 16 (or more) miles per hour.

A march at the rate of six miles per hour, on a good road, would include trotting 30 minutes, walking 25 minutes and halting 5 minutes. This would be accomplished roughly in this order: trot 6 minutes and walk 4 or 3; e.g., Walk 5; trot 6; walk 3; trot 6 and walk 4; three times; trot 6; walk 3; lead 2; halt 5. (Total 1 hour.)

FOREIGN CAVALRY SCHOOLS-Many United States Cavalry officers attended foreign cavalry schools to broaden their education and bring back new ideas for development in the United States. These foreign cavalry schools were:
                        Italy                              Pinerolo and Tor di Quinto
                        France                          Saumur 
                        Germany                      Hannover
                        England                        Weedon
                        Austria                         Vienna

Famous American Cavalry Guard Organizations

First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry. Organized as the Light Horse of Philadelphia Novembei 17, 1774. The "City Troop" is the oldest active military unit in continuous service in the United States.

Squadron A (Originally Troop A) was officially mustered into the New York National Guard April 2, 1889. It had its origins in a mounted group organized in New York City during the Blaine-Cleveland Campaign in the summer of 1884.

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