THE LAST BIG RIDE
Written by Sawyer SASS 34250L
As told by Master Sergeant Sam McDaniel
United States Army (Retired)
Since the foundation of the United States of America and the United States Army, horses have always played an important role in the activities of the military. From the first days of the Revolutionary War to the present, the U.S. Army has always had horses. These noble steeds performed every task assigned to them with honor and glory. They have seen the horrors of war and the blessings of peace.
The horse was the principal mover of men and equipment for over a century and a half; however the duties of the few horses remaining in military services are primarily restricted to ceremonies and funerals. All of us probably remember seeing the rider less horse in presidential funeral processions. After World War I, the gasoline powered vehicles and the airplanes allowed the Army to shoot, move, and communicate much faster than the horse. The glory days of the horse and the horse soldier had come to an end.
The last big ride of a horse unit probably took place in November, 1938. E Battery, 18th Field Artillery Regiment, along with assorted support troopers left Fort Sill, Oklahoma on the morning of November 28, 1938 in a large truck convoy and drove to Ft. Sam Houston, Texas. This journey of some 400 plus miles took two days. Upon arriving at Ft. Sam Houston, E Battery was quartered with the 12th Field Artillery Battalion.
On the morning of November 29th, the men of E Battery gathered approximately 1200 head of horses and began preparations for the return trip to Ft. Sill. This time the trip would be made on horseback. The next three days were spent shoeing the horses, checking all the harness rigs, checking the artillery pieces, and checking all the wagons to be taken to Ft. Sill. These were long days with a lot of work for the men of E Battery. Reveille sounded at 4:00A.M., and the work began right after chow. Retreat sounded at 6:00P.M., and the weary troopers of E Battery ate their dinner meal and most immediately went to bed. The final preparations had been made and E Battery was set to move out on the morning of December 2, 1938.
Among the horses was one named Old 37 because that was believed to be his age. He had served in World War I. Old 37 was treated with respect and honor by all those around him. He was treated with the same respect and honor that was bestowed on the old soldiers who had served in combat. Role models for the younger generation to follow. Old 37 was assigned to a corporal from E Battery with instructions to treat him with the utmost of respect and dignity.
December 2, 1938 dawned clear and cold. The officers, men, and horses were lined up and ready to go. At 7:00A.M., E Battery, 18th Field Artillery Regiment moved out in Parade Formation. Old 37 was at the head of the column and led E Battery down the road between the men of the 12th Field Artillery Battalion who lined both sides of the road leading to the gates of Ft. Sam Houston. As Ft. Sam Houston faded out of sight, the routine of road marching was finally achieved and the convoy was moving in good order. The order of march for the duration of the trip would be 30 minutes of mounted walking, 10 minutes at a trot, 10 minutes dismounted walking and then a 10 minute rest period. During the rest periods, tumbleweeds were gathered and burned to warm both men and horses against the west Texas wind, which was always blowing and always cold. E Battery traveled only nineteen miles the first day because the horses were not in condition for any further distance.
Each afternoon a campsite would be selected and the real work would begin. Latrines were dug for the enlisted men and separate latrines were dug for the officers. The horses were unsaddled and picketed. Each horse was curried and brushed every day. Hooves were cleaned and checked for loose shoes or a need of new shoes. Several horses had to be shod each day because they drug their feet when on the march. Some of these horses were wild enough that they had to be hog tied and thrown down in order to shoe them. Others had bales of hay tied to their feet while being shod. When the shoeing had been completed and inspected by the officers, the horses were taken to the watering points. After the horses had watered, nose bags filled with feed were put on all the horses. The nosebags were left on for thirty minutes and then were removed and cleaned and made ready for the morning feeding. A couple of hours after E Battery stopped for the day, we would see Old 37 come into camp. He was allowed to travel at his own pace and not required to keep up with the column. Everybody always took a brief pause to watch him come in.
It didnt take long for the men of E. Battery to recognize the mean ass horses that were in the herd. The kickers, biters, and strikers were soon decorated with a ribbon in either their tail or their manes. The kickers were the ones that got you when you got behind them. The biters would try to jerk a mouthful of you out while you were putting the saddle or harness on them. The strikers would try to knock you down or strike you with their front hooves. When the 18th Field Artillery made it to Ft. Sill about half the herd had ribbons in their tails or manes. Lot of bruised and sore soldiers learned about the ribbons the hard way, but by the time the unit got to Ft. Sill, everybody knew what the ribbons meant and gave the horse plenty of respect and room!
Written by Sawyer SASS 34250L
As told by Master Sergeant Sam McDaniel
United States Army (Retired)
Since the foundation of the United States of America and the United States Army, horses have always played an important role in the activities of the military. From the first days of the Revolutionary War to the present, the U.S. Army has always had horses. These noble steeds performed every task assigned to them with honor and glory. They have seen the horrors of war and the blessings of peace.
The horse was the principal mover of men and equipment for over a century and a half; however the duties of the few horses remaining in military services are primarily restricted to ceremonies and funerals. All of us probably remember seeing the rider less horse in presidential funeral processions. After World War I, the gasoline powered vehicles and the airplanes allowed the Army to shoot, move, and communicate much faster than the horse. The glory days of the horse and the horse soldier had come to an end.
The last big ride of a horse unit probably took place in November, 1938. E Battery, 18th Field Artillery Regiment, along with assorted support troopers left Fort Sill, Oklahoma on the morning of November 28, 1938 in a large truck convoy and drove to Ft. Sam Houston, Texas. This journey of some 400 plus miles took two days. Upon arriving at Ft. Sam Houston, E Battery was quartered with the 12th Field Artillery Battalion.
On the morning of November 29th, the men of E Battery gathered approximately 1200 head of horses and began preparations for the return trip to Ft. Sill. This time the trip would be made on horseback. The next three days were spent shoeing the horses, checking all the harness rigs, checking the artillery pieces, and checking all the wagons to be taken to Ft. Sill. These were long days with a lot of work for the men of E Battery. Reveille sounded at 4:00A.M., and the work began right after chow. Retreat sounded at 6:00P.M., and the weary troopers of E Battery ate their dinner meal and most immediately went to bed. The final preparations had been made and E Battery was set to move out on the morning of December 2, 1938.
Among the horses was one named Old 37 because that was believed to be his age. He had served in World War I. Old 37 was treated with respect and honor by all those around him. He was treated with the same respect and honor that was bestowed on the old soldiers who had served in combat. Role models for the younger generation to follow. Old 37 was assigned to a corporal from E Battery with instructions to treat him with the utmost of respect and dignity.
December 2, 1938 dawned clear and cold. The officers, men, and horses were lined up and ready to go. At 7:00A.M., E Battery, 18th Field Artillery Regiment moved out in Parade Formation. Old 37 was at the head of the column and led E Battery down the road between the men of the 12th Field Artillery Battalion who lined both sides of the road leading to the gates of Ft. Sam Houston. As Ft. Sam Houston faded out of sight, the routine of road marching was finally achieved and the convoy was moving in good order. The order of march for the duration of the trip would be 30 minutes of mounted walking, 10 minutes at a trot, 10 minutes dismounted walking and then a 10 minute rest period. During the rest periods, tumbleweeds were gathered and burned to warm both men and horses against the west Texas wind, which was always blowing and always cold. E Battery traveled only nineteen miles the first day because the horses were not in condition for any further distance.
Each afternoon a campsite would be selected and the real work would begin. Latrines were dug for the enlisted men and separate latrines were dug for the officers. The horses were unsaddled and picketed. Each horse was curried and brushed every day. Hooves were cleaned and checked for loose shoes or a need of new shoes. Several horses had to be shod each day because they drug their feet when on the march. Some of these horses were wild enough that they had to be hog tied and thrown down in order to shoe them. Others had bales of hay tied to their feet while being shod. When the shoeing had been completed and inspected by the officers, the horses were taken to the watering points. After the horses had watered, nose bags filled with feed were put on all the horses. The nosebags were left on for thirty minutes and then were removed and cleaned and made ready for the morning feeding. A couple of hours after E Battery stopped for the day, we would see Old 37 come into camp. He was allowed to travel at his own pace and not required to keep up with the column. Everybody always took a brief pause to watch him come in.
It didnt take long for the men of E. Battery to recognize the mean ass horses that were in the herd. The kickers, biters, and strikers were soon decorated with a ribbon in either their tail or their manes. The kickers were the ones that got you when you got behind them. The biters would try to jerk a mouthful of you out while you were putting the saddle or harness on them. The strikers would try to knock you down or strike you with their front hooves. When the 18th Field Artillery made it to Ft. Sill about half the herd had ribbons in their tails or manes. Lot of bruised and sore soldiers learned about the ribbons the hard way, but by the time the unit got to Ft. Sill, everybody knew what the ribbons meant and gave the horse plenty of respect and room!
