WANTED: A SYSTEM FOR FURNISHING REMOUNTS FOR THE CAVALRY

THE TROOPER'S DITTY.

We're familiar with her ca6ons. her mesas and her peaks, Her "sakys" and her "wallnws"-where we've wallowed many weeks; And we knew the Cacti family, which gave us numerous points, And now our only clubrooms are the low-down. deadly "joints." For they took our sutlers from us. likewise our traders, loo. Tktn orders merciless and harsh made our canteens "skidoo." Why not desert? We're not that kind; we still lead into line: WE mat! esfrit de corps, you know; perhaps for auld laog syne.

CHORUS:

Then fill up the tin cup, clear up to the rim. etc.

EDWARD

L. KEY=,

Late Lieutenant Fzyfh U.

S. Ca71alry. c

WANTED: A SYSTEM FOR FURNISHING

REMOUNTS FOR THE CAVALRY.

BY CAPTAIN JOHN W. FURLONG, SIXTH

CAVALRY,

(GENERAL

STAFF).

N publishing this article the only desire in mind has been I to interest cavalry officers in a subject which is felt to be timely and necessary for further progress in the cavalry service. All intention to offend individuals or departments is dis-claimed, and only cordial co6peration is sought to the end that the cavalry may obtain what it wants and needs in the most economical way. Lack of expert knowledge is confessed, and no opportunity having been afforded to see theolnner working of foreign remount systems, many conclusions have been deduced from books, reports and conversations with older officers, and are therefore possibly faulty, but it is hoped that publication may induce cavalrymen of wider experience to take up this important subject, and that the article may thus serve in a modest way as a basis for the formulation of a wise, efficient and economical system. The term economical is used advisedly, as it is believed that the cavalry arm of the service should by every means in its power avoid the charge of being costly or extravagant. As a preliminary it may be stated that it is not deemed advisable to consider any project which involves supervision or direction of breeding by the government, as it is believed that much may be obtained by the simple laws of demand. The subject will be taken up in the following order: ( u ) Desirability of proper organization in peace and war. (6) Type of horse required. (c j Method of purchase and issue.

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WANTED: A REMOUNT SYSTEM.

( 0 ) DESIRABILITY OF PROPER ORGANIZATION IN PEACE

As under the present law the Quartermaster's Department is charged with the purchase and issue of remounts, it seems proper that the entire system and care of the horses up to the time of issue should be vested in that department. The establishment of a division in the Quartermaster General's office to be known as a Remount Bureau is therefore suggested. To promote system and efficiency such a branch would be an absolute necessity in time of war. Great numbers of animals must then be purchased, and as they cannot be sent direct to troops in the field, remount depots must be established at convenient points, to which the animals can be sent and cared for preparatory to issue. These depots are further rendered necessities, in that such establishments and sub-depots must be maintained for the purpose of taking care of animals run down in campaign, but which gives promise of further service after recuperation. In view of the fact that these possibilities exist, it would be wise to have all necessary data on hand in order that work can be systematically commenced at any time. This data would include a list of officers who have shown themselves to be good horse buyers, places where the desired class of animals can be secured in proper quantities and from whom plans for buildings required at remount depots, and estimates of materials, organization of personnel and scheme of administration of remount depots, and a list of officers competent to take charge of such establishment. The proper time to formulate these plans is during the continuance of peace. Excluding animals required for transportation and riding horses, the army needs at present I 5 , I 50 horses. The life of cavalry and artillery horses from 1880 to 1895 was approximately between six and seven years. It is impossible to fix the life at present existing, owing to conditions of service and the absorption of excess horses.

AND WAR.

WANTED: A REMOUNT SYSTEM.

407 T w o potent factors in the short life of these horses are the lack of a systematic course of equitation for recruits and a compulsory course of training for remounts. The winter is the time for preparation for work in the open and the best time for the training of remounts. T o this end, riding halls should be provided at all northern posts where cavalry and field artillery are stationed. These questions should be taken up and definitely decided. If properly solved, and a proper system of purchase of animals is adopted, there is no reason why the life of the horse should not be raised to ten years. This would require the annual purchase of I , ~ I j horses, which, together with the purchase of draft and pack animals, and the collection of the data noted heretofore, should be sufficient work to require the supervision of one officer and justify the establishment of a Remount Bureau in time of peace.

(6) TYPE OF HORSE REQUIRED.

All of our experience in the past points to the fact that for the cavalry and artillery service we want at least a fairly well bred gelding. This horse must have the additional qualities of soundness, hardiness and quickness, and, in general, must have the necessary strength of bone and sinew, fair proportions, steady gaits, normal mouth, good health, good intelligence, aud good blood. It is not necessary that the horse should be taoreughly trained before issue to the troops. For obvious reasons it is preferable that they should do the breaking and training themselves. In time of war, as much breaking and training should be done before issue as circumstances will permit. in any case the horse should be gentle, and should not have been spoiled in disposition, or otherwise, by any previous work. The present specifications issued by the Quartermaster's Department are entirely satisfactory and cover all the good However, * This can be determined by inspection.

WANTED: A REMOUNT SYSTEM.

points in a cavalry or artillery remount, except that some artillery officers contend that no great variation is required at present between lead, swing and wheel horses. All that is necessary is to make sure, by inspection and method of purchase, of getting an animal that closely approaches the type described.

(C) METHOD OF PURCHASE AND ISSUE.

For many years there has been constant complaint of the class of remounts furnished. The system of purchasing horses under contract is a vicious one. The government has always paid more than it should for the type of horse obtained, and, in addition, it has accumulated many worthless ones. The people who take the contracts are, as a rule, professional government contractors. For any one else the specifications, requiremeots, bonds. etc., are prohibitive. The contractor has to make a big outlay of money, and it is usually borrowed from-a bank at interest. At the very outset, therefore, the fact that this interest will, of course, be defrayed by the government lowers the type of horse that will be obtained. In addition, the contractor isrequired to pay certain expenses incident to inspection. as follows : Furnishing strong hemp halters for horses purchased ; weighing horses ; removing and placing shoes and furnishing new shoes when required ; sacking tails and preparing horses for shipment ; loading horses on board cars ; cost and risk incident to branding horses: and other incidental expenses for labor and material in fulfillment of contract. The contractor also expects to make as big a percentage of profit as he possibly can. From the very first a conflict is precipitated between the inspecting officer and the contractor. The interests of the two are diametrically opposed. The contractor tries to furnish the cheapest grade of horse possible, and the inspecting officer tries to get the best possible type of horse.

WANTED: A REMOUNZ: SYSTEM.

409 The contractor usually proceeds as follows : During the first week or so he presents different kinds of the cheapest horses that he thinks may possibly be accepted, until several are accepted. This proceeding is for the purpose of sizing up the inspector ; that is, finding out what his idea of a cavalry or artillery horse is, and discovering the cheapest type of horse he will accept. This having been discovered. the inspector never has presented to him any but the cheapest type of horse, which it is believed by any possibility may pass inspection. If the inspector buys any, he is simply selecting those which are nearest to what he desires, knowing all the time that they are '+squeezers" and not u p in quality to what he ought to buy. Should the inspector be experienced, and during this time reject all horses presented to him, for the reason that in his opinion they are not suitable for the service, the contractor begins correspondence objecting to the inspection on the ground that the kind of horses required by the inspector cannot be obtained and that he wants a better horse than was contemplated by the contract. If this proceeding be ineffective he invokes political influence. All this results in delay, expense, and usually, in the end, the acceptance of an inferior grade of horse. It must be recognized that no matter how we11 drilled cavalry soldiers are, if their horses are of inferior quality they are correspondingly worthless for strictly cavalty work. The claim is now made that suitable horses for cavalry service are scarce. This is doubtful. There is probably a smaller percentage of such horses than there were twenty-five or thirty years ago, when, unquestionably, there were plenty of them. However, according to all testimony, the contractor in those days proceeded in the same way and made the same claims that they do now, and did not try to furnish the type of horses desired so long as they could succeed in having lower priced and less desirable horses accepted by any of the methods above mentioned. The purchase of horses by contract differs from all other purchases by contract, in that there can be no definite fixed

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WANTED: A REMOUNT SYSTEM.

type or standard to go by. To a good buyer each individual horse has a value of its own.' The average contract price of cavalry horses purchased for use in the United States, in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1go5, was $151.53. The interest on this amount at a fair rate would probably amount to $4.50. Assuming that it takes the contractor three weeks to furnish a car-load of twenty horses, his expense would probably be as follows : Purchase of twenty hemp halters ..................... .$ 5 00 Weighing horses ...................................... 2 00 Shoeing and branding horses ........................... 20 00 5 0 0 Incidental expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I O 00 Wages of two assistants ($3.00 per day), . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126 00 Total.. ..................................... .$1;3 00 Sackingtails ....................................... 5 00 Loading horses on cars ................................ or $8.65 per horse. Anallowance of ten per cent profit to the contractor would be liberal, and would amount to, say, $16.00 per horse. As a matter of fact, the expenses are probably very much less and the profit more. However, assuming these figures for purposes of comparison, the interest, expense and profit would amount to $29.15 per horse. In a particular instance, it has been estimated that the expense to the government of inspection and purchase, i. t., transportation of inspector and assistant, per diem expenses, and stabling and feeding of accepted horses, amounted to $3.49 per horse, with the probability that the average for the whole number of horses purchased would be slightly less if it could be figured. Assume it as $3.00. According to these figures the government should obtain a horse worth in open market $122.38 at an expenditure of $154.53. It is not believed that the cavalry horses in the service to.day average up to this standard. Several plans have been proposed with a view to remcdying matters. One is to put a time limit clause in the contract, and provide therein that if the contractor should fail to complete his contract in the given time the necessary number of horses to complete it shall be purchased in open market, the extra cost, I 41 1 if any, being charged to the contractor. This would simply result in an increased price, with, in all probability, no better results. Another proposition is to divide the horses purchased into two classes: I. Horses conforming to present specifications and intended and needed for immediate issue to troops, to be purchased under contract, said contract to contain a time limit clause. Horses betweeb three and four years old, to be purchased in open market and sent to a remount depot, kept until matured and gentled, halter-broken, etc., before issue to troops. With reference to Class I, the objections have already been stated. Horses of Class 2 would, it is believed, in the end be very expensive products. A careful and conservative estimate has been made of the initial cost of the colts, cost of establishing a depot, running expenses of same, cost of feed, etc., and it shows that the horse when ready for issue would have cost as follows:

WANTED: A REMOUNT SYSTEM.

2. Average cost 05 colt .................................. $100 00 S 93 73 29 Average cost of keeping for one year.. Average cost of plant and wear and tear.. . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 34 $196 56 Average cost of inspection. purchase, etc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . This estimate does not take into account any excess cost of transportation, nor the probable percentage of colts which would not turn out well, and have to be sold. The probable cost per horse would be well over $200.00. Although the remount depot system has the appearance of not being economical, it is believed that the following data should be presented for consideration : For some time there has been agitation in Europe to make the remount depot serve a better purpose. This agitation has received the support of many civilian expert horsemen, who consider that the remount depot as at

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41%

WANTED: A REMOUNT SYSTEM.

present constituted is nothing more than an equine sheep fold. Our specifications now provide that the minimum age of the remounts shall be four years. T h e troop horse must have certain qualities, the principal of which are soundness and hardiness. It is not necessary that he shall be finely trained. What is required is, that he shall be trained to such an extent as to carry the soldier safely and for a long distance. In addition, his constitution must be such that he can stand the hardships incident to service in the field. Horses which are intended for racing purposes are raised on grain practically from the time of their birth, and when they are from six to eight months old are getting about six pounds of oats a day. When eighteen months they are stabled, highly fed, and put in severe training. At the age of two years they take part in special races. A similar, but somewhat slower, method of procedure is taken in the case of trotting horses and those which are being raised for fashionable purposes. These horses do not usually begin work until three years old. It may be remarkeh that not all of those two classes of horses are thoroughbreds. Other 'horses which would make desirable remounts are rather neglected, and they are kept at grass, as this is the most economical method of raising. A horse grows fast, and his skeleton and muscular system are large. The development of this latter class of horses is not hastened by judicious feeding, and as a consequence his bones ossify slowly and his muscles do not stand out. The older he is alloaed to grow under this system. the more debilitated does he become so far as his muscular system is concerned. When three years old we may say that he is backward, but, between four and five years of age he suffers from anremia. Hence the older such horses gets, the longer the time and the more difficult the process to get him into good shape by proper food and exercise. If the horse is but three years old, a few months may be sufficient time. By the time he reaches five, a year or more may be required. There is no reason to suppose, therefore, that a horse

WANTED: A REMOUNT SYSTEM.

413 three and one-half years old, which is .judiciously fed and exercised, would not be in as good condition for work at four years as one which was purchased at five years would be at six. As regards training, all authorities concede that the horse of three and one.half years of age is more supple than an older horse, and has not yet contracted the habit of going on his shoulder, and hence can be more easily balanced. The most important part of training is to get the horse well balanced; that is, to carry his own weight, that of the pack and rider equally on both ends. Horses left too much to themselves, or which are improperly balanced, go on their shoulders, and the forehand works too much and he gets broken down in front. This is the principal cause of condemnation of a majority of horses at a time when they should be in their prime and have years of work left in them. If we take the young horse in hand to feed up and train at the same time, the first three months must be devoted entirely to developing a good balance, very little riding being done. At t h e end of this time, the breaking proper can be commenced. and by good, systematic handling the horse can be fairly well broken for cavalry purposes in three more months. It is believed, however, that the only satisfactory and economical method is to purchase matured horses in the open market, pay a fair price, and pay by cash or check immediately upon acceptance of the horse, or conclusion of the service rendered. The objections to the method of open market purchase have been stated to be as follows : I . 2 . That horses of the class desired are scarce. That raisers and breeders will not bring to designated points horses of the class desired in response to hand-bills or newspaper notices. 3. That the method of purchase is expensive, at least much more so than the present method of purchase. It is not believed that the first objection is well founded. The same objection was made twenty-five or thirty years ago when it was well known that such horses were not scarce.

WANTED: A REMOUNT SYSTEM.

Certainly we do not get them under the contract system because contractors do not try to get them for reasons dis-mand for them by the government at present, and this would tend to make them scarcer instead of bettering conditions. If there was a demand, and farmers and breeders knew they would get a fair price for their stock and cash payment at time of sale, they would produce the class of horse desired. With reference to the second objection, the printed specifications scare the farmer or breeder. It would be well for the inspecting officer to have this type in mind, but the advertised specification should be in more general terms. Another reason why individuals are loath to bring their horses in is due to the fact that they do not like to deal with the government. They do not want to sign vouchers and then have to chase up or write continually to scme individual to hurry up payment. They want to do business in the usual manner-get their money when they make the sale. As conditions now exist. the farmer does not care to make sales to the government if he can make them anywhere else, even at a lower price. The average cost of a cavalry remount has been shown to be $ I j4.53. It is estimated that it would take three weeks to get a car.load of horses, purchasing in open market, and that the expense of inspection, purchase, etc.. would be $20.46 per horse. This estimate assumes that the buyer and assistant will have to travel about the country picking up individual horses. This deducted from the present cost of horses would leave $ I 34.07 to bc paid for each horse in open market purchase. A comparison of the type which would probably be obtained for this amount in the open market. using the method described with the average type now obtained and represented by $122 38, renders the conclusion obvious. The present system of not buying horses until those they are to replace are condemned, should be changed, no matter what system is adopted. It is a notice to people that the government has to have horses at once, and the only purpose it serves is to raise the ! , cussed heretofore. There is, therefore, practically no de- I With reference to the third objection :

WANTED: A REMOUNT SYSTEM.

416 1 price. In case of open market purchase a change would also prevent the possibility of any one going ahead of the purchasing officer and getting options on desirable horses. Estimates and purchases of remounts should be made on the basis of one-tenth of the authorized strength. Organizations would then be able to cast in the fall the number of horses which it was possible to supply them with up to the maximum allowance. It is believed that inany horses are now in the service which should and would be put on inspection report if the commanding officer were not in doubt as to whether. under existing conditions, he would better himself. If the necessary reforms are made as outlined, and a better grade of horses obtained by means of open market purchase, the life of a horse should be raised from six and a half to ten years. X large saving would thus be made, which could be uscd to pay a higher price for horses to be used in the United States. It is not believed wise, or in the interest of economy, to send high priced horses to the Philippines, on account of the danger of epidemics, but they should be purchased in open market. There are at present required for service, within the limits of the United States. approximately 8.436 cavalry horses, and 3,239 artillery horses. The average cost is as follows : Cavalry remounts, $1 54.9 I ; artillery remounts, $ 1 j 7 . 0 j . With a life of six and one-half years there would be required annually. I ,298 cavalry remounts, cost $20 I ,073. I 8 ; 498 artillery remounts, cost $78,2 10.90. With the life raised to ten years there would be required annually 844 cavalry remounts, 324 artillery remounts. If the same amount of money were available we could pay for remounts, including cost of inspection and purchase, cavalry, $2 38.2 3 ; artillery, $24 I .39. Taking the estimate of the cost of inspection, purchase, etc., of each horse purchased in open market, viz: $20.46, '

WANTED: A REMOUNT SYSTEM.

the following amounts would be available to pay the farmer or breeder for remounts : Cavalry.82 I 7.77 ; artillery, $220 93. The following estimates of cost of inspection, purchase, etc., under the contract method of purchase and open market method of purchase are presented to make clear some of the figures heretofore used : 0 ................ 671 Animals.. 252 Horses 419 Mules.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Average per animal ......... Average per horse. Average per mule ................. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

CONTRACT METHOD OF PURCHASE.

During three months (December 9, 1903, to March 7.

1904) there were inspected and purchased under the .contract system 252 horses (cavalry, artillery and draft) and 419 mules, a total of 671 animals. These animals were delivered at the national stock yards, East St. Louis, Illinois, and Lathrop, Missouri, at which places the inspection and purchases were made. The station of the inspecting officer and clerk. in this case, was at Washington; that of the veterinarian at St. Louis, Missouri. Because of the small number of horses delivered at some of the inspections it is thought the cost of inspection of horses during this period is in excess of what it would be under ordinary circumstances for an entire fiscal year, and in view of the fact that on almost every inspection trip both horses and mules were inspected and purchased, the actual cost of inspection, purchase and shipment of the total number of animals only (671 horses and mules) can be stated, from which an approximate cost thereof for the horses and mules separately is determined. If there be included in the cost of ins'pection and purchase of animals all expenses incurred on amount of transportation and per diem allowances for the inspecting officer and his assistant from the time they leave their stations until they return thereto, and for care, stabling and feeding the animals purchased up to the time they are shipped to their destination, the cost of inspection, purchase and shipment under contract of the above mentioned animals, is found to be as follows : Account Account Account Transpona- Per Diem 1 Stabling, 1 tion Expense. jFeediog.rtc., $& 19 $I+ 02 $818 25 $1,983 46 626 53 101 77 I 150 50 878 80 342 66 ~ w 25 1 667 75 1.104 M 60 3 49 2 6 4 Total. I 45 ~ 29 I I 22 2 9 6 2 49 , 82 .. ___

WANTED: A REMOUNT SYSTEM.

OPEN MARKET METHOD OF PURCHASE.

It is assumed that it will take three weeks to get a car load of twenty horses; that the inspection and purchase are made by a similar party, viz: inspecting officer, veterinarian and clerk, starting from the same stations as above, and keeping away from the general horse markets ; and that all horses are to be purchased at first hand in the best horse sections throughout the country.

ESTIMATE.

Hire of wagon and driver. IO days, at $5.00 per day Per diem expenses, veterinarian and clerk, 2 1 days.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stabling and feeding horses awaiting shipment. . . . . . . . . . . . Assembling horses for shipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Purchase of 20 hemp halters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Weighing horses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shoeing and branding horses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sacking tails. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .> Loading horses on cars., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Incidental expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

For inspection, purchase and shipment of one car load . . . . . . . At the same rate, cost of inspection. purchase and shipment of 252 horses ( 1 3 cars), would be.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . h 7 8 4 00 Transportation of inspector and assi'stant from station to first place where purchases are made. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 65 Trans2ortation of inspector and assistants to other places where purchases are made. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 5 0 00 Transportation of inspector and assistants from last place where purchases are made to stations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 65 Total estimate for inspection, purchase and shipment of 252 horses. $5.155 30 Estimated average cost per head . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 20 46 Assuming the cost of inspection, purchase and shipment under contract to be $3.00 per head instead of $3.49. and add-

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WANTED: A REMOUNT SYSTEM.

ing to it interest, expenses of contractor, and profit, $29. I 5, we have $32.15 per head, and the difference in favor of the open market purchase, according to the figures presented, is SI 1-69 per head. The next question is, when and how issue shall be made? The procedure in time of war has been discussed under subhead (a). In time of peace every energy is devotcd to instruction. The best results are obtained when it is continuous and progressive in character. In the days before the Spanish War reEnlistments were numerous, and it was not necessary to devote so much time and attention to individual instruction as at present. Recruits arriving in small numbers could be easily assimilated. and every troop had a sufficient number of well instructed, good riders, who could take up at any time the training of remounts without material interference with instruction. However, conditions are now different. and the progressive scheme of instruction should not be interfered with by the necessity of training remounts. They should take the place of horses condemned at the end of the outdoor season of drill and be trained during the winter months. Thc purchase of horses is, however, comparatively slow work, and it would probably take all the spring, summer and fall to purchase the animals required at the end of the year. If they should all be sent to organizations at a stated time, the establishment of remount depots would be rendered necessary. This would be expensive. The following plan is believed reasonable : Allow each organization to condemn annually. at the end of the outdoor season, one-tenth of its authorized mount as a maximum ; and require each organization commander to report by July 1st just how many animals he intends to condemn inside this limit. It may be assumed as a fact that no troop commander will condemn a good horse. One or two cheap frame stables should be constructed at each post to accommodate extra animals, and animals should be shipped to the post for which they are destined as soon as purchased. Horses should then be purchased on this basis.

WANTED: A REMOUNT SYSTEM.

41 9 They would then become acclimated and could be handle$, to a certain extent, before the serious work of training was commenced. No matter whether this plan is adopted or not, riding halls should be constructed at all posts where outdoor work cannot be camed on by mounted troops in the winter months. With a three-year enlistment aud few rehlistments it is essential that the mounted soldier should be riding every working day of the year, if efficiency is expected. Under the present system of issue, remounts are not purchased until after the horses they are to replace have been condemned. The time of amval is problematical and usually as necessity exists for their use; the time for outdoor instruction being limited, they are rushed into the ranks before being properly trained. In addition to the above,'there is no uniform and compulsory system for training remounts, and even under favorable auspices the kind and amount of training given depends upon the views or amount of knowledge of the individual organization commander. In most cases the result is that the remount gets insufficient or improper training, and not being properly balanced, goes on his shoulders, breaks down in front, and is condemned after a comparatively short life. Finally, the officer selected to purchase in open market should not only be a good judge of horses, but a good buyer. He should be permitted to pay a stated average price with a maximum and minimum limit, and in no case should any horse, no matter how desirable, be permitted to influence in any way the acceptance of any other or others, if any doubt exist as to the propriety of acceptance. This is a trick which horse sellers frequently practice. It is believed that as a preliminary, a study by the officer detailed in charge of the remount bureau, and by the purchasing officers. of the manner of handling horses at thr stock yards at East St. Louis, would be valuable, i. c.. fol lowing a dealer from the time he has purchased his bunch until he has finally disposed of them at the stock yards. ?