We heard the bugle call to 'Saddle and Mount'

[RJSamp]

sounded rapidly and our unit quickly formed up as the Rebels had attacked our picket guards.

Have been reading the 4th Mo (FEDERAL) Cavalry book that Morningside reprinted back in 1988. A distant Great Uncle was a Wheelright in the 5th MO cavalry....and when they were amalgamated into the 4h MO he became a Corporal (Company M). Cited for Valor and mentioned by name in a couple regimental reports (Adolph Velguth from Milwaukee Wisconsin).

Anyway we all know "Boots and Saddles" is the bugle call to prep your horse for riding....and leaving camp. So Pack Up, Couter up, groom, Saddle Up, load and secure equipment. But what of this Lieutenant's quote to heed the 'Saddle and Mount' call?

The bugle calls for 'Mount' and 'Dismount' are written by Truman Seymour, for his friend Emory Upton, AFTER the war in 1866-1867. There are a couple of reenacting buglers out there using these calls for Civil War reenactments, OUCH! And the quote is from a Western MO outfit in Missouri in 1862, so this isn't a best practice learned it from an East Coast bugler kind of thing.

The call, played quickly (quicker than normal), to Saddle and Mount is none other than "TO HORSE". The call doesn't mean MOUNT, as in Troopers/Company, Prepare to Mount (even files horses move forward in Cooke's), Mount. But it does mean "Go to the Picket Line and Get Your Horse", saddle 'em up, mount, and assemble as quickly as possible.

There are many other references to TO HORSE being sounded at the double quick, or faster than an everyday sounding. In all cases, the end result was a rapidly mounted and formed cavalry unit, ready for immediate action.

Rather than the 'Boots and Saddles', 15 minutes, 'To Horse', 5-10 minutes, 'Assembly', bring the horses over to the Company Street.....Troopers, Prepare to Mount, MOUNT stuff that we normally do....

Let's try a real TO HORSE!!!! cry for action....and stand clear as dippers get emptied in a hurry and the rush to the picket lines begins.... and 5 minutes later their is a snorting, pawing, line of Cavalry troopers (and the ponies) ready to go..... "Bugler, whistle us a pretty tune boy!" Right Turn, MARCH! Trot, March

RJ Samp

[CJSchumacher]

Re: We heard the bugle call to 'Saddle and Mount'

sounded rapidly and our unit quickly formed up as the Rebels had attacked our picket guards.

Rather than the 'Boots and Saddles', 15 minutes, 'To Horse', 5-10 minutes, 'Assembly', bring the horses over to the Company Street.....Troopers, Prepare to Mount, MOUNT stuff that we normally do....

Let's try a real TO HORSE!!!! cry for action....and stand clear as dippers get emptied in a hurry and the rush to the picket lines begins.... and 5 minutes later their is a snorting, pawing, line of Cavalry troopers (and the ponies) ready to go..... "Bugler, whistle us a pretty tune boy!" Right Turn, MARCH! Trot, March

RJ Samp

RJ,

This makes for a great scenario, but realistically...I'd be weary of the competency level of 98% of "cavalrymen" to be saddled and ready within 15 minutes...safely! Even amonst the so called "authentic" ranks, I'd say the competency level is terribly lower than expected.

I must say, though...my experience with Coley Adair is he will tell you to be ready to move in 15 minutes...and you better be there. Same goes for Todd Kern, John Nolan, Tim Byers and other well respected figures in the ranks.

We need more scenarios, however, to promote this type of behavior because in essence...you SHOULD be able to do this. Its right up there with saddling at 0'dark-thirty. Every rider needs to be able to saddle with little sight and even hurried, should the need ever arise.

It would probably be a great training exercise for anyone's camp of instruction.

Remember, safety first.

[Chuck Winchester]

Re: We heard the bugle call to 'Saddle and Mount'

Coley used to have us saddle up blind folded at drills. You'd have to work at it until you could do it in under five minutes-saddle and bridle. There's no comparison to doing it in the dark though. The real thing is best. If you don't have saddle bags, count on leaving something laying on the ground...by the time you find out you've lost it you're too far away to have any hope of going back to find it, if you could even find the place anyway.
When Coley says to be there, you'll be there. He's never left any of his charges behind but it's hell to pay if you are the last to saddle up and the rest are ready to go :wink_smil . Spoken from experience!
Chuck Winchester
Critters

[Outrider]

Re: We heard the bugle call to 'Saddle and Mount'

Chuck is right when its time to go then its time to go. We have never left a man behind but we have left a few egos behind and good riddence.
Patrick McAllister
Critters