US Army - 1775 AD - 'happy birthday'

 Salvete Omnes,

June 14 has been declared the birthday of our US Army. 

It has been 250 years since the creation of the Army - vivat!

Happy Birthday to all soldiers and officers, veterans and families of those who served and are serving. 

Valete

Robert M. Utley - Pacem Aeternam

 Salvete Omnes,

 

 

I have just learned  that Robert M. Utley passed away yesterday - June 7,2022.
Pacem Aeternam

Mr. Utley was a great historian of the American West, American Frontier, US Cavalry and Army of the West, Great Plains horse peoples etc.Sitting Bull of the Hunkpapa Lakota, Geronimo of the Chiricahua Apache, and George A. Custer of the US Cavalry were subjects of his studies. 

The list of publication - books, introductions to books, articles and  brochures, can be found here.

 

Pacem Aeternam

ps

some Western American historic photos to accompany this sad posting - 

ps'

some books can be read on archive - that is they can be borrowed there -

Valete

As US war in Afghanistan ends we are recalling horse solidiers

 Salvete Omnes,

 

today a little more current history at first and then back to horsing around with horses and war.

it is the very end of August and  the US forces ended the official presence in Afghanistan  or so appears.
Prima Facie this withdrawal was one of  the most disgraceful, horrendously miscalculated and badly planned, run and executed  military operations in the history of US Armed Forces. It is basically a sound defeat inflicted on the US Armed Forces, mostly due to the volition of our elected politicians and political elites (aided greatly by the media).  

Pacem aeternam to all who lost their lives during this operation.

In the olden days the responsible would have taken their own sword or at least sought pardon and even resigned. While US Army would undertake court martial proceedings and seek a deep and thorough explanation of such a defeat as this one.

But we live in a different world nowadays.

Back to horses - Almost 20 years ago certain elements of US Army Special Forces started operations in different parts of then Taliban run Afghanistan .
These special and very elite soldiers, starting then this war that took 20 years to end?, actually used horses, donkey to execute their operations-  you can listen and watch  to general Don Bolduc talking about the horses and their importance in those stages of land operation in Afghanistan.
Or you can read the Real Hero Report on the horse soldiers in Afghanistan  here. Or you can do your own search - :)

Nota bene there is a horse soldier unit within US Army 1st Cavalry Division, at Fort Hood, Texas (almost wrote Republic of Texas -;) )

 

they even made a feature film about one of the Special Forces operations that Fall 2001. 

valete

Union 'green' cavalryman - by William Forse Scott

Slavete Omnes,
the American horse soldiers and their equine companions have been always of great interest to me.
I have read many works on the subject, from the Spanish conquistadors at the dawn of horse in the Americas to the Special Forces in Afghanistan during the post 9-11 wars and campaigns of the XXI century US Army.

today, we will take a quick look at the trooper of the Union cavalry  and his military equipment, before he would become a seasoned cavalryman.
There is quite a bit of primary sources on the subject, and  I should use one such book comfortably available for your perusal on the Archive world library platform.

William Forse Scott, veteran of the Iowa 4th Cavalry Regiment during the Civil War wrote The Story of Cavalry Regiment (1893) wrote about mustering, equipping and training the regiment at Camp Harlan, Iowa during the fall of 1681 and winter months of 1862.
 
But first the horses of the regiment:

Nota bene, the saddles and bridles came in January 1861 as recalled William F. Scott .

Trooper's equipment:
 
The trooper's weapons included the heavy US Dragoon sabre and: 
the appearance at Camp Harlan upon marching to the field: 

the amazingly wonderful armor and other additions

and finally what happened to all of this equipment upon some experience in campaigning or the 'rough school of war'

 
maestro Don Troiani is my most favorite painter of the American - Yankee and Southern - during the Civil War - you can find his page with many paintings on Facebook.

Valete