This is a continuation of my story Cavalry Days. I have tried to be as accurate as possible with information regarding the First World War and the Cavalry so I hope I haven't made any huge errors there. Anyway I hope you enjoy it I'm going to try to do a few more chapters with more experiences from Colonel Potter. Enjoy.
Cavalry Days - Riding into battle.
The young cavalry officer placed his foot in the stirrup, preparing to mount. He was only sixteen. He had enlisted a year ago he had lied about his age to get in. The young officer completed the mount, within seconds he was sitting tall and proud on his horse. He had been raised around horses back in Missouri on his family's property, he had enlisted in the cavalry because of his love for horses and he wanted to do his part for his country.
Quick, sturdy, intelligent and full of stamina. That was his horse. She was a seven year old palomino mare who he called Goldie, although her real name was Lady of Gold. She was called this because of her brilliant gold coat typical of her breed. He relied on Goldie every second, especially when the division rode into battle. The horses of the Cavalry often worked all day and all night without complaining. They were the true heroes.
Grabbing the reins, Sherman gave Goldie a nudge in the side, signifying go. Goldie responded almost immediately. She began at a walk until Sherman nudged her again asking her to move into a trot. "Come on girl." Sherman said, nudging her into a canter, Sherman didn't like to use the whip unless he needed to, usually he could avoid it as Goldie responded quickly to his aids. It was however regulation that each officer carry a whip, so Sherman had the whip in his hand. Some of the others needed whips constantly, Sherman felt this was the 'lazy' way of asking a horse to move he felt that nudging the horse was firstly kinder and also more of a skill and it meant you knew your horse. You didn't need to kick the horse, as some novices did, just give a nudge and the horse would respond.
As Goldie began her canter up to the battle ground Sherman began to feel nervous. Even though he had ridden into battle like this before, it didn't change how he felt each time.
"Hey, Sherm, ya ready?" Asked Sherman's friend, Bill.
Sherman turned to see his friend catch up with him and answered, "Sure am."
Once Bill had caught up, the two rode up to the site together. They were both apprehensive even though they tried not to show it. It was a well known fact that many horses were gunned down in battles such as the one they were riding into and often their riders would get caught up in the gunfire. Sometimes the horses would be taken to hospitals and treated, as they were one of the most valuable and irreplaceable things the men had and they cared for them, they were their best friends. If a horse was lucky enough to be taken to a hospital they were treated and when they recovered they were allowed to go back into duty, much like a wounded soldier. However sometimes the horses were too far gone when they were hit or they died upon impact of the bullet. This was a great sadness to the cavalry men.
Sherman pulled Goldie's reins, signifying for her to halt. He then lent down and gave his horse a pat on the neck and said, "Good luck girl. Let's go." And gave her a nudge to move on. The battle was about to begin.
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