Raising the Regiment 39 



They were therefore armed with what might be 

 called their natural weapon, the revolver. 



As it turned out, we were not used mounted at 

 all, so that our preparations on this point came to 

 nothing. In a way, I have always regretted this. 

 We thought we should at least be employed as cav- 

 alry in the great campaign against Havana in the 

 fall; and from the beginning I began to train my 

 men in shock tactics for use against hostile cavalry. 

 My belief was that the horse was really the 'weapon 

 with which to strike the first blow. I felt that if 

 my men could be trained to hit their adversaries 

 with their horses, it was a matter of small amount 

 whether, at the moment when the onset occurred, 

 sabres, lances, or revolvers were used ; while in the 

 subsequent melee I believed the revolver would out- 

 class cold steel as a weapon. But this is all guess- 

 work, for we never had occasion to try the experi- 

 ment. 



It was astonishing what a difference was made 

 by two or three weeks' training. The mere thor- 

 ough performance of guard and police duties helped 

 the men very rapidly to become soldiers. The offi- 

 cers studied hard, and both officers and men worked 

 hard in the drill-field. It was, of course, rough and 

 ready drill; but it was very efficient, and it was 

 suited to the men who made up the regiment. Their 

 uniform also suited them. In their slouch hats, blue 



