72 THE BRIDLE BITS. 



that if the curb bit or rein should break or be cut he has 

 the bridoon to fall back on. Horses can drink all they 

 want with any bit. The sacrifice is so trifling, compared 

 with the advantages of dispensing with all extra encum- 

 brances on camj^aigus, that we consider the j^reference is 

 due tbe proposed change and general adoption of the sin- 

 gle bit with rings at the guards on a line with the bar. 

 In the last winter of our civil war, scores of our cavalry 

 horses in CampAverill, near Winchester, Ya., were with- 

 out blankets and halters, and were consequently tied to 

 stumps with the curb bridles on and bits in their mouths, 

 the watering bits having been thrown away. As Assist- 

 ant Inspector General in Sheridan's Corps, one of our 

 duties was to send to the War Office weekly returns of 

 every article on hand and everything needed. But it was 

 in vain we rej^orted a lack of horse blankets and halters, 

 and asked for a coil of rope to make baiters of. The 

 horses stood to their bridles fast to stumps, ate, drank, 

 raided and rested durino; all that winter without anv re- 

 lief, irrespective of the numerous reports and requisitions 

 made for these and other things, the assertion of the In- 

 spector General of the Corps, Otis, to the contrary not- 

 withstanding. 



By the resumption of the old bit we would get rid of 

 the tortures of the curb and the trouble and annoyance 

 of the watering bridle, which, although but a few ounces 

 weight, is an encumbrance which tells on long marches 

 of days at a time, while it serves no purpose to relieve the 

 horse in any substantial waj. It does very well at stations, 

 in peace time, when men have nothing else to do but to 

 play at soldier m ridmg out to water, exercise, drill, 

 clean barracks and horses and take care of such thin2:s as 

 make up the general assortment of cavalry equipments. 

 But in '*grim-visaged war," when an army strips for a 

 campaign, all surperfluous camp articles — such as tents, 

 baggage, cooking utensils, forges, tools, women, non- 



