#us cavalry

[tyger-land]

𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗼𝗻 The Trooper. 1891. Oil on canvas: 123 × 86 cm (48 × 34 in).

[walkingthroughthisworld]

[ripstefano]

The U.S. Cavalry on the Plains from 1850 to 1890 played a critical role in westward expansion and conflicts with Native American tribes. Following the Mexican-American War (1846-1848), the U.S. acquired vast western territories, intensifying clashes between settlers and Indigenous nations over land, resources, and cultural survival. Cavalry regiments—like the 1st, 2nd, and 7th Cavalries—were tasked with enforcing federal policies, protecting settlers, and supporting railroad construction. They also aimed to confine Native American tribes to reservations, often leading to violent confrontations.

From US Cavalry on the Plains 1850-90

[liberty1776]

[cavalrycommand1876]

A Cavalry Veteran

By Joseph Mills Hanson

This sabre-cut on my forehead scored? I picked it up at Beverly Ford The day we turned “Jeb” Stuart’s flank And hurled him from the river bank. It was parry and thrust with a hearty will As we fought for the guns on Fleetwood Hill, While over the fields and through the pines Backward and forward surged the lines; Twelve thousand men in a frenzied fray;  Charge and rally and mad melee — Oh, the crash and roar as the squadrons met, The cheers and yells — I can hear them yet! But we’d forced the fords, so our work was done, And we galloped away ere set of sun.

This welt of a bullet across my arm? It’s a scratch I caught at McPherson’s farm That morning our outposts chanced to strike Hill’s solid corps on the Cashtown pike. Hour by hour or thin ranks stood Stubbornly holding each fence and wood, Till, down the road where the wheat-fields grew And the spires of Gettysburg pierced the blue, WE saw a column of dust arise, A welcome sight to our anxious eyes, And into the hell of the battle’s roar Reynolds marched with the old First Corps; But the field where the rebel flood was stayed Was held by the stand that Buford made.

This limp I got as my horse went down When Fitz Lee ran us through Buckland town. Out of the woods with a spurt of flame, Driving backward our van, he came. Custer struggled to turn the thrust, But they whirled him off like a fleck of dust; Davies, shattered in front and flanks, Took to the fields with flying ranks, And off we scampered, like boys at play, Over the hills and far away. Crack! A shot through my good steed’s knee; Down he tumbled on top of me, And I crawled to a thicket, right glad to lie Till the jubilant rebels had thundered by.

This scar on my neck was a bayonet blow From a stalwart Johnnie sat Waynesboro, Where we routed Early from hill to hill And tossed him over to Charlottesville, Clearing the valley, all seamed and scored By waste and pillage and fire and sword, Down we galloped like Attila’s Huns, Capturing trenches and flags and guns, Bagging the foe ere the fight began. I seized a flag, but the color guard Passed my parry and thrust me hard — Though we made it up and were friends for aye When I shared my rations with him next day!

[redarmyscreaming]

Union cavalry trooper.

[freetheshit-outofyou]

My Gold and Silver Cavalry spurs.

[plague-of-insomnia]

More About Bard’s Military Service...

In a previous post, I documented some information on Bard’s military service. Now that ch 172 has released, we can dig into this a bit more.

As of ch 172, we know Bard must have fought in the Apache Wars, and presumably he saw his comrades felled by poisonous snake bites (hence the snake comment from ch 100). He also mentions Arizona again...

This confirms he was a Cavalry member in the Indian wars, and it’s possible the man in his arms (in the ch 44 panel) when he meets Sebastian is “Terry,” who died from a snake bite, since it’s likely his acting routine is inspired by some of his real experiences...

But it’s still not clear in what battles/wars Bard may have fought. Two of the most famous would be one of the conflicts in the Geranimo’s War, which would fit with the Arizona and Apache reference, but ended in 1886. Since Geranimo is a famous figure, it’s possible that Yana may tweak history to make that work. However, the war didn’t end in a way that aligns with that image in ch 44 (small skermishes with the 4th Cavalry, ending in a surrender negotiation). {Photo: before the surrender, source.}

The other is “Custer’s Last Stand,” aka the Battle of Little Bighorn, which happened 10 years earlier in 1876, and involved the 7th Cavalry in Montana. That slaughter would certainly fit the image we get in ch 44, with Bard seemingly the only calvaryman remaining (~260 US soldiers died). The massacre changed the opinion of the “Indian problem” and led to changes in how they were dealt with, increasing the number of soldiers. Ofc, it isn’t Arizona and snakes were the least of the 7th’s problems. But perhaps Yana will tweak history here to make it fit.

Interestingly, Alfred Terry was a real Union general and commander of the Dakota Territory (1866-9, 1872-1886) and was Custer’s commanding officer (7th Cavalry). Ofc, he didn’t die in battle but of illness in 1888, after he’d retired. Still, maybe the name isn’t a coincidence?

So perhaps Yana is mixing things up (either out of ignorance, or intentionally). She already has Bard talking about “trenches” in ch 172, so either this is a translation error (often ravines and other natural features were used by both sides, but trenches weren’t dug in the Indian Wars), Bard is including references to previous military experiences (such as the Civil War), or Yana is changing history. Ofc, it’s also possible she doesn’t really know what she’s talking about, or she wants to tie Bard’s experiences somehow with the impending war in Europe that she’s moved the timeline for. (Trenches were a main feature of World War I.) There aren’t any trenches in sight in the ch 44 panel, so perhaps it is Bard adding as much random detail (from different past military experiences) to make his acting more dramatic.

I’m looking forward to learning more about Bard and is background.

It would be something if being in the sanitarium actually does cause him to experience some real PTSD flashbacks...