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THE MANUAL OF EQUITATION OF THE FRENCH ARMY FOR
1912, TRANSLATED AT THE CAVALRY SCHOOL, FT. RILEY,
KANSAS – IDENTIFIED TO A GENERAL OFFICER: This
original early 20th Century U.S. Cavalry
training manual is the translation of the equitation
instruction manual of the French Army, originally
printed in 1913 when the translation was executed and as
indicated on the front piece, is a “Reprint, by the
Mounted Service School Press, Fort Riley, Kansas,
1919”.
The manual bears the authority for the
translation of this manual, dated 1913 from Major
General W. W. Wotherspoon, Chief of Staff of the Army,
“Authority having been obtained for the use of the
Manual of Equitation of the French Army for 1912,
translated by 1st Lt. Adna R. Chaffee Jr., 13th
Cavalry, it is herewith published for the information of
the Regular Army and Organized Militia.” I surmise
that the first edition was a limited or private printing
of Chaffee’s translation and only after the translated
manual was circulated was it reviewed, accepted and
placed into service.
This early manual is 125 pages, in
very good condition with some wear to the covers, but
the pages are all intact and undamaged. This manual was
obtained from the estate of General Neal C. Johnson and
the front cover of the manual bears his name. General
Johnson, a Captain when he obtained this manual, began
his military career as an enlisted man in the California
National Guard, was commissioned as a 2nd
Lieutenant in 1915, served in the Mexican Border
Campaign, was appointed as a Brigadier General in 1942,
and served on General MacArthur’s Staff during the war
and during the occupation of Japan.
The manual not
only details the riding instruction curriculum, but also
illustrates the interest and examination of techniques
in use by foreign powers, and provides some insight to
the manner in which these techniques were adopted by the
U.S. Army. (0417) $50 |
