Original Items: Only One Lot of 7 Available. The United States Cavalry, or U.S. Cavalry was the designation of the mounted force of the United States Army by an act of Congress on 3 August 1861. This act converted the U.S. Army's two regiments of dragoons, one regiment of mounted riflemen, and two regiments of cavalry into one branch of service. The cavalry branch transitioned to the Armored Forces with tanks in 1940, but the term "cavalry", e.g. "armored cavalry", remains in use in the U.S. Army for mounted (ground and aviation) reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition (RSTA) units based on their parent Combat Arms Regimental System (CARS) regiment. Cavalry is also used in the name of the 1st Cavalry Division for heraldic/lineage/historical purposes. Some combined arms battalions (i.e., consisting of a combination of tank and mechanized infantry companies) are designated as armor formations, while others are designated as infantry organizations. These "branch" designations are again, heraldic/lineage/historical titles derived from the CARS regiments to which the battalions are assigned.

This Lot Includes The Following Items:
-x2 Cavalry Spurs: The spurs are Western Knob Spurs and show signs of light use and wear. There are no markings visible on the spurs or the leather. A spur is a metal tool designed to be worn in pairs on the heels of riding boots for the purpose of directing a horse or other animal to move forward or laterally while riding. It is usually used to refine the riding aids (commands) and to back up the natural aids (the leg, seat, hands, and voice).

-Cavalry Sabre Leather Belt Hanger: The hanger was designed to be used in conjunction with a belt and was for the purpose of hanging a sword on the ends by the clips. The hanger shows signs of heavy use and wear and the leather is cracked and worn. The makers information is still easily visible:

MANUFACTURED BY
THE
HENDERSON-AMES
CO
KALAMAZOO. MICH

The use of horses in World War I marked a transitional period in the evolution of armed conflict. Cavalry units were initially considered essential offensive elements of a military force, but over the course of the war, the vulnerability of horses to modern machine gun, mortar, and artillery fire reduced their utility on the battlefield. This paralleled the development of tanks, which ultimately replaced cavalry in shock tactics. While the perceived value of the horse in war changed dramatically, horses still played a significant role throughout the war.

-Misc. Harness: We have not been able to identify the use of this harness. Vast quantities of harnesses for horses and mules were produced for use during the war. Most of this would be very much like a harness worn by driving horses both before and after the war. Unlike saddlery, harness design has not changed very much over the years.

-x2 Haversacks: The larger haversack is a Spanish American War era “U.S.” stamped bag M-1878/1904 canvas bag and is offered in good but used condition. There is some staining and wear throughout. The other canvas bag is a WWI era M1904 haversack and is unit marked for Company D of the 16th Infantry. The bag is in great condition for its age and it does have some staining and a few small holes. The leather carry straps on the back are worn and cracked but still complete.

-U.S. Indian Wars/Spanish American War Canteen: US M1878 Canteen with a tan canvas cover with a very clear U.S. stencil on the front and a faint unit marking. We believe its for the 21st Infantry. The canteen is complete with its original cork stopper secured to the neck by a white cotton string. It also has the proper pattern canteen canvas strap with brass fittings marked RIA 1904 for Rock Island Arsenal. There is the expected denting to the body.

This is a wonderful grouping offered at an amazing price! Ready to add to your WWI and Pre WWI American collections!

All of the major combatants in World War I (1914–1918) began the conflict with cavalry forces. Imperial Germany stopped using them on the Western Front soon after the war began, but continued with limited use on the Eastern Front, well into the war. The Ottoman Empire used cavalry extensively during the war. On the Allied side, the United Kingdom used mounted infantry and cavalry charges throughout the war, but the United States used cavalry only briefly. Although not particularly successful on the Western Front, Allied cavalry had some success in the Middle Eastern theatre due to the open nature of the front, allowing a more traditional war of movement, in addition to the lower concentration of artillery and machine guns. Russia used cavalry forces on the Eastern Front but with limited success.

The military used horses mainly for logistical support; they were better than mechanized vehicles at traveling through deep mud and over rough terrain. Horses were used for reconnaissance and for carrying messengers as well as for pulling artillery, ambulances, and supply wagons. The presence of horses often increased morale among the soldiers at the front, but the animals contributed to disease and poor sanitation in camps, caused by their manure and carcasses. The value of horses and the increasing difficulty of replacing them were such that by 1917, some troops were told that the loss of a horse was of greater tactical concern than the loss of a human soldier. Ultimately, the blockade of Germany prevented the Central Powers from importing horses to replace those lost, which contributed to Germany's defeat. By the end of the war, even the well-supplied US Army was short of horses.

Conditions were severe for horses at the front; they were killed by artillery fire, suffered from skin disorders, and were injured by poison gas. Hundreds of thousands of horses died, and many more were treated at veterinary hospitals and sent back to the front. Procuring fodder was a major issue, and Germany lost many horses to starvation. Several memorials have been erected to commemorate the horses that died. Artists, including Alfred Munnings, extensively documented the work of horses in the war, and horses were featured in war poetry. Novels, plays and documentaries have also featured the horses of World War I.