The U.S. Cavalry seems to belong to the era of General Custer and Sitting Bull, yet horse-mounted cavalry troops were part of the Black Hills scene until 1942! Fort Meade's 4th Cavalry was one of the last army units to trade its horse flesh for the vehicles of modern war. In 1939 the 4th was still an all-horse cavalry and the fort's stables held 1,180 military mounts. Three years later only the best 480 horses remained as more and more soldiers were assigned to motorcycles ad jeeps.
The war horses of Fort Meade were unsaddled for the last time in mid-1942 as a rapidly changing U.S. Army mobilized in the Second World War. The noted F Troop was one of the last to disband. Also known as the Black Horse Troop, this group of 120 riders and black horses often performed spectacular jumping and riding at the Days of 76 and other rodeos.
One of military history's celebrated horses, Comanche, was stabled at Fort Meade. This steed was the only living survivor of Custer's Last Stand and came to the Black Hills with the famed 7th Cavalry in 1879. Comanche had been discovered two days after the battle of the Little Big Horn. The Horse was riddled with bullet wounds, but a decision was made to nurse him back to health. The 7th Cavalry thereafter reserved for Comanche a strictly ceremonial and parade existence. By special order this horse was never again ridden or worked. Today an important street at Fort Meade is named for Comanche.
10/01/03