Manual for Noncommissioned Officers and Privates of Cavalry of the Army

This concise handbook, issued by the War Department in June 1917, was designed to shape the conduct of cavalry NCOs and privates just as the United States prepared for overseas conflict. It lays out the oath, the core expectations of obedience, loyalty, and discipline, and offers step‑by‑step guidance on how soldiers should present themselves, follow orders, and support their comrades. Reading it transports you to a time when horseback units still played a crucial role on the modern battlefield.

The prose is unmistakably formal, reflecting the rigor of early twentieth‑century military doctrine, while the sections on courtesy and initiative reveal a surprisingly human side to soldierly life. Listeners will hear the same language that trained thousands of men to act as a cohesive, efficient force, gaining insight into the values that underpinned the U.S. Army’s rapid expansion. It serves both as a historical document and a window into the everyday responsibilities of those who served in the cavalry.