Note Type
Historical NoteNote
From William Reese Company: Record 51917* [World War I Photographica]: [LARGE PHOTOGRAPHIC ALBUM OF CAVALRY TRAINING AND MANEUVERS OF THE 1st CAVALRY, NEW YORK NATIONAL GUARD, PRIOR TO WORLD WAR I]. [Connecticut, New York. 1912–1913]. 357 silver gelatin photographs, including 9 multi-print panoramas. Oblong folio. Contemporary black leather cord-tied photo album, edges slightly work. Photos mounted directly onto black paper supports, with a significant number captioned in white ink. Some age toning to images, but overall very good.
An extensive collection of over three hundred and fifty silver gelatin photographs depicting training, maneuvers, and camp life for the 1st Cavalry unit of the new York National Guard in 1912 and 1913, just prior to the outbreak of World War I. The photo album contains images cover two large-scale National Guard operations, the "Connecticut Maneuver Campaign" in 1912, and a training camp at Montauk Point, Long Island in 1913. The 1912 war games involved over 20,000 troops that assembled up and down the coast of Connecticut, and culminated in a simulated assault on New York City. In June 1913, significant portions of the New York National Guard Cavalry were called to Montauk for nine days of training that, a contemporary New York Times; article reported "For thoroughness and practical details never has been experienced in the guard of any State. The programme covers every detail of instructions to fit troops for war."
In addition to many photos documenting the movements and activities of the Cavalry Guard during two exercises, there are many images depicting routine army camp life, horseback marches, and numerous individual and group portraits of soldiers in uniform. In all, this album comprises a nearly comprehensive encapsulation of military life and training for one group of National Guardsmen during a time of rising European tensions that would eventually lead to World War I.