A look at the Guard in the field, 1913-1914

by **Pat Holscher** » Thu Jan 16, 2003 7:36 am

A glimpse at the Guard on an extended mission in the field, the sad Ludlow strike episode. Colorado National Guard, 1913-1914.

Mounted column:

Caption:"Lieutenant Karl E. "Monte" Linderfelt and members of the Colorado National Guard, called in to suppress the UMW strike against CF&I, ride on horseback, probably in Ludlow, Las Animas County, Colorado. One man carries a two tone flag that reads: "A"."

"K. J. Linderfelt, a member of the Colorado National Guard called in to suppress the UMW strike against CF&I, poses on horseback near Ludlow, Las Animas County, Colorado."

Sergeant with a potato digger:

Potato digger emplacement:

Another potato digger:

All of these photographs are courtesy of the Denver Public Library, Western Heritage Collection.

Pat

by **Pat Holscher** » Thu Jan 16, 2003 7:54 am

Guardsmen at the women's march.

Crowd control at a woman's march which occured during the stike.

All photos courtesy of the Denver Public Library, Western Hertitage Collection.

Pat

by **Pat Holscher** » Thu Jan 16, 2003 10:00 am

In that crowd control photograph, are the troopers wielding sabres or sticks?

Pat

by **Ron Smith** » Thu Jan 16, 2003 11:19 am

It appears to be Sabres

Regards,
Ron Smith

by **Rick Throckmorton** » Thu Jan 16, 2003 1:36 pm

Pat,
They appear to be the Light Cavalry Saber, probably the M1906.
Rick T.

by **Pat Holscher** » Thu Jan 16, 2003 2:19 pm

Gentlemen, thanks.

What an unusual photograph. While I'm sure there are others, I do not think I've ever seen another photo of cavalrymen with their sabres drawn for the purpose of whacking people with the flats, assuming that is what is occurring.

Pat

by **Pat Holscher** » Thu Jan 16, 2003 2:20 pm

By the way, what was the Colt machingun chambered in? I'm not too sure I know.

Pat

by **Rick Throckmorton** » Thu Jan 16, 2003 2:50 pm

Pat,
There is great movie footage of troopers from Ft. Meyers dispersing the Bonus Marchers in Washington, D.C. One scene in particular almost makes you feel sorry for the man on the ground as the trooper really gets a good swing with his Patton saber and catches the guy with the flat of the blade right across the shoulder blades. Almost knocks him down. Terrible duty, but duty done well. The mounted troopers really scattered the demonstrators. I believe there is an account of it in Truscott's, "Twilight of the Cavalry."
Rick T.

by **Light Dragoon** » Thu Jan 16, 2003 7:01 pm

Pat, the old Colt "Potato Digger" SHOULD be in .30 US (aka .30-40 Krag), but I do believe that some were converted to .30-06, and that is what the ammo in the belts looks to be.

I note that the troopers for the most part are armed with (besides the M1903 Rifles) the Colt Double Action revolvers (or various years) in .38 Long Colt. By 1916, of course, even the NG was armed with the M1911, at least on the Border. But check out the guy with the field glasses... he is wearing a civilian holster rig, perhaps on a civilian belt as well. Interesting.

Gordon

"After God, we owe our Victory to our Horses"

Gonsalo Jimenez de Quesada, 1543

by **Pat Holscher** » Sat Jan 18, 2003 8:16 pm

<font size="1">Photograph courtesy of the Denver Public Library, Western Heritage Collection.</font id="size1">

Pat

by **Light Dragoon** » Sat Jan 18, 2003 8:29 pm

I take it back: The NG could look like a horde of Hobos as well as any Regulars could, as the above photo proves. They give the Regulars a running fight for the most disreputable looking.

Gordon

"After God, we owe our Victory to our Horses"

Gonsalo Jimenez de Quesada, 1543

by **Pat Holscher** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 8:32 am

The same unit, another view of a Potato Digger:

Photograph courtesy of the Denver Public Library, Western Heritage Collection.

Pat

by **Pat Holscher** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 8:34 am

The same unit, in winter quarters, during hte Ludlow Strike:

Both photographs courtesy of the Denver Public Library, Western Heritage Collection.

Pat

by **Pat Holscher** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 8:18 pm

This thread is related to another one, so I'm bumping it up.

Pat

by **Pat Holscher** » Sun Sep 13, 2009 5:37 pm

A little late for this one, but the Washington D. C. National Guard, 1915.

They seem to have been infantry, so presumably this photo is limited to officers.

by **Pat Holscher** » Sun Sep 13, 2009 5:42 pm

D. C. Guard.

by **Pat Holscher** » Sun Sep 13, 2009 8:56 pm

Pennsylvania National Guard, 1910.

by **Couvi** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 7:42 am

Pat Holscher wrote:Pennsylvania National Guard, 1910.

This is a good image of the steel collar harness used in the Field Artillery.

Note also the blanket rolls on the off-side saddles.

by **Pat Holscher** » Thu Feb 03, 2011 12:23 pm

Pat Holscher wrote:
Guardsmen at the women's march.

Crowd control at a woman's march which occured during the stike.

All photos courtesy of the Denver Public Library, Western Hertitage Collection.

Pat

Bumped up as I'm going to refer to it.

by **Txfarrier** » Fri Feb 04, 2011 7:15 am

The pictures of the drawn sabers were taken during the time of the arrest of Mother Jones. An acount I encountered stated that numerous demonstrators were "struck down"

The potato digger was chambered first in 6mm Lee Navy, the two privately purchased weapons used by T.R. and the Roughriders were in 7x57 ,then of course 30-40 and later 30-06.

"You cant mine coal without machineguns"