The history of the fort has been, in a measure, that of the Seventh Cavalry, which for nearly two decades has had its residence there, and become identified with the spot.  The Seventh Cavalry dates its glory from before the days of the intrepid Custer, whose memory it cherishes.  It has taken part in scores of Indian battles—­indeed, there has not, for years, been an uprising in the West in which it has not done duty.  Its last considerable encounter was at Wounded Knee and Drexel Mission, where the Custer massacre was in a degree avenged.  Here it lost twenty-four of its members, and a magnificent granite monument has been erected at the fort to their memory.  It bears the names of those who fell, and tells briefly the story of their bravery.

In the Wounded Knee battle, on the plains of Dakota, during the closing days of 1891, the four troops of the regiment were treacherously surprised by the Sioux, and because, after the attack, Colonel Forsyth ordered a charge, resulting in the killing of many of the savages, he was suspended by his superior officer, General Miles, for disobedience of orders, which were not to fire on the enemy.  An investigation, however, amply justified his action, and he was reinstated in charge of his post as before.  Early in November, 1894, on the promotion of General McCook to be Major General, Colonel Forsyth stepped up to the Brigadier Generalship, and his place at Fort Riley will be taken by Colonel Sumner.  There is a rumor, however, in army circles, that the old Seventh will be stationed in the far Northwest, and the Fifth Cavalry will succeed it as resident regiment here.  The post has become so closely identified with the fortunes of the former regiment that it will seem strange to have any other troops call it home.

There are usually at the fort three squadrons of cavalry, of four troops each, and five batteries of light artillery, engaged in the maneuvers of the school for mounted service, which has its headquarters for the entire army here.  The principal object of this school is instruction in the combined operations of the cavalry and light artillery, and this object is kept steadily in view.  The troops of each arm form a sub-school, and are instructed nine months in the year in their own arm, preparatory to the three months of combined operations.  Thus the batteries are frequently practiced in road marching in rapid gaits; the Kansas River is often forded; rough hills are climbed at “double quick,” and guns are brought to action on all sorts of difficult ground, with the result that, when the combined operations begin, the batteries may be maneuvered over all kinds of obstacles.

Among the plans of the future is one, which was a favorite with General Sheridan, of making Fort Riley the horse-furnishing headquarters for the entire army.  The location being so central, it insures the nearest approach to perfect acclimation of animals sent to any part of the Union.  Two plans are being contemplated for the accomplishment of this object.  One is to make it a breeding station; the other is to simply make it a purchasing station, which shall buy of the farmers of the West the horses needed by the army, and train the animals for regular use before sending them to the various posts.