Saber Exercise 1914

George S. Patton Jr. wrote SABER EXERCISE 1914, the official War Department training manual in the art of swordsmanship, while a student and instructor at the Mounted Service School in Fort Riley, Kansas. It has been carefully reproduced here verbatim and includes all the original illustrations and photographs of a young Patton demonstrating his teaching points in the art of swordsmanship and fencing. Patton's skill with a sword came naturally. His grandfather, Confederate Colonel George Smith Patton Sr., was said to have been mortally wounded at the Third Battle of Winchester while wielding a sword and leading his men into combat. Patton had demonstrated his own expertise in the art of fencing by placing fifth in the Pentathlon at the 1912 Summer Olympics in Sweden. After his strong showing in the Olympics, Patton traveled to Saumur, France to study with M. L'Adjutant Clery, reputed to be the finest fencing masters in Europe. When Patton returned to the States he invented what came to be known as the Patton Saber (also called the Patton Sword), a design so revolutionary, the War Department ordered 20,000 in 1913. It favored cutting over thrusting, which meant retraining cavalry in swordsmanship tactics. While at the Mounted Service School, Patton also authored two training manuals instructing in the basic use of the cavalry saber, updated to include tactical implications of his redesign. SABER EXERCISE 1914, which was officially approved and published by the War Department in 1914, provides a system of training for both mounted and dismounted use of the saber. The next year Patton shared a more informal set of instructions titled, DIARY OF THE INSTRUCTOR IN SWORDSMANSHIP AT THE MOUNTED SERVICE SCHOOL, FORT RILEY KANSAS 1914-1915. It supplements his first manual with additional detail and guidance. Sprinkled throughout both manuals are Patton's personal views on preparing for combat; providing fascinating glimpses into the mindset of one of the greatest battlefield commanders in American history.