Troop`C,' 5th Cavalry

[Shotgun Steve]

Troop`C,' 5th Cavalry, which arrested boomers and squatters prior to opening of Oklahoma, ca. 1888. 111-SC-87369.

[kflach]

Just for perspective, how many men should be in a "troop?"

It looks like there are some civilians (and maybe Indian Scouts) in this picture as well as the soldiers.

[FriscoCounty]

It varied.  In 1833 Congress created the Dragoon or Cavalry regiment and fixed its size at 1,715 men plus 34 officers.  The 1,715 included support personnel - teamsters, wagoners, blacksmiths, farriers, saddlers, musicians, quartermasters, cooks, doctors, hospital stewards, etc.  A regiment was divided into 3 battalion of 4 companies or 6 squadrons of 2 companies, or some combination of that.  In 1883, companies were renamed troops and squadrons of 4 troops replaced the battalions.   In most cases a troop was 100 men plus noncoms and officers, it could be as little as 82 men with noncoms and support personnel bringing the number to 100.

Here is a reasonably good explanation:

http://ehistory.osu.edu/uscw/features/regimental/cavalry.cfm

This will give you an idea of the support personnel that could be attached to a regiment:

http://www.westernfrontassociation.com/great-war-on-land/43-britain-allies/241-cav-regi-big.html

[kflach]

Thanks FriscoCounty.

I spent my time in the Navy so all these Army units aren't very familiar to me.

[Dr. Bob]

The size of a company/troop changed fairly often.  In peace time they shrank as Congress looked to save money. [Don't ya wish that Congress would look to save some $$ today!]  The size varied at any time and units were not always filled to the strength in the current Regulation.