The caption of the original vintage postcard says “Cavalry Troop compared with a fallen California Redwood Tree” showing the immense size of the Redwood trees in the California Redwood Forest. The Postage date is July 5, 1912, Watsonville, CA.
As you can see in this postcard, a forest Redwood tree is enormous. Redwoods are evergreen trees living up to 2,200 years and include the tallest trees on Earth, reaching up to 379.1 ft in height and 26 ft. in diameter. Redwood trees are native to coastal California within the United States.
This picture is great as we get to see not only the immensity of the Redwood tree with a whole cavalry troop standing on it, but also the inspiring view of the army unit itself. In 1912 in California, a US Cavalry unit was most probably part of the 18th Cavalry Regiment, which was constituted on 22 July 1885 in the California National Guard. The Cavalry was still a major part of the United States armed forces in 1912, having been used in the Spanish-American War and prior Wars. However, during World War I, the equestrian based Cavalry soldiers gradually changed to foot soldiers, part of the army.
This postcard is a great reminder of the proud, honorable men that made up the 18th Cavalry Regiment, shown here on matching white horses. You can just imagine them charging up San Juan Hill with Teddy Roosevelt.