The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-11-20
HATCH'S BATTALION.
THE TRIP FROM ST. CLOUD TO
RED RIVER.
HARDSHIPS AND SUFFER-
INGS BY THE WAY.
BROKEN DOWN HORSES - SCARCITY OF
FORAGE-SNOW STORM ON THE PRAL-
RE &C.


Correspondence Of the Pioneer
HEADQUARTERS INDIAN BATTALION
MINNESOTA VOLUNTEERS,
GEOEGETOwN, October 30, 1863.
We left Camp Rice, below and near st. An
thony, on the morning of the 9Th of October,
and arrived at st. Cloud about o'clock, on
the 9Th.
On the second day out, while our train was
descending q hill just beyond Anoka, q team
ster, by the name of Maggie, from Minneapolis,
fell from his mule. and was run over by the
wagon, crushing his ribs. 1t was not expected
that he would live, but we have since learned
that he is recovering. He was not an enlisted
man, but an employee of the Quartermastcrs.
We were detained at st. Cloud until the 18th,
waiting for the transportation train to be made
up, thereby losing four days-quite loss to
us, considering the lateness of the season, the
distance to be travelled before reaching our
destination, and the condition of our horses.
And here let me say, that, in my opinion, a
greater outrage has never been perpetrated up
on soldiers by government officials, than that
of furnishing Hatch's Battalion with these
old broken-down hacks. 1t has been said, and
I doubt not with much truth, that many of
them were horses that were turned over in
Chicago and st. Louis as being unfit for service
below. But suppose that it was considered
fine opportunity for recruiting them on this
march of 500 miles to be made after the LIST of
October. Well. they are being expended fast
since leaving Sank Gentle, where we found the
first snow. They have been dying daily.
We left st. Cloud on the morning of the 18th
and marched to Cold Springs, distance of IS
miles. Here. owing to some mismanagement
of the parties that were to furnish us with
grain, our horses had to 60 without that night.
The next morning the boys found load of
oats that was to be delivered to us at Pomme
de Terre. They took it, not waiting for the
Quartermaster to apply the usual amount of
red tape. The Quartermaster sent a man to
the landlord of the place for hay. He having
been abused by some soldiers previous to our
arrival, refused to let it 60. He was told that
we must have it. He being Kentuckian pro-
ceeded to load his rifle, shot gun, pistols, &C.,
and informed the battalion that they could take
his life but not his hay while he lived. A little
mild talk, however, convinced him that it
would be wise to sell it, and he did so.
While at this place boy by the name of
Buska, belonging to company A, went down
to water his horse. Coming back, the horse
thinking no doubt that the grain had come,
made rush at picket rope and in attempting
to leap, he struck his breast against it, turned
a somersault, and, as we supposed, nearly kill
ed the boy, who was picked up and started for
the hospital but his Captain coming up, and
talking to him few minutes Gin his peculiar
way), upon the folly of riding horse to water
with halter with spurs on, cured him, and he
went back to look for his cap.
We had very pleasant weather and toler-
able good road as far as Sank Centre, which
place we reached on the 10th, having been
eight days on the march, making an average
of eighteen miles per day.
Sank Valley must be, eventually, one of the
richest sections Of our State; there being plenty
of wood and water, and the soil of the kind
that never wears out.
At Sank Centre we joined the whole COM
mand, consisting of two cavalry and one intan-
try company out on an ''Indian hunt" which
resulted in the discovery that soldier got bad
ly frightened at three white men dressing 3
deer.
We were again delayed at this place until
the 10th, the train not being ready. On the
morning of the 18th we had a heavy rain
storm, which turned into snow and continued
until the afternoon Of the 18th, when it cealred
of very cold. 1t showed again on the 18th,
making the roads very heavy. We passed all
of the teams just out of Sank Centre, they be-
ing obliged to camp eight miles out, ON &C.
count of the snow.
We arrived at Alexandria on the 10Th, and
waited two Days for the train to come up. 1t
showed again on the 22d, clearing off very
cold.
We reached Pomme de Terre on the 2lth.
Another teamster was run over on this DAVIS
march, and killed. He was buried at the post.
His name was Downie, from Dakota county.
Our command was divided at this point.
The transportation train with an escort under
the command of Lieut.. Mix of Company A.
went by the way Of Dayton to GEORGETOWN, two
companies, A and B, with the battery, going
to the same place, via Fort Abercrombie, which
point.we reached on the 26th, having marched
through six inches of snow all the way. On
the 25th we were compelled to carry our wood
and hay to camp at "Old Crossing" on the
Otter Tail '' - 9'@e -''.t' ..-. .'-t-
1t would be difficult for you, sitting in CON-
Portable quarters in st. Paul, to fully appreciate
the condition that we were in that night. We
crossed the river about four o'clock and pitched
our tents upon the open prairie, with the snow
six or eight inches deep. All the wood we
had we picked eight miles back. We could
have only sufficient to make little coffee. No
hay for beds--every man carrying small bun
die on his horse all day for his rations at nights
but we lived through it and started in good
spirits the next morning for the Fort.
We rested here one day to give our horses
chance to I'LL themselves with hay, which, by
the way, was cut (so we were told) only two
weeks ago-and cost the moderate sum of $35
per ton. 1t is not quite as good as bright
wheat straw.
We left the fort on the 2Sth, and marched
twenty-seven miles through deep snow, with.