The New York herald., 1877-11-03
wILkEseARRE TO GOTHAM.
Heavy Roads, Sleeping Out Doors
and Long Marches.
Amusing Incredulity or Uncle
Sans Solvency.
OK THE MARCH wrru BATTERY G.

overland from Wilkcsbarrc, Pa TO thc HUDSON RIVER
at Jersey city, and, that we have reached point
within short days travel OF our dcstination ~ -
order 10 give OF the particulars oil tho march,
Two reasons prompted the marcn--one ocing economy
md The other tho desire OF Captain Sinclair TO gvc
his battery the benefit and experience OF the drill con-
comitant pitching and striking camp, &c. Tho do
partmcnt therefore, gladly granted The Captains re-
oucst thai no might be permitted 10 takc his men
overland and by SO doing the pockets OF Uncle Sam
have boen saved expense OF about 5000. 10 navc
taken the battery New York via the railroad would
have cost fully $780, while the expenses OF the march
wl not exceed S125.
HISTORY or THE BATTERY.
Battery G is famous in many respects. II was the
drst horse battery ever iormcd In tho United States
service being organized and commanded by the gal
liant Major Ringgod, who foil 10 OF the nrst pat
ties OF the Mexican II then commanded by
Captain Braxton Bragg-known later General Bragg
OF the Concderacy-and under him did excellent
service in tho Mexican war; During the late war II
was first commanded by the present General H. g.
GIBSON and aiterward by Colonel D. Il Ransom.
Captain Sinclair, It's present commander 10 an old
and tried veter.n, and the battery under his COM
mand has much service Of late years In the
Western Indian wars. The other officers are First
Lieutcnants Lancaster aud Humphrey. Second Liou-
tenant Williams and Third Lieutenant Doud The
force consists OF sxty-lve men, seventy horses and
four steel rifle guns OF threc-lnch calibre
TIM MARCH FROM wIhKEsBARRE.
Leaving Wiikcsbarre at on Saturday last our
1rst days march completed whom wo had climbed
the long hill that overlooks the city. This was but
distance OF two and half miles; but the hill was
long and stcop and The horses somewhat green,
SO that best to gradually break them in or the
long journey before them. Captain Sinclair rode ut
the head OF his battery Tho other officers
their respective stations along the line, and the
was brought up by the portable forge and two large
loaded with commissaria stores and baggage
Tho guns drawn by six horses each, and heavy
enough they found them when a steep bill was
reached. Our first camp was pitched In q tine field
not far from the residence Of General Oliver old
army officer. who is now the owner OF extensive
powder mills at this point. The guns and oaissons
were drawn up in line at distance OF about 0f y
feet apart, and between them was stretched rope,
10 which tho horses were tcthercd. The animals
carefully looked after by their respective
ridcrs-the mouths rinsed out feet washed and then
they were led away TO water
MEAL.
In the meantime the camp fires had been lighted. two
fonts had been pched ior tho officers and no. kettles
OF coffee were bong prepared To each man was given
quantity OF hard biscuit and piece OF boiled bacon
anu every horse received twelve pounds OF oats ana
fourteen pounds OF hay. The toasted thoIr bocon
on sticks at tho camp fires anu mado themselves as
comfortable possible. They were In good spirits at
quarters at Fort Hamilton but having received no
pay since last July were almost entirely deprived OF
able grumbing. Through the kindness of General
Oliver the officers wcro well led and cared for a. his
residence .asEr4
LODGINGS
As for the men their only shelter wns tho starry
heaven. The large ,arpauilns used cover tho guns
we're laid on the grass and on these the men stretched
themselves, wrapped up In their red blankets, and
rounds through tho night being relieved intervals
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. rocoyo MOUNTAIN.
The bugIe al nvc O'Clock brought all to their feet.
kfaaf hndto mr. nredn nd
eaten the horses fed and harnesscd ana all DO ready
for the road at little after daylight The terrors OF
pocono Mountain were before US, and strange tales
had been whispered OF rough and stony roads precip
nous hills and deep sioughs We were to pass over
portion OF tho old military road butt by General Sulli
van and his Contncntals In l77s. Doubtless that
General knew his business and did not expect 10 build
purpose OF Battery IN 1877, but had ho dono
SO his building would have been spoiled by the efforts
Of numerous turnpike companies which have had
possession OF ihe road sin.e the time OF General Sui
van These, for chcapncss sake, mended the sioughs
by corduroying them, piled dirt from the bitches
upon other places and generally tnkercd up tho old
road that an original remnant OF the handiwork OF
General sullivan Has hard 10 perceive or lind. How
ever, thanks to good pulling horses, willing mon tc
lend hand, or shoulder 70 push II necessary,
met with wcrc all surnonntcd and the
"trip across tho mountain was made without acci-
along, and tho mon n,Obled at their biscuit as lhey
maj cnrd by their guns but no halt was made during
il was iatc the afternoon before pitched camp,
having marched eighteen miles, IN tho neighbornood
of 81 Stoddartsviilc.
VOUCHERS NO GOOD
Hero oats and hay or tho horses had to be pur
chased well MS wood for the camp lros, and cap
offered pay therefor his vouchers drawn upon
tnc brigade paymascr. But tho good people Of that
ncighborhood did sccm to think that Unclc Sam's
promises to pay woro good ior much and refused the
vouchers. rho officers had therefore to pay Tor tho
articles out o their own pockets aud this wasrcpcncd
In almost every instance wherever campcd Tor
night, tho people refusing vouchers md demanding
ready cash. Thus the officers will be out oil pocket by
the trip at least $10O which, doubtless they Will have
returned TO them whenever Congress SocS III TO
the Army Appropriation bill
PROSPECT OF A GOOD MEAL.
At StoddartsvIllc was tar country hotel, where
the officers were able 10 get their suppcrs, but We
were less fortunate at a little place called EHurts
when we reached al the end Of Mondny's march,
having gone distance OF eighteen miles. Here but
ia,le co1Ia be go. to eat ana that Of the poorcs.
evening, where we could revel In . good supper.
TO make Easton the next day IL necessary TO
mnrch twenty-five miles, and so n start was mado
before daylight Tho men suffered on this days march
considerably. Thoy became ioo,sorc, and several
were allowed to ride The weather all that could
be desired, being cool ana clear. Sleeping In tho
officers tents was hardshp except that toward morn
ing became little cold, while tho mon hudulcd To.
gcther IN ono undis. gnshabe OF red blankets
on the large urpauhns evidently iclt II chilly toward
ing up W warm themselves over the camp nrcs
Easion was made early on Tuesday evening and a
good camp found. We were not disappointed at this
point, ior wo Jared we'll
Tho next morning We crossed the Delaware to Phil
Hpsburg and trod New Jersey soil Tno route was
rKen along tho old Somerset turnpike, via Clinton
oOmcfvtic ana ElIziDcth, auu Wo Iounu SOIL but
roads, whicn easily travelled. Clinton was
reached after march OF twenty-two miles, and camp
wins pi cbed there, but removed IN lew minutes d
mile further 10 n igher ground This day s march
was first experience with the ram, which fell
upon In torrents Tor over two hours and drcnchcd
every TO the skin. II fortunately cleared
up about three r. NJ, and we went into camp under
fair sky. Tho night however, was intensely cold, 80
much so thut thick leo formed In bucket Of
water near the tcnts fhe next morning found Us on
The march little alter daylight. The roads were very
slippery, and tho men could not walk and Keep up
witn the horses Tnoy were, therefore, permitted TO
ride, and 30 logged along through Somervilc and
Bound Brook TIL camp was pitcned IN field just De
yond the latter village. hospitable farmer offered
every privilege Tor camping purposes, while the vii
Iagc bote iound TO be good purveyor supper
ana breakfast our march this day thursday was
twenty -pn miles. -..#sM.4
SLIGHTLY DAMP.
At four o'clock Friday morning tho ran fell upon
in torrents. Tho privates sprang from their open
couchcs 20 escape tho puddes OF rain which they