The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-09-16
Compnny II al Braddork,s rlola

the advice of Col. Washington. his
aid-de camp in march TO reach
Fort Duquesne, now Pittsburgh. he
was drawn into ambush, and the man
ner of his death, and the place have
since become historic. The little town of
Braddock on the Monongahela river
stands near the site of the ambuscade,
Opposite this village on a plateau rails.
ing abruptly from the Monongahela is
situated large tract of land owned
| by the Pennsylvania Railroad Com
pany, which is enclosed by high
board fence. These grounds are used
| for picnics and other purposes being
situated about twelve miles from
Pittsburgh, and in the midst of a
populous section, hundreds of people
avail themselves of this splendid site
for pleasure parties, the railroad COM
panies making nice thing by the is
suing of excursion tickets.
On these extensive grounds and near
this historic spot the 4th and 9Th Briga-
des of nnsylvania militia Were order
ed into encampment to commence on
the 7th and end on the 14th day of Sep
tember, 1880.
The 4th Brigade Gen. Jas. A. Bea-
yer, is composed of the 9Th, 10th, l4th,
and 18th Regiments.
The 5th Brigade Gen. H. S. Huide-
koper, is composed of the 10th, 10th,
and 18th Regiments.
There was also present at this in
spection Knapp's Battery, of Pitts
burgh, and the Titusville Battery.
Also one cavalry company on foot.
The inspections of the several regi-
ments were held each day, that of the
18th Regiment coming on Friday.
Company HI of Ridgway, started
from home on Monday mail, and
reached Driftwood late the same even
ing. The three-cornered town of
Driftwood with its miserable streets,
and poor accommodations kept the
boys running from one hotel to an
J other, all afraid to give us food and
| lodgings for fear that, as we were in
uniform, some damage might be done
to their magnificent hotels. They had
heard that soldiers We're tough custo.
mers. And it so happened that Co. II
by reason of this bad name earned by
| other soldiers came within an ace of
having to sleep in the streets. Lodg-
ing and supper were finally obtained
at the KeIso House, for part of the
company, the other hotels changing
their minds and taking in the rest OF
the orphans. The night was passed
quietly, excepting the noise and sing
ing and at 8 o'clock Tuesday morn
ing we were again on the way, reach
| ing Pittsburgh at II o'clock we Law
there until I o'clock in the evening
when train containing the 17th Regi-
ment, and composed of 20 cars took
us to campat Braddock's Field, which
place was reached at about 10 O'Clock.
The tents were all up and ready to
be occupied. After drawing our blank
cts, one rubber and one wnnlen for
| each man, the tired company lay
down to pleasant dreams, without
| supper as no rations were TO be had
until morning.
Wednesday morning as the last
note of the reveille had died away, the
boys were astir, roll call was had, and
then grand raid made on The COM
misary's tent.
The rations consisted of bread, cof-
fee, sugar, rice, beans, soap and cam
dies, and fresh beef. VIM. Morey
was designated as cook for Co II and
in short time breakfast was well
under way, and the boys helping
| themselves to seats on the ground,
with great relish stored away the
government rations. The rest of the
day was passed by the boys in getting
straw for beds, cleaning guns, fixing
up inside of tents, &c. In the after
noon we had dress parade, and at
"taps" turned in for the night.
Thursday morning came cold and
gloomy with the sun cloud-hid and a
drizzling rain slowly wetting the
clothes and chilling the spirits of the
boys All day the terrible drizzle
kept up. Tents were overfowed, mud
puddles formed in the streets of the
company, while boots We're covered
with thick mud. Even the straw
used for beds was thoroughly damp
ened, and when night came all hands
turned in to lay in wet clothes, and
with saddened hearts sought sleep,
only to hear all night on the canvass
that everlasting drizzle, drizzle, driz-
zle
Friday morning the sun came out in
all its brightness, gladdening all
hearts and drying up the mud. In
the afternoon the 18th Regt. was in
spected, and we have no doubt the
report will be A No. l. Co. H turned
out 80 men, one man (P. f. Mann)
being sick, the boys were all feeling
well. And with guns clean, boots
blackened, ,overcoats rolled, knapsacks,
haversacks, canteens, and all in good
order, eyes TO the front, We have no
reason to doubt an excellent report.
On Saturday Gov. Hoyt arrived, es-
corted by the l4th regiment. A salute