Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-07-08
MILITARY CYCLERS
Soldier Boys on Ride Through Mary
land and Virginia
Yesterday Winchester Was Reached After
town-Preparing . Map ofthe Country.

On Wednesday at 8:15, a. stated in The
STAR, the Military Cycle Company started on q
long ride thr ough Maryland and Virginia. One
Of the cy clers writes to The STAR:
FREDERICK, Nd, July 5, 1893.
Promptly at s:15 the Warrington military
bicy clsts formed in line in front Of their head
quarters. 18th street and Pennsylvania avenue.
Our first breathing place was at the foot OF the
hill on the bank Of Rock creek Ut took the
breath away to ride down the hilD, where we
halted to wait for one or two Of the number who
were detained.
Circumstances being such that Capt. Story
could not be with us First. Lieut.. W. A. Beck
was in command. A detachment. under COM
mand Of Sergeant Virgins, was detailed to 90
to Frederick by way Of Cookville. The main
body was to 60 the nearest way, the only re-
striction being to meet at City Hotel. Frederick,
at O'Clock, or as soon thereafter as possible.
At $50 the last squad pulled into Frederick.
They stopped over an hour a few miles out with
q comrade who was overcome with the heat. In
absence OF post surgeon Sergeant Goodwin
acted in that capacity, aud, with Private Crox-
ton as hospital steward, they soon had the I'M
fortunate man so he was able to ride into town.
At o'clock he was as comfortable as could be
morning to resume the march.
Our ride tomorrow to Hagerstown will be
only twenty-six miles, and as some of the boys
wanted to start much earlier than others the
morning drill will be postponed until II o'clock,
at Boonsboro, which is about half way.
THE COMMAND.
Our roster shows the following men present:
First Lieut. Commanding W. A. Beck Sergts.
Virgins and Goodwin. CorpL Mcqueen,
Priv ates Beeler. Body, Brewer, Churchill,
Cobleigh, Croxton, Gibson, Harleston. Jenkins
and Shumwsy. Several others are expected to
Join us at some point ahead.
The local bicycle club of Frederick opened
| its rooms to us last evening and entertained us
royalty. The time was spent until IL o'clock
| in games Of various kinds and in cultivating
each others acquaintance. The evening here
will long be remembered by the boys on ac-
count of the hospitable reception rendered Us
by the Frederick Bicycle Club.
After satisfying tho demands Of appetite .
party Of the boys wanted to see the grave Of
Francis Scott Key. the author Of 1.-The Star
Spangled Banner" SO they went to Mt. Olivet
cemetery and found the gates closed, but
through the kindness of the sexton they were
| allowed to enter and view the spot where lies
the dust OF one whose poem will be sung by
every American citizen rs long the stars and
stripes shall wave over free country.
REACHED HAGERsTowN.
HAaERsrowN, Nd, July 8. 1898.
1t was . ''go-as-you- please race from
Frederick to Boonsboro' this forenoon; some
started at $50 and some at 8, and for about two
miles the roads were good and then about twelve
miles it was ''up hill and down hill" Several
OF the boys wondered why their wheels would
not coast on what appeared to be down grade,
but upon looking back it was found to be
heavy no grade. So deceitful was the lay Of
the country for miles that, looking ahead the
road appeared level, but upon looking back 1t
showed plainly that we were climbing the
mountains.
From the top, for about six miles, We passed
through beautiful valley or tableland, then
up another mountain. where Gen. Mcclellan
was held in cheok by the battle Of South Noun
tain. Just before the engagement at Antietam.
We passed many points Of historic interest
on this trip A good portion Of the way we
travelled the same road over which Stonevall
Jackson moved his army the time Barbara
Fritchie waved the flag, which formed the
groundwork for Whittier's celebrated poem.
Near the top Of the first mountoin we found
Braddocks spring. named in honor of Gen.
Braddock, for during the French and Indian
war he and his army drank from this spring.
Riding over the road We did not wonder that
the general was thirsty, and after we had SAM
pied the water we did not wonder that they all
drank; some of US drank several times and
then wanted to carry the sf ring with u.s.
quite crowd.
The last squad rolled into Hagerstown shortly
after 4, and while your scribe is at his work
most OF the boys are taking in the town." and
are as anxious for q ride when they left
Washington, showing no more signs OF fatigue
riding over the mountains than they would
riding up Capitol Hill.
Private Brewer, who was overcome with heat
yesterday. stood the mountain voyage first
rate, and by tomorrow morning will be ready
for the journey well as ever.
Private Brody is taking notes and arranging
them in convenient form for reference so If it
Is necessary to move army over any part OF
our route his production will be of inestimable
value, as it shows accurately the distance from
place to place. the natural features of the land
regards elevation streams, springs and loca-
tions for fortifications, &c.
YESTERDAY AT WINCHESTER.
WINCHESTER, Va, July 7, $685.
The morning dawned with "Old Sol" OBJ
scured bya threatening cloud, SO that the morn
ing drill was pleasure instead of an oppressive
task. 1t took US only one hour to drill, from
to Z, after which Hagerstown breakfast was
relished by hungry set of militamen.
The overcast SKY made riding pleasure. If
any one wants to enjoy beautiful scenery Just
let him ride over the road from Hagerstown to
Williamsport. a distance Of six miles,
When the corn is in the ,asseI ana the barleys
Hagerstown has several pixies radating from
the center Of town that are nearly equal to
Washingtons asphalt payements. The six miles
to Wlihamsport were covered by the slowest
riders in thirty-seven minutes; most Of the
party made the distance i'll half an hour. The
threatened clouds perspired liquid rain, but
not enough to prevent the march, yet we
stopped about two hours before crossing the
ferry.
A small detachment went out to the battle
field of Antietam to view the national ceme-
terry, which contains the remains of nearly
4.700 Union soldiers who lost their lives on this
bloody battlefield. The cemetery is near Lees
old headquarters Gen. McCleilan's headauar-
tiers and signal station are also in plain view
and several other points OF historic interest,
such as Burnsides bridge.
This trip is not, some imagine, one wholly
of pleasure, for several Of our number are ut
work. and will upon their return have a
map published for use Of the War Department.
their work will not be completed for several
days after their return. They will make map
Of each days run, giving distance. direction
and condition of the roads between the various
towns. rivers. mountains, springs, &c.
In this land OF toll gates it is to stay with
the sergeant who wears service stripes. His
squad was halted by one of the faithful en-
poyes and toll demanded. With merry
twinkle about his mouth and serious, aston
ished look in his voice he pointed II, his str;nes