Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1895-10-23
A PRACTICE MARCH.
From Whipple Barracks to the Natural Bridge and Return-FrOm the Diary
 Kept by R. II. SIeEfnEe.


 Kept by R. H. SIeEinges.
 EOn September P, 1895, the der was h sued to Companies C aId G, Eleventh infantry, stationed at
 nipple Barracks, Arizona, for practice march, to be made to some point loo miles from Whipple Barracks, through territory un- familiar to the officer having com mand' The battalion officers were undecided as to what point should
 be the destination; three places were considered, viz: Pheuix, Fl g- staff and the National Bridge, and
 the typographical knowledge of the
 route to the National Bridge being
 the least known 1t was selected. The
 necessary arrangements for the
 march were soon completed and the companies, of one of which the
 writer was a member, ready to start.
 On Monday morning, September
 l6th, at ten minutes after eight the
 assembly was sounded and the troops
 fell in, in heavy marching order.
 The command right forward, fours
 right, column left-march" was
 given a few minutes later and they
 moved of, the regimrntal band play ing the we'll known parting airs,
 The Girl l Left Behind Me- and
 Aud Lang Syng." A cheer went
 up from the companies left behind to their departing comrades, who, in response, waved their adieux and
 Whipple Barracks was left behind
 for the more stirring life of the
 tented field. The route of the line of march lay in a northerly direc- tion and over very good road. 4 short distance past the Four Mile
 house the command was halted for
 a short rest preparatory to making
 the ascent of a long and rather steep
 hill that was before them. While
 here resting two wearisome locking individuals who, owing to the eel eritv of the march, had been ob-
 viously unable to keep up with the procession, struggled up, their couu- tenances indicating every appearance of dire exhaustion. When the sum
 init of the hill was reached a halt
 was made to enable the men to re- cover their breath when the march was continued. At l1:40 a. m. Mas sicks, eight miles from Whipple
 Barracks, was reached and camp es- tablished. The camping ground was on the slope of long hin, com
 manding an admirable view of the we'll known hydraulic mine, noted for the quality of its mineral-placer gold; the mine was not then work ing. Wood was rather scarce and water had to be carried from a well at the bottom of the hill about 500 yards distant. The weather was all that could be desired. The men were m excellent condition. The remaining portion of the day was spent in bringing wood and water for the culinary department and fill ing canteens for the next days march. This occupation was so fatiguing after the unaccustomed exercise of marching with packs that, as the shades of night drew down about the cluster of tents, the men were glad to throw themselves on natures bed, and despite the hardness of their couches, were soon slumbering. At reveille the next 1 morning the men arose greatly re- freshed. By the time their ablu- l tions were completed breakfast was | ready. The meal finished tents were l struck, bedding promptly rolled | and wagons quickly loaded. At7:l0 | a. m. assembly was sounded and few minutes later the command was | in heavy marching order ready for the second days march, which lsy | in a northeasterly direction. The road, though dusty, was in tolerably | good condition and the pace so rapid that they reached Agua Fria, seven miles distant, at l0:20 a. ID. Camp was pitched on a small plat | near a ranch, where an ample sup | ply of water was obtained which was deliciously cool and refreshing, prov ing itself worthy of its cognomen, "Agua Fria" The day was passed in various ways. Night came on and the camp was soon ablaze with fires. around which the men gathered to discuss the events of the day, and plan, as soldiers can, for the march on the following day. By 9 p. m. all, save the sentinels guarding the camp, had retired to their tents for the night. About 9:30 p. m. their repose was interrupted very unex- pectedly by a tremendous thunder storm and drenching downpour of rain, preceded by a binding sand storm. For several minutes after the sound of tent pegs being driven deeper in the ground, mingling with the storm, was evidence of the fact that the unlocked for had hap pened Adding to the misery of the ones were the sarcastic of the older campaigners who had earlier in the evening taken proper precaution against such an event. After the tents were securely fastened the now thoroughly rockies" hastened inside and were soon lulled to sleep by the batter of the rain falling on the can vas.
 Wednesday morning dawned beau Breakfast was eaten, camp broken. wagons loaded so rapidly, a"d troops again en route, that when the sun rose above the hori- zon, the troops were we'll on their way. Tn, storm having cooled the and settled the dust, and being unimpeded by burden some knapsacks. which were carried on the wagons. Hudson'sranch, g 2-S miles away, was reached by noon, the road was very rocky and through high hills. A halt was made here to enable the men to regale themselves on lunch that had been prepared at the previous camp. After the lunch had been disposed of, one of the wagons, which hitherto accompanied the having to return to Whipple Barracks, its load was dis tributed among the other wagons. To make room for the additional