The National tribune., 1896-03-05
nMAKING TRACKS,"
Hard March and Hard Road to Hell
Efgel.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Ten. Lynn,
at the head of his little force, consisting OF
g. 700 men and four guns, left Bonneville, on
the Missouri, July 3, 1856 in order 10 uhilo
with Siyel at Springfield. On the 18th news
came of Sigel's fight at Carthage, whereupoh
orders were at once issued Tor iorceo
march to relieve Sigel. The column was
then So miles from Springfield. The order
10 March came at a. IN. Thursday, j uly H.
and lust two hours after the troops had gone
into camp. With barely sleep OF TWO
hours, after a days march that had been one
of unusual severity, the column was up ana
in motion to relieve Sigel.
The march of that day was one OF the most
remarkable made during the war. 1t was
made under July sun whose hea. DIS,
tered and scOrcbed everything Whlch .
touched. The roads were full OF horfipie
dust: there was not the slightest breath o,
air stirring, and what was breathed seeneu
as if lust from the depths of tbrlce-heateu
| furnace.
Bad as was the day the night was worse;
| At dark the column had made 30 miles, and
| then the real labor of the march began.
Just beyond little town named Stockton,
| the first encountered since leaving Bocne-
| VILE the road entered densely-tinbered
region, from which the troops did not emerge
| till the next day. The trees arched over tne
| narrow roadway, and the co umn was ehVei-
op-d in an impenetrable darkness.
The road ran through country when
seemed to have been rent asunder and plled
up in indescrbable confusion. Now the
weary men climbed hills that were almost
perpendicular, and then plunged down
others to meet at the bottom stream wn,cn
rushed through the rocks with a roar ana an
irresistible force These the men waded
! often up to the waists or the shoulders, OF
floundered through miry sloughs, in which
the wheels of the cannon sank TO the axles.
Great masses of rock blocked the narrow
road way at intervals; stumps were as timex
as the teeth of hatchel; deep gullles mao
been torn across the trail by mountain tor.
rents into which the men stumbled aho
fell The banging borghs OF the trees
dipped down to the path, sweeping ,nt
heads of the pilgrims and grating harsniy
across the tops of the ambulanceS. Inc
wearied column pushed on as it could
There was the sil,nce of WEAKNESS be
yond comprehension, unbroken save by TN
claiter of the iron hoos OF the horses or tn
grinding of the wheels of the cannon as they
, crossed the Lodges OF rocks.
When the column halted moment, that
gun might be extrcated from some obstacle
! the soldiers fell to the ground as II siruci
, by lightning Often soldier during tn
/ march won stop suddenly and be fOun'
fast asleep. Mounted men had to dismoun
aud lead their horses to prevent falling IRON
their animals while asleep; hundreds oil me-
hnd lallrn out of the ranks at the waysid'
and determinediy refusing, in spite OF threa.
I and even punishment, to move on, were lel
where they fell And thus this tremeBdou
struggle continued until the dawn had Jus
begun 10 palels lIghtup the eastern horror
o when there came o messenger announcer
that Sgel was safe. a. The word to halt wa
passed along the line, and in moment IN
> long line sank 10 the earth and slept wheI
it fell. 49,
:, The entire distance Travelled during tn
= memorable march was 48 miles, which, cor
: sidering the character OF The weather an
the road. and the fact that the troops ha
:, but two hours sleep'the night before star
;. ing, was one of thelmost remarkable occu
= rences of the kind during the war;. L
D., Co. Il, LIST Iowa,