The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-06-25
Regiments Tired Out
After The Forced
March.
Soldiers Scared By Snakes
pseyer.I Companies Have To Remove
Their Tents On Account OF
Them.

CAMP ALGER, a, June ~, 1875
Tired, dirty and pretty well done up
the Michigan boys got back from thell
forced march shortly after noon today
However, they were ready for another al
once and were certainly good for anotheI
five miles right then and there. The dis
lance of the march was more than they
had anticipated. IL may have been a
ten-mile run, but it certainly appeared
much longer 10 the boys on foot. The
road led dosn past Dunn Loring station
which was the worse part OF the road. IL
was terribly dusty on that part OF the
run and the sun came down terribly hot.
After passing Dunn LoriDg for short
time it was still a dusty roadbed, but
later in the day a cool ocean bre' re was
refreshing TO the men on the march.
Stops were made at every little way and
the men were given rests as often as
needed. Shortly after 3 o'clock IN the
evening the Potomac river was reached
and small tents were pitched. In less
time than il takes to tell it, supper was
ready and greatly enjoyed. The entiIe
brigade was camped within thirty yards
oil the river and everybody got into the
water for a swim. but the river bottom
was rough and rocky and the bath was
not greatly enjoyed. Copper head snakes
were also evident about the camp and
more than one soldier crawled into his
tent TO find it already occupied by a
snake. One battalion OF Massachusetts
boys we're forced to move camp on ac-
count OF the number OF snakes. The COP
per heads are deadly poisonous and many
OF the boys we're frightened by them.
Guards were speedily posted for the
night and the boys turned in good
and early and all rested well dur
ing the night. sleeping rolled up in a
blanket on the bare ground. Everybody
was up bright and early in the morning
and the start back for camp was made
at 7:30 when the advance guard started
out. They arrived at camp at noon.
The Calumet boys we're in the advance
guard and stood the entire march as
good n not better than any other CON-
pany in the entire brigade. Not a man
OF them fell out during the march, al
though in some Of accompanies the men
were dropping behind all along the line.
There were only nine men in the entire
regiment who could not keep up on the
outgoing march, but on the return trip
there were quite few stragglers. When
ii is taken into consideration that the
boys were loaded down with haversacks
filled with bareback and their complete
set of dishes and cup, canteen and two
blankets, tents with posts, beside the
heavy Springfield rife aud that they
walked twelve and perhaps fourteen
miles in line inside OF four hours in a
blazing hot sun they certainly stood it
well and the boys from copperdom made
a much better showing than many OF
those who have resided farther south.
The Thirty fourth discounted the Thirty
third and the Ninth Massachusetts, for
endurance.
TIE bows were good and glad to get
back to camp and enjoy square meal
with Cook Frank Muck had ready for
them. Most OF the boys needed another
bath this afternoon.
Lincoln Cunningham and B. L. John
son, two former Calumet boys who are
now at Baltimore. visited camp Sunday.
The former is now studying dentistry
at Baltimore and the latter, who was
employed on the engineering corps OF the
Calumet and Hecla, is now holding a
lucrative position on the State geological
survey Of Maryland. Most OF the boys
were out on the march, but they were
entertained by those who were in camp.
GUCK,