Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-14
A PRACTICE MARCH.
D REGIMENT on THE Roam
FROM AND TO CAMP ALcEn.
THIRTY NILES THROUGH FINE DUST.
An Interesting Experience q, IN.
new soIdiers-They Think II MOI.
work Than Fun-They Return
10 Camp Exhausted and sIccnx

CAMP ALGER. July l2.-(special,-A,-
Ter marching thirty miles in two DAYS
"V 4"'iu virginia Regiment arrived here
'n's morning at ll:S0 O'clock with every
man tired out
Leaving here at O'Clock Monday morn
ing. We marched three miles AT a rand
| gait TO General Gobin's headouarters
mHeie we were Joined by the Eighth.
! twelfth and Thirteenth Pennsylvania
regiments, one OF them heading the BIZ
gaze while our boys brought up the rear.
me march to the Potomac was made in
remarkably quick time, and tents were
pitched on high hill on the Maryland
SIDE or the Potomac several miles above
the chain bridge. The boys were at once
! set at liberty. and sentinels posted AT
Glen Echo, Cabin John Bridge, and other
| places near the camp. All of these were
soon filed TO overlooking with soldiers.
and did rushing business. The Penn
sylValians had just been paid, but money
was at a premium amongst the Viz
ginians, and those who had money could
have loaned the same at usurers' rates
Of interest.
VISITING WASHINGTON.
The greatest boon granted us was the
privilege Of visiting Washington, and the
cars were soon filled with tired and dusty
soldiers on their way to visit places OF
interest in the capital city. The men
We're required to be in by o'clock last
night, but many of them stayed out much
later. and were consequently in no con-
diuon to march this morning. We had
only one ambulance, and there were few
sick men on the way over, no one being
allowed TO ride unless he was really too
unweN to walk. The greatest complaint
amongst the men was in regard TO the
fast step at which the brigade advanced
and the new shoes, which nearly every
man Of the Third wore. and which were
source Of much pain and discomfort
both going and coming.
All along the road after we left Camp
Alger in the rear the people crowded out
20 view the column, and at many houses
the occupants stood at the gates with sup
plies Of water which the boys eagerly
drank. The Virginia regiment could be
easily distinguished by the Virginia mark
ed on each mans haversack, and in ad-
dition the boys sang all down the lire,
GLORY BE to Old Virginia"
WARM GREETING.
We received a specially cordial greeting
from the inhabitants between here and
the Potomac. The river was filled with
bathers all the afternoon, and everybody
needed a bath badly after the march,
each man being covered with dust from
head to foot The dust was. In fact, one
of the most disagreeable features of our
journey, and made the march much
worse. No accident Of any kind hap
pened either going or coming. though
Private Courtney, OF Company X, had
narrow escape from instant death while
riding on trolley car. The car was
filled with passengers, and Courtney was
hanging on the platform. when the con-
ductor gave a warning cry, and the former
moved his head just in time to miss the
pole in the middle of the tracks. AS II
was the pole grazed his head and inflicted
a painful wound.
TEMPORARY CAMP.
Colonel Male had two shelter tents fix
ed together. and spent very comfortable
night. Reveille was sounded early this
morning, and preparations for departure
commenced. After tents, blankets and
other things were packed, breakfast OF
black coffee, bareback and canned beef
was served, and Immediately following
the assembly was sounded The men were
stiff from the previous march, but the |
were full, with the exception |
of a few men, who had to be carried in |
the ambulance.
The Third Virginia led the march on |
the return. and the men did well, not |
over fifty stragglers turning up at camp; |
most of these came in shortly after the |
regiment arrived The line kept up pretty |
well until the Chain bridge was passed. |
but after that the stragglers from The |
four regiments were very much in evil
dence.
The scene was apt to bring to mind a
description Of marches during the late
war. and was "A most interesting one.
Men passed along the road in the rear
OF their companies. many Of them with
their shoes and coats Off and every one
looking tired to death.
COMPANY O."
The stragglers took dinerent routes
back to camp, and many Of them secured
a ride. The Pennsylvania boys, though
they had three miles less to march than
we did, could not keep up as well. and
probably 100 of them were strung along
the road.
The rear guard came on two miles In
the rear Of the column, and they picked
an stragglers by the score. a number of
The men lodged in the woods until they
passed, and then continued the march
a. their leisure.
TIRED OUT.
What effect the long trip will have on
he health of the men can be better told
tomorrow. as the camp is as silent as
he grave this afternoon, everybody being
asleep.
During the absence Of the regiment
here was a good deal of excitement In
G,l,y f,,t hfCsl, nn |
prisoners in the guard-house were the par
icipants. After a good deal OF trouble
he riot was quelled by Lieutenant Tai
.ot Sergeant Larkin, of Company X, and |