The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-11-13
THE THIRDS TERRIBLE MARCH.
An Old Regulars Recollections of Army
Life Back in 1878.

"a ILL.,
Life Back In 1878.
Talking Of soldiers having a tough time"
said an ex-private OF tho old Third United
States Infantry. II have my doubts il any In
the United States military service ever had a
tougher time than the Third Infantry had in
the winter OF .ess it might have been
the Continental army at Valley Forge. 1
was a member Of the Third Infantry In
1878. We had been stationed at New Or
leans for several years. but during the
strike riots In Pennsylvania in the sum-
mer Of 1877 We were ordered to that
State. Soon afterward we were sent West to
assist in subdutnG Chief Joseph and his band
OF Nez Perces hostiles. When the regiment
arrived in Montana we were ordered to Helena.
This required a tramp OF more than 900 miles.
BY reason OF our long residence in the South
We were In no condition. either physically or
by equipment. for winter in the Rocky Noun
tains. and our sufferlngs were terrible.
During a large portion Of the long march
We were exposed to most violent snowstorms.
with the thermometer never less than fifteen
degrees below zero. Not an officer or private
In the regiment was provided with overshons
or gloves. Many Of us were nearly barefoot.
and. added TO the agony OF freezing feet. was the
additional torture of being forced to grin the
cold steel ~ our muskets with naked hands day
after day. When the regiment left New Orleans
there was rot 50 in tho possess on OF officers
and men. The women and children belonging
70 the command. including the wives and fami-
lies OF the officers. numbered thirty-two. and
transportation for these. of course, had to be
secured ut individual expense. But for the
timely aid of friends, who understood the utter
iy impecunious condition of the rank and file
and advanced sufficient funds. these dependent
and destitute followers of the ca mp would have
suffered abandonment in their time OF greatest
need and peril. On the march north TO
Corinne. several Of the women and chill
dren fell sick under the terrible exposure,
and how they ever managed to survive at all
is to me to this day something to marvel al.
The transportation outfit allowed to the COM
mand was limited 70 three am ulances. As
there was not a dollar in the regiment. the
Rimplest wants OF the sufferers could not he
Rratifled. as the $50 atad ranchmen and hunt
ers in that then desolate region would not part
with anything when they found that cash for Il
would not be forthcoming
AT last. when the regiment was nearing the
end of its march, q ragged, penniless. freezing.
half-starv'ng body Of men. some OF the officers
induced ranchmen TO buy their pay rolls at a
discount OF % per cent. on the dollar. and used
the proceeds In supplying the wants Of the sick
and most needy. When We at last reached
most quarters we would have beer an easy
mark for an enemy If one had confronted us,
for q dozen Indians could have got away with
the whole command. so utterly exhausted and
physically ineapacitated was every man Of MS.
Soldiers on the frontier have had some terrible
experences. but doubt i any Of them can
parallel that awful march OF the Third Infantry
Through the Wintry wilds Of Montana"