The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-07-12
Special from a Staff Core spordent.

Nolle's Third Virginia, which is now
temporarily attached to General
Gobin's command, moved this morn
ing from Camp Alger TO this point on
a practice march. Tonight they are
bouvacked on the banks of the Poto-
mac, and at daybreak will return to
the camp.
The bivouac is at the same point as
on the former march. 1t is not very
convenient or picturesque place, being
bald knoll high above the river and
cut off from communication with it
by the Chesapeake canal and heavily
wooded decivity, but it is the only
accessible camping ground within rea-
sonable distance of Chain bridge and
rather than give the men a longer walk
an unsuitable site is. put up with.
The river was reached by a diff
Rerent route to that travelled on the
previous march but as all roads con-
verge at Chain bridge the old route
was practically parallelltd all the way
from the camp. BY the old route the
distance was nine and, one-quarter
miles. The new route is half a mile
longer but it is not as hlly as the
old one and far from being as dusty.
Better TINE MADE
The absence of flankers and attacks
from the cavalry removed the delays
incident to the former trip and in con-
sequence the time made was much bet
ter, the ga miles being made in three
hours and thirty-seVen minutes as
against the five hours and twenty min
utes that were consumed by nine and
one-quarter miles march of the pre-
vious trip.
1t was generally regretted that the
cavalry were not in pursuit, as their
attacks on the former march created
a fare diversion and made the march
a pleasure rather than a weary trudge.
1t was figured to get the column iG
motion at O'Clock and it was n ii
many minutes later when the advance
guard, composed of Companies A and
II, Nof the Eighth, left the camp and
headed towards Falls Church Fol-
lowing them came the pioneer corrs
with axes picks and shoveIs to clear
the road of any instructions that
might be encountered and repair OF
strengthen bridges if necessary.
General Goblin and staff came next
and then followed the main column
the Eighth, Thirteenth and Twelfth
pennsylvania, and Third. Virginia
marching in the order named Com.
pany ID, Captain Gilman, of the Thir-
teenth, was assigned to guard the pro"
vision train, and two compan nies from
the Virginia regiment formed the rear
guard. Before the sun had warmed
up To its work it was actually chilly
ana not until along about 1880 O'Clock.
after the troops had their canvas un
olo II become warm. In every way tie
day was ideal for the march.
TRIP UNEvENTFUL.
The trip was uneventful but al every
step was interesting because of tnc
beautiful and historic country trav-
ersed. After leaving Falls Church the
route passed through the pretty arI
typically Virginian village Of Chester
brook, thence along the famous Kirby
road to the more famous Leesburg
PIKE, passing Fort Thompson au,i
skirting along the edge of the grounds
that surrounded Fort Marcy. Just
before striking the Leesburg road the
column passed the site of old Caun
Pierpont, where many of the Pennsyl
wanna reserves We're camped in 1862
ana where the sires of many how IN
the Third brigade underwent the san,a
nara experiences that the sons arc
now putting up with at Camu Alge;
When Chain bridge was reached
general Goblin was reminded that he
once previously took a troop of United
states volunteers over that bridge Tho
Gay or the battle of Balls Bluff he was
on outy at the bridge and picked m,
nine bodies that floated down from rho
pattieneld twelve miles farther up tba
river. Those We're the days whom
rehhsylVanians and Virginians didn't
Harch In the same brigade" the per-
eral remarked as he looked back ot
tne southern regiment that had he IN
paced under his charge by Major Cen
eral Britley, ex-Confederate brieadin,
general.
arrived at the site selected for tho
camp, the dog tents were erected in
iohs, low lines, blankets We're made
ih'o peus ana the making of coffee was
sotteH unuer way. After the CANNED
morse and hard tack had been duIy
rammed home, all except the unfortu.
nate ones who caught guard or other
detail We're free for the day and Il,
the divers and devious ways knoun
only to soldiers, they proceeded ~
employ themselves. First of ALI as
was their bounden duty, they drank
ury the TWO taverns located on the
scqueouct road nearby and ordered
the proporietors to get more ana
plenty OF ice, which the proprietors
win aiacrity proceeded to do and did
CANAL WAS POPULAR
The canal was quite as liberalIv nat
ronized as the taverns, but there was
not that wild and exultant rush for
phe water that characterized the pre-
vious march. The soldiers are getting
used to dirt now and don't mind II
az much as at first, possibly. AT anv
nate, the water didn't seem half as AT
trhctive as 1t did three weeks ago
wRen the soldiers enjoyed their first
swim.
general Goblin made himself at home
on a stretch of green sward TO the
wtSt of the camp. commanding a view
or the whole field. He ate off the
ground, smoked pipe, went about in
MS shirt sleeves and actually evinced
interest In things Just as If he wasn't
a. rigadier general at all. Orderlies