The Topeka state journal., 1902-09-09
KANSAS NEWS.
Troops Are Leaving Leaven-
worth for Fort Riley.
Cavalry and Engineers Start in
Light Marching Order.
GO OVERLAND ROUTE.
Take Blankets, Dogtents, Tin
Cups and Canteens Along.
Seem to Enjoy the Trip as a
Sch0olb0y q Holiday.
GO OVERLAND ROUTE.

r OIL AedVeAWOTlH, hdu.s sept -
was just as If they were going into
Kansas to straighten out a dispute with
the United States government. The
cavalry left the post first, under COM
mand Of Captain Tyree Rivers. and the
four troops marched away to Riley on
time to the minute. The whole COM
mand wore khaki with the blankets.
dogtents. tin cups, canteens and the
other things that soldier may need
in the field hung from the saddle. The
war department had ordered them to
ride to Fort Riley. something over a
hundred miles away, to work at the war
game, and officers, men and horses
seemed to be happy over the start.
A mile from the post is the old gov
ernment lane, the route the plainsmen
took for the west in the old days. A
group of men stood on an elevation and
watched for the soldiers. The white
covered wagons conveying the commits
sary stores had passed. The fort was
nearly hidden from sight by trees.
There they are said an officer. No
for horses and men; the officer knew
better and saw something glisten in the
bright sunlight. Can you see the
sabers glisten? The bright work-the
things that look pretty about soldiers
march" Now every one saw the spark
ling of sunshine and metal through the
trees half mile away.
Out of the green came the khaki men
and their horses and 1t was only a few
minutes before the rattle of sabers and
carbines and tin cups could be heard in
the sound of 300 horses walking. AT
the head was the commanding officer
and the surgeon, Major Birmingham.
and then came the troop of the man
next in rank, Captain Hoenler. The men
of the four troops rode in double file
and the line seemed to be quarter of
mile long. Each piece Of leather or
metal evidently had it's proper place
and was occupying it; every blanket
roll was a replica of the one ahead or
behind it.
the right and then across hill and the
cavalry was gone. This afternoon 1t
went into camp about fourteen miles
from the post and in five days it will
for the mobilization of the army OF TO-
600 under General Rates.
South of the post the engineers camp
has been razed and Major Smith B.
at 10 o'clock. Without band. or even
trumpet call, q mounted detachment
marched away, followed by as many
foot soldiers, all wearing the castle in
sigma of the engineers At one side 90
or rs mules, laden with packs, were
wandering aimlessly about, but they
stayed together. A young soldier climbed
onto the one mule without pack, and
at the grass and trotted along. with the
bell could be heard. The other pack
animals Immediately ceased nibbling
at the grabs and trotted along with the
would follow that mule into the river"
said a soldier.
Then came the major commanding
and the three companies of foot soldiers,
lowed him-all engineers. In the engi-
neers the government evidently expects
to find an infantryman, cavalryman,
bridge builder, mule driver and fairly
Tt. vol
bare of flag, aside from the guidons,
but the engineers CARRIED the stars and
stripes and the battalion's flag. Far
ahead of all the main body of engineers
mounted
That's the advance guard" explained
an officer. These troops are supposed
to be on the march in time Of war; and
sides to get a taste Of what's In the
front"
The last of the main body of engi-
neers had isappeared under the hill and
three men were still wrestling, coaxing
and cursing mildly at a pair of bay
mules that refused to be two of the four
to pull a wagon to Fort Riley. They
simply refused to move, until the wheel
mules were forced onto them, when the
leaders promptly started quick enough
to tear the tugs out. The men only
smiled and wished they might use q
singletree on certain ribs Then came
luOTc DdCkIlASs PcltAIi8 du0 rev tugs anu
a yell and the four mules started away
at gallop. Maybe the brakes failed
to work, or somebody misunderstood
orders, but there was great promise of
wreck, for those mules simply dragged
the wagon in a great circle until one of
the faithful leaders stumbled and fell
Then there was a tangle of harness and
mules and mule heels for the soldiers
to straighten out. The men on that
wagon have in store a lively trip to
Riley and should reach there in time
for the maneuvers. beginning Septem-
ber %.
The route Of the troops was west over
the reservation, past the rifle range
The cavalry will require about five days
for the march, while the foot soldiers
will take from ten to twelve days. To-
day eight companies of the Sixth in
fantry will leave. and on Wednesday
Captain Menoher's mountain battery
will take up the march. Captain Van
Deuzen's siege battery will remain in
the post until all the troops return
about October Is, when 1t will 20 to
q f<,v. xox