The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-31
~ army orders il the various daily

LhOoI udlly OAG VIM AOllSCo
~ army orders il the various daily
papers will read that the -
Regiment of Infantry is ordered
from Fort Myer, Va. to Fort Bliss or
even to take station in the Philippine
Islands. Such changes, especially when
they are within the confines OF the
United States mean nothing to the army
woman and less, of course. to her SOL
der husband. But, changing stations
by regiments or by companies in the
frontier days of long ago" was quite
a different proposition. Now 1t is hop
into railroad train. sleepers for the
entire command, officers and men. In the
old days il was marching afoot or horse
back fifteen to twenty miles a day in all
kinds of weather, eating bareback and
ba con. with little coffee. There would
lie only one or two wagons to company
TO haul the tentage and equipment OF the
men and officers. which were confined to
the dearest necessities.
Tramp Across Wilderness.
In the spring Of 1856 the Eighteenth
United States Infantry, in which regf-
uent was then captain, was ordered
to Fort Bridger, Utah, and Camp Doug
Las. adjacent to Salt Lake City, two com
panies at the latter station and four
companies at the former. The rest of
the regiment was to open up new
country and to establish and build two
new posts in the Big Horn country OF
the Rockies. in northern Wyoming, Fort
Phil Kearney on Piney Creek and Fort
@. E. Smith on the Big Horn River. this
lsst fort on the border line OF Mon
tena, territory unknown to the whites,
save few trappers belonging to the old
Hudson Bay Company. as daring and
hardy a class OF men as any known Ia
the worlds history. Ny company was
destined for Fort Bridger, distant from
Leavenworth about LOO miles. We es-
timated II would take US about three
rconths to make the trip.
1 want to give you the experience of
an army woman on such journey. One
day is very much like another on such
a march
Sounding the General"
p6NellESS VI 5CAhai6 op lime Az SOoAA-
ed at such an hour in the morning as
the * o. (army slang for commanding
offlcer), has decided. He is governed
IN making his selection by the question
as to how far Il Is from the marching
point to water and wood, but more es-
pecially water, for both men and animals
must be well cared for In this direc-
Reveille having sounded. the women
OF the party have to make hasty toll
ct, In order that the command may b5
ready to move off as soon as possible at
ter the general" has sounded. And
while there are oftentimes some pc
culiar delays in starting attributed tc
the woman wanting to catch just an
other forty winks,' I cannot recall but
one woman who almost invariably de-
layed the command. simply through
thoughtlessness, and yet this woman, II
the instance / am about to recite, ex-
hIbited a nerve far beyond what would
| be expected of the fair sex. Picture. Il
you Will. the far Western country o.
! forty years ago, when hostile redskins
were on every side. and you will have
framework. This woman, who was
the wife Of our quartermaster. and whom
we will call Mrs. Ettie." had delayed
| the command numerous times by not get
ting up for her breakfast This hat
caused Colonel Lewis. who was In com
mRnd, and who was afterward killed b,
the Cheyennes in their race for libert,
from the Indian Territory to their ole
| home In the north. to lose patience
He bore these delays with patience. and
at last demonstrated with the quarter
! master. Captain Elite concluded tc
give my lazy lady" scare. He went t.