Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-07-10
| ON WAY To MT. GRETNA
Field Battery Makes Quick
Time to York, Pa.
MARCH BY MOONLIGHT
MEN MAKE CREDITABLE RECORD
FOR EFFICIENCY.
Pleasing Incidents Of the Trip Through
Acknowledgements Order
to Break Camp.
Special Correspondence OF The Evening Star

Speclal correspondence or The Evening Star.
YORK, Pa, July o. 1903.
Tired and hungry, but thoroughly enjoy
ing their march through Maryland and
part of Pennsylvania, the officers and men
of the 4th Field Battery of the regular
army arrived here today at noon on its
way to Mt. Gretna for target practice.
Although the first two days Of the trip
were almost without incident the last
thirtysix hours were filled with enough
excitement to stay any cravings the men
may have had for that sort of thing.
Within the past th!rty-six hours the reg
ular army, as represented by this small
detachment, has demonstrated that it is
quite as efficient as were any Of the COM
mands that gained everlasting fame dur
ing the great civil war The battery car
ries six guns. six caissons, four escort wag-
ons, a heavy artillery wagon, a battery
wagon. an ambulance, is in charge OF five
officers and is manned by lis men. It also
includes four teamsters, 115 horses and two
mules. Within the past thirtysix hours 1t
has marched forty-five miles. part of which
was between o'clock last night and
o'clock this morning, without any accident
or delay. The command broke camp at
Dorsey's Cross Roads. Md, forty five miles
from Washington, yesterday morning. and
marched to Union Mills, Nd, distance of
fifteen miles. by noon At Union Mills the
officers were handsomely entertained by
Mr.. Herbert Shriver and his brother Mr..
Will Shriver, and the members of their
families The families occupy two large
houses at Union Mills, the name being
given the place by reason Of the establish
ment there of canning factories conducted
by the Shrivers An informal dance was
given at the home of Mr.. VIII Shriver in
honor Of the battery's arrival. and num-
Der of young ladies came up from West
minister. Nd. to attend.
Unexpected Order to Break Camp.
While the merrymaking was at its height
three guns were fired as an alarm signal
and orders were issued by Captain Foote
to break camp Immediately. The battery
had encamped for the night, ostensibly.
Capt. Foote having taken no one into his
confidence as to his intentions. Within half
an hour after the signal sounded the bat
terry was mounted and on its way to York
by a forced march in the moonlight.
The occasion was made especially inter-
esting and exciting because the officers had
been kept posted as to the movements Of
the confederate troops under Maj. Gen. j.
f.. B. Stuart during the days that preceded
the battle of Gettysburg. Gen. Stuart's
command has beer cited by military ex-
perts as one of the most efficient and mobile
leaders of cavalry the world has ever seen,
and by a singular coincidence 1t is noted,
his division followed almost the same route
as the battery has since 1t left Washing
ton up to last night Another feature that
made the night march of more than usual
interest was Mr.. Herbert Shriver's minute
description of the night march made by
Stuart's scouts under Mr.. Shriver's guild
ance, as a volunteer on the famous cavalry
leaders staff.
all the events that preceded the battle of
Gettysburg. and while he has not said so.
1t is believed the night march was made to
test the strength and endurance of a mod
field battery comma red with 2tua
command. The column broke camp shortly
after o'clock and proceeded as rapidly as
possible toward Hanover. Pa, just across
the state line. The night was perfect and
full moon made the road almost as bright
as 1t would be in day time 1t must be re.
membered that the battery had marched
n1teen miles over rough roads since
o'clock in the morning, and that while the
horses had little rest, the duties Of MAX
ing camp for the night had engaged the
attention of all the men and they were
tired
On over the beautiful hills of MARYLAND
the column marched passing by some of
the BEST kept farms in the east through
several silent villages and crossing the
state line at point near Littletown, where
they diverged from the route followed by
Gen. Stuart and passed on to the town Of
Hanover
Hanover. sixteen miles from the last
point, was reached at about o'clock in
the morning. The men marched up and
down some of the steepest hills and over
some of the rockiest roads in the country
The column did not keep to the turnpike
but passed over country roads that are not
kept in the finest state possible
After passing through Hanover the COL
umn passed out to the northeast of the
town and bivouaced on the road No tents
We're put up. Officers and men simply tied
up their horses and rolled themselves up
In blankets and slept by the roadside on
the bare ground.
Aroused by Bugle Call.
Their rest was broken at 4:3O O'Clock by
the bugle call, and after hurried break
fast of bareback and Stun" "a stew
made from beef left over from dinner the
night before), the march to York was re-
sumed. The column had eighteen miles
yet to go. and though wearied from lack
of sleep and almost continuous marching
since daybreak the day before the entire
command turned into the fair grounds here
at noon today without a single hitch or
a moments delay. Tomorrow morning at
4:30 o'clock the general will be sounded
and the tents struck. Camp will be made
tomorrow night at Marietta fifteen miles
from here. 1t will be a comparatively
short march. but of the heroic efforts of
the last two days and nights Capt. Foote
is disposed to take the last stages of the
journey easy. He expects to arrive at Mt.
Gretna Saturday afternoon, and the state
troops will encamp there for ten days, be-
ginning Saturday
camp was pltCned Monday night
beautiful site on the farm of Mr.. George
Howard. a short distance from Brookville,
Md, twenty-five miles from Washington
The officers were received Hospitality by
Mr.. Howard and the members of his fam
lily, and were his guests at supper. Aside
from the supper at Mr.. Towards and a
special supper in their honor at the Messrs
Shriver's homes at Union Mills, the officers
have lived on the army field rations, and
had no fresh meat until last night.
Camp was pitched Tuesday on one of the
Dorsey farms at Dorsey's Cross Roads,
Md. after a ride of twenty miles. The
camp site was well situated and attracted
great attention.
Everywhere the battery has gone it has
been most Hospitality received, and the
camps have been crowded with visitors
In many places acquaintances made a year
ago. when the battery passed through on a
similar mission, were renewed, and many
new acquaintance made.
At Westminster, pretty town, made
famous as the first place from which rural
free delivery was attempted. the city au-
thorities turned the town over to the SOL
dierS during the half hour or more of the