The National tribune., 1903-12-10

brought along, such as blankets, quilts.
| feather pillows, extra clothing, etc, all
properly labeled, and, slip them home
| in short, about everything that would dis
tinguish civilian from soldier. in the
| way of hats, shirts, coats, and toilet lux
| uries. were packed in large boxes and sent
| to Williamsburg for distribution to parents
and friends.
l assure the reader that sending back
| those things that SO very apparently
marked the condition of ones life was not
the most pleasant experience one could
pass, by any means. And / know that
| sight of them. when they reached the sew
| eral homes. must have brought untold sad
| ness and bitter tears Of sorrow, and deep
anxiety for the welfare of those whom
once they clothed.
| The Orderly-Sergeant of each company
commanding details of men could be seen
carrying from the Commssary. large
boxes of hard crackers, quarters of beef.
sides of bacon, fat picked pork. and
| bushels of potatoes: and it was not until
a very late hour that the old camp ket-
ties stopped boiling that night. Cooked
| rice, beans, coffee and bean soup, not be-
ing convenient article to carry in haver-
! sacks that part of the soldiers diet was
cut off when or march.
When we were told that enough grub
| to last three days, consisting of boiled
| beef, fat pork, boiled potatoes, and hard
tack, had to be carried in those black
bags, and that, too, right in the dog days,
when decomposition il most rapid, some
thought that it was tiine right then and
there to call halt to such unreasonable
demands.
On the basis of that conclusion some
members of CO. X, taking the bull by the
tail, as it were, touched very lightly on
the coarse fare provided by Uncle Sam,
and thought that they would take chances
at railroad eating g-houses on the three
days journey.
Early on the following morning every
one was hustling and bustling, preparing
for the first move in the history of Co.
X, with gun, cartridge box, belt, bayonet,
canteen, knapsack, and haversack-with
three days rations contained therein
providing the one carrying it had not been
more smart than wise.
The contents of some knapsacis swelled
the load to enormous size.
When all the accouterments had been
buckled and strapped on the recruit. his
condition and position WAS not far from
that of a pack-horse fully laden, very
awkward and uncomfortable.
On Tuesday morning about 10 o'clock.
Aug. 20, just one week from the day we
had left Williamsburg, the several COM
panies of the 9th Ohio, Col. John w.
Fuller commanding, formed in line on the
parade grounds. then, headed by the band
playing Dixie" left Camp Chase for the
railroad Station.
NOW FOR THE-FRoNT.
Although the distance to the railroad
was not more than one mile. We became
very tired. l remember that we halted on
the way, to rest. 1t was the first time I
had ever seen regiment on the march,
and it left lasting impression. / re-
member how many would lean against the
fence and rest the weight Of heavy KNAPP
sacks on the top rail- and others would
sit down against the fence. | remember.
too, that it seemed strange that those fel-
lows who wore shoulder straps were ex-
| empt, from the heavy burden carried by
others. and it occurred to me for the first
time that ! had made mistake in not
doing the wire act at the recruiting rallies.
Attention was called, and the regi-
ment moved on, boarded the Little Miami
cars. that were in waiting, and soon we
We're speeding toward Cincinnati
WE TOOK TO THE WATER.
At the Little Miami Depot in Cincin-
matt the regiment debarked and marched
to the Steamer l. III. Dean, near the depot
| This was not only great surprise, but
yefy material disappointment to some of
the boys, who by that time had begun to
ieei a Httie hungry, ana tnere seemed 10
be chances that hunger would soon be
bearing hard on those who had disregard
ed an important clause in the marching
orders.
1t was not long until the boat pushed
out and headed down the river There
were no great bridges spanning the Ohio
at thai time, and as we steamed down we
saw On the left the city of Newport, the
Licking River. and Covington; on the
right was the beautiful Queen City of the
west; and while we We're passing in re-
view she seemed to be holding dress pa
rade for our special benefit.
The next place of interest was the old
home and pow the last resting place. Of
Gen. Harrison, 10 miles below Cincinnati,
on the Ohio side, which was viewed while
rounding North Bend. Passing the mouth
of Big Miami River We reached Law
rencebdrg, Ind. 30 miles from the place
of our en,harkati0n.