Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-01-29
Incidents of the Greatest Artil-
lery "HilSe" Ever known in
a Time of Peace
AMERICAN SOLDIERS, EXPLOIT
Sixth Field Battery March from Fort
Riley, Kansas to Fort Sam Houston,
Tex.--Tendered Notable Reception
Along the Route-schoo Children
Lined Roadsdes and Sang Songs.


of HOO miles from Fort Riley, Kan,
to Fort Sam Houston, Tex, IN fifty five
DAYS, are now tit as fiddle and show
no effects of the long march, says Il
Fort Sam Houston correspondent or the
Chicago Inter Ocean. In fact, the con
ditiou of the battery was greatly eXas
yerated In some Of the newspaper re-
ports. and Captain Gatchell has replied
to his critics. The men arrived at Fort
Sam Houston in q healthy condition.
Some OF the horses were thin and
some have work sores, but the post
veterinarian says they are in good CON
dition.
1.-THE fact that the men were foot
sore and weary and wore torn ana
muddy clothing when they arrived
does not mean that they suffered any
great physical pain on the long march,
said Captain Gatchell.
The loss Of Private Arthur Hull was
greatly regretted by the captain. but 1T
was pointed out that Private Hulrs
malaria was probably contracted be-
fore the march, ard had his condition
been known he would not have been
permitted to leave Fort Riley.
Otherwise 1t was a great hike" as
one Of the men expressed it. The idea
was to have the battery move just as
it might move in wartime. The propo-
sition was, "Send the Sixth battery at
Fort Riley to join the forces at Fort
Sam Houston" 1t was assumed that
under war conditions the battery could
not use the railways, which had posi-
bly, been destroyed, and that it was
highly important for it to reach Fort
Sam Houston il the shortest possible
time. In reality the march was prac-
tice march, intended to give the men
practical experience.
In this march the battery passed
through central and southern Kansas,
crossed Oklahoma and part of Indian
Territory and travelled in Texas from
the northern boundary to San Antonio,
in the southern part of the state. When
it entered the portals of Fort Sam
Houston amid the cheers Of the local
garrison it had broken the record for
the worlds long distance march Of ar
tillery. 1t is by far the longest practice
march ever made by artillery in time
of peace, and no forced march in time
of war, with the exception Of Napo-
Icons retreat from Moscow, compares
with it in distance.
The route to be followed in the long
march was not laid out before leaving
Fort Riley. 1t was marked out In q
general way upon field map, but the
details were left to the discretion of
Captain Gatchell. Through parts of
Oklahoma and Indian Territory the
route followed was located some dis
lance away from any railroad.
Several severe spells of weather were
encountered. The worst was when q
blizzard swept down upon the battery
one morning just after they left Aus
tin, Tex, and it continued during near
ly all Of the remainder Of the march to
San Antonio, distace Of about ninety
miles. The men walked nearly the
whole distance in order to weep warm.
The battery lost one man by sickness
during the march. Private Arthur Hall
was attacked with malaria and died In
the hospital at Austin
The route of the march was for the
most part through remote section Of
the west and southwest, where the
United States troops are rarely seen.
There was one bright and memorable
feature Of the trip, and that was the
splendid receptions which were ten
dered the battery along the route by
the rural and town citizens from the
time of leaving Fort Riley until Fort
Sam Houston was reached. At every
town, large or small, the officers and
men Of the battery were the recipients
of bountiful feasts and royal recep-
tons.
Captain Gatchsll relates many anus
ing and interesting incidents Of the
trip. The farmers along the route
seemed to be especially proud Of the
soldiers. It was not unusual for the
battery to be halted at farmhouse
upon invitation of the farmer and his
good wife, who spread feast Of pies
and sweet milk for the men and Off
GERS. At almost every farmhouse flags
were waved as the battery passed by,
and Old Glory was spread to the breeze
on every schoolhouse.
At several places the school children
were lined along the sides Of the road
and sang patriotic songs as the battery
passed. Captain Gatchell relates an
incident of one enthusiastic farmer in
Texas who welcomed the battery with
a salute from his shotgun. He fired
the double barrels at the same time as
each section of the battery passed him,
and he cheered the men until they were
out of hearing.
Many ex-Confederates joined in these
enthusiastic welcomes to the soldiers.
At Decatur, Tex, General Sellars,
distinguished Confederate commander,
insisted on the men and officers Of the
battery becoming his guests at tur-
key dinner. The invitation had to be
declined, as stopoyer for the feast
could not be made.
The battery encountered severe rains
and foods in Indian Territory and
north Texas. They had a hard time
forling some Of the streams owing to
their swollen condition. The Canadian
river was particularly difficult to cross,
and The droyuing e seyeral OF. the Ren