The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-02-07
RECORD MARCH is MADE
U. S. Field Battery Covers 1913 Miles
Through a Blizzard.
Arrives at Fort Sam Houston. Texas, FroIv
Fort Riley. Kansas. in Fine Con-
dition-Incidents on the Way.

San Antonio, TeXas.-Aftcr a march
of 1913 miles from Fort Riley. Kan, to
Fort Sam Houston, Texas. the officers
and men of the Sixth Battery of Uni.
Ted States Field Artillery are in Fort
Sam Houston looking like veterans of
many battles. But they are in good
health and feel that the trip was worth
the trouble.
It was a hard trip. The winter roads
in Texas and Oklahoma are the worst
in the world, and many times the off.
GERS Of the battery almost concluded
to give it up and report that the march
was impossible. But their pluck and
the encouragement given by the people
along the way helped them along.
| With weather-stained guidons f1utter-
| ing in the breeze and the Twenty-sixth
Infantry band at their head playing
when Johnny Comes Marching
Home" the men Of the Sixth Battery
finished the longest march during peace
times in the history Of the United
States Army at 11.30 o'clock in the
morning at Fort Sam Houston.
The arrival Of the battery al made
the occasion of a celebration among the
soldiers. A squadron of the First Cav
airy and the Fifteenth Battery OF
Field Artillery, commanded by Major
Lotus Niles, met the incoming battery
four miles outside of the city limits and.
escorted them to the post. Near
Breckenridge Park the band and a
oor,~a~- 1f &ba yyocH TNnvoc Nft1iforr
Academy Cadets Joined the column.
Captain George w. Gatchell, comman-
der Of the battery, was surrounded by
the officers of the post and congratu-
lated on the successful termination Of
the long march. His wife and chill.
dren were waiting at the post to re-
ceive him.
"The men and horses stood the march
remarkably WELL" said Captain Cat
chell. "Since entering Texas u days
have been spent in n long fight with
the mud. The country roads through
the black lands Of this State were in a
frightful condition, and the men had
hard work making their way. In spite
Of the hard work, however, the horses
are in fine condition, and with a few
days rest could start back again II
required. We lost but one horse, and
it died Of old age. 1 have been expect
ing it to die for a couple Of years.
One man died Of fever at Austin, but
the health Of the command has been
remarkably good-in fact, better than
Is usually the case in barracks"
At many farmhouses, the battery
was halted and a feast of pies and
milk enjoyed by the men and officers.
Captain Gatchell says that he, did not
know that there were so many flags
in the country until he made this
march. At almost every farmhouse
flags were displayed. At several places
the school children were lined up at
sides of the road and sang patriotic
songs as the battery passed. Captain
Gatchell relates that n enthusiastic
farmer in Texas welcomed the battery
with a salute from his shotgun. He
fred the double barrel at the same
time as each section of the battery
passed and cheered the men until they
were out of hearing.
The worst experience that the men
had was when they were forced to
travel in a blizzard which swept down
on them just after the battery left
Austin. The blizzard continued
~ all Of the remainder Of the march
to San Antonio, about ninety miles.
In order to keep warm, the men walked
almost the entire distance.