The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-01

1 NWulPIhHmrnNgu w Otus eNaUN DU int style
In which They Legged 10 O Miles 20
New York by way OF q wIndup 10 tine
Military MnDGuVres ~ Mt. Gretna.
The Second Battalion Of 1.-The Twelfth
United States Infantry got back to Cover
nors Island at loon yesterday after Logging
1t all the way from tho m~anOuvrosa at Mount
Gretna, Pa, a ound 600 miles. They
were footsore but happy, because Major
Gen. Fred ID. Grant complimented the
officers OF the battalion, telling them that
they had a a dandy march.
TIN ~infantrymen mixed their way back
to garrison through a section OF country
where q column Of soldiers hadn't been
seen since the civil war. In all the small
towns OF Pennsylvania and New Jersey
which the battalion passed through, or
where they camped for a night, the citizens
turned out and gave them n warm well
come. In several towns the schools were
dismissed for the day and the school chill
dren met the soldiers with waving flags
and songs. People from the countryside
drove miles to rec the soldiers, and aged
men who had fought with Grant turned
out in the old blue uniform and their G. A. R.
badges and snapped yarns with the young
sters.
The battalion has been regularly garri-
soned at Fort Jay inc it got back from
two years service in the Philippines last
May. IL marched to the manoeuvres at
Mount Gretna in July and left Mount Gretna
on the return trip at 9 o'clock on the morn
ing Of September IS. The battalion com
prised Companies E. +, G and H and was
under the command OF Col. Allen. His
staff consisted Of Capt. Davis, adjutant;
Capt. Parsons, oommissary, and Lieut..
Adams, quartermaster. There were $50
men in the command exclusive Of the head
quarters hand. which made merry music
for the country folk.
IL was a grim. businesslike outfit which
swung along the rough, billy Pennsylvania
and New Jersey roads. Every day between
g o'clock in the morning and 1879 o'clock
In the afternoon it was steady trudginR.
The rest OF the day the men had to them
selves. Considerable liberty, of which they
didn't take unfair advantage, was allowed
them, and the officers we're proud to say
that the integrity Of Jersey hencoops and
orchards was rigidly respected. The men
were pretty we'll weighed down with haver-
sack, canteen, blanket roll, cartridge belt
and other requirements. but they stood
the march nobly. Only about fifteen
dropped out because Of sore feet. They got
a ride in the wagons. where they could grease
their feet at their ease.
At Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton there
were crowds to cheer the soldiers. People
flocked to their camp every afternoon
and night, bringing chickens. white bread,
vegetables and pies, which they sold cheap.
A lot of people insisted on giving away
the good things. One old farmer from
back in the mountains of Pennsylvania
went into the camp at Easton with a big
seckful Of home made goodies and fresh
vegetables.
How much for the lot. Captain" in
Quired the commisSary.
mot a cent" said the old man. Il
hain't seen a soldier in these parts since
IS and it's worth all I've got to have a
look at this command. My names Pete
Haskill, and want We to know | was at
Gettysburg"
You're all right, Brother Haskill.- said
the commissary. "Yod mess with lie
tonight
They took the old fellow into the mess
and made him royalty welcome. He de-
parted in his shaky old wagon about
10 O'Clock at night. waking the echoes with
songs Of Joy.
When the column swung into Columbia,
N. j., half the town was waiting at the
gate. Lined up along the turnpike were
all the school children, little boys and girls
with nicely scrubbed faces and in their
hest Sunday clothes. The school children
sang all the old songs and a little girl made
a speech of welcome.
Sometimes, as the column was steadily
forwarding in the back country, farmers
came running over the fields, making for
the rail fence
Well" they would say. Il am glad
TO zee Uncle Sans boys again. Dye know
you are the first soldiers I've laid eyes on
for forty years and more. Where are you
going to camp"
Like as not a few hours aftsrward in
would come the sane farmers, bringing
their wives and children for a sight OF the
soldiers. A circus couldn't nave aroused
more interest.
Lieut.. Adams. the auartermaster, had to
scour the countryside for fresh vegetables
and milk sometimes. One day he gallopcd
down a sid road on his big sorrel horse
and came to a white farmhouse get back
from the road. A redhaired, freckled
girl viewed the big, good looking officer
admiringly and was all in a hutter when
he told her he wanted TO contract for horse
feed and firewoOd. She ran for her father.
Are We the ~circus?" said Redhead's pa.
-Oh. no." said Lieut.. Adams. I'm an
officer Of the United States Army. Twelfth
Infantry
There now" said the farmer to his red
haired daughter; didn't I say it was too
late in the year for ~circuses to he about?"
The country visitors took more interest
in -coiors" than any other feature OF camp
life. At colors. when the headquarters
band played the national anthem and the
battalion stood rigid ly at attention. the
country people watching the ceremony
would stand with barred head as reverently
as il in church.
Every day in camp the husky infantry
men had baseball games or field sports.
Sometimes they let young farmers visit
ing camp TAX part. There was a big
sergeant in Company II who was sorry.
He was the cham pion Of the company and
the pride Of the battalion. Az catch-as-
Gr@co- Roman or any ether
wrestling game ne had the rest Of the bat
talon buftaloed. One day a long lean
farmer wandered into camp and stood
watching the wrestling.
Il reckon l kin beat that he said. The
infantrymen kidded him until he blushed
dark red. An right" said he. If ye air
afeared. we'll say no more about il. I'll
bet We / kin throw that big Teller, there.
with the stripes On his sleeve" The ser
geant smiled tolerantly and condescended
to wrestle. Nobody knew how IL hap
pened, but in thi rty seconds the human
lath from the Jer sey backwoods had the
battaliOn's pride IN the fat Of his back
gasping from the hard Jolt he got. 1t
tickled the men. somehow. and there was
many a flask offered to the lanky Jersey