Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-01-29


military circles rs great triumph but
it is believed that 1t proved too severe
tax upon the endurance of the men
and horses to bear repetition.
The march was made during tho
most favorable time of the year. The
start from Fort Riley was ut the first
beginning of cold weather In that re-
gion. and it ended just as winter was
setting in In southwest Texas. 1t Ia
generally conceded that 1t would have
been impossible for the long march to
be made In either midwintcr or mid
summer.
During the march the appearance Of
the command was at some places tho
subject of adverse criticism on the part
of newspapcrs-this despite the fact
that all the men and horses of the bat
terry came through the ordeal of u long
march with but the loss of one man
and one horse.
These clippings. which In some In
stances alleged suffering by men and
horses, had been Forwarded by the war
department to General Jesse Nj. Lee,
commanding the military department
Of Texas, and by him to be referred TO
Captain George W. Gatchell, command
ing the battery. These newspaper sto-
ries about the suffering of the men and
horses are thought to have arisen from
first impressions gained on seeing the
battery as it marched as 1t would In
81 thrn,,,rI No nf,.y-
1t was never anticipated that the
march of the battery should be DEM
onstratton of the American soldier as
he appears in full dress uniform; neil
Their was it the intention that the bat
terry should at all times be in condition
to halt and march into the midst OF a
brilliantly lighted ballroom and ut once
become to u man the hero of all the
matinee girls who happened to be pres
ent. On the other hand, actual war
was simulated The men were con-
tinually on the march. They did not
feel like shaving every day. Riding
several hundred miles through all sorts
of weather is also calculated to bring n
polish to the surface Of soldiers
trousers. 1t will also bring ruddy
glow Of health. The members Of the
battery brought all of these back with
them.
Captain George w. Gatchell shortly
after the arrival Of the battery referred
to newspaper comments. On this sub
ject he said:
March battery through rain and mud
and 1t will present weather beaten APP
penrance Mud is splattered on the horses
and the men. and they cannot possibly
look their best Most OF the criticisms of
an adverse nature on the battery were
due to this condition. Some people could
not comprehend that we were on hard
service march.
The results OF the march, as regards the
objects to be attained, are extremely sat
isfactory. We forded treacherous streams,
experienced all sorts Of weather. were
subjected to almost every climatic condi-
ton the country affords and arrived here
(Fort Sam Houston) with the loss OF one
man and one horse. The death Of the
soldier was regrettable. but we feel that 1t
was Just coincidence: that he might
have died under different conditions. The
horse we lost was an old one and pretty
we'll used up to begin with. An arnbu-
lauCe WAS ARCHAEOLOGICAL III IIo IOIu VI a
river, but 1t also had about outlived its
usefulness. With these exceptions we re-
turned as we left. The march has been
OF great benefit to the officers and the
men, as they have experienced service re-
sembling that afforded by war times.
One Of the rank and file was seen.
He said:
1t was a great hike. OF course, we are
glad that 1t has ended, but there is not
man in the battery scarcely who regrets
having taken 1t. No hardships were guf-
fered by the men that could not have
been avoided by> themselves True, it
would get pretty cold nights in camp, but
II nan did not have energy enough to
get up and keep his fire going he should
have had to shiver little.
AS further evidence that the bat
terry arrived home in good condition
not a man Of the command entered the
hospital