The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1907-10-10

But q remnant of the Grand Army
marched in the rain at Saratoga when
the parade was formed for the nation
al encampment march. Illinois led the
way, and there were some thousands Of
comrades who refused to turn back
when the shower turned into deluge,
but it was the shortest and thinnest
line. 1t Is said, ever seen in the annual
parade.
| wonder how many of the veterans
In line. or looking on, thought Of the
weary marches In the rain during their
fighting days in Dixie. The civilian,
thinking of war and its hardships,
dwells mostly upon the battles, with
their terrors and sufferings. Almost
any old soldier will say that the long
marches in heat and dust, mud and
rain, were fully as trying as any other
feature of soldering.
And the long days in camp, waiting,
these were also wearisome In the ex-
IRENE to officers and men.
Gen. Carl Schurz wrote the story Of
his adventurous life before he died, and
1t has been appearing in McClure's
Magazine. In the September number
he described a march in the rain, TAX
en- by his division during the Knox
vile campaign. To veterans it Is an
old story, but they enjoy an occasional
Renaissance l am told.
And it will do others good, this little
picture Of an episode in the four years
of struggle which we have agreed to
call the civil war. Following are ex-
tracts from Gen. Schurz' article:
Our march was unusually difficult.
We passed through billy country.
The roads In many places were dry,
washed out beds of mountain torrents,
full Of powders, large and small. The
artillery horses could not possibly pull
stacles, and infantry detachments were
called upon to help artillerymen lift
their guns and appurtenances over the
rocks. This had to be repeated several
times during the march.
MY troops having been on their feet
from early morning." he continues,
sand having marched under the diff
culties described, were tired beyond
measure. They just dragged them
selves along"
Just as camp was being made, after
this wearying day, Gen. Schurz re-
ceived orders to proceed Immediately
and without loss of time three more
miles to a camp which had been as
signed to him. There was no combat
ting the imperative order, the bugler
sounded the signal, and there arose
something like groan from the divi-
sion bivOuac. The story then describes
the march, which proceeded through a
severe thunder storm.
1.-The rain came down In sheets like
cloudburst, driving right into our faces.
In few minutes we were all drenched
to the skin I wore stout cavalry
cape, we'll lined with flannel, over my
uniform. In an incredibly short time
l felt the cold water trickle down my
body My riding boots were soon full
to overfowIng.
Zone may imagine the sorry plight
of the poor fellows in rags. They had
to suffer, too, not only from the water
coming down from above, but also
from water coming from below.
"We were again passing through a
billy district. The road ran along the
bottom OF deep valley with high
ridges on each side. From these the
rain water rushed down in streams,
Transforming the road into a swelling
torrent, the water reaching up to the
knees of the men, end higher.
Meanwhile the thunder was rolling,
the lightning flashing, and the poor SOL
diers stumbling over unseen powders
under the water and venting their
| choler in wild imprecations"
The prescribed camping place was
on both sides Of the road In plowed
| fields.
| There was water from the rain
| standing in the burrows, and the ridges
were softened into thick mire. There
my men were to camp. The
men could not stretch themselves out
on the ground because 1t was covered
or soaked with water. They had to sit
down on their knapsacks, if they had
any. or on their heels, and try to catch
some sleep in that position.
about midnight the wind shifted
and blew bitterly cold from the north,
so bitterly, indeed. that after a while
our outer garments began to freeze on
our bodies. 1 thought 1 could hear the
mems teeth chatter. l am sure mine
did. There We sat, now and then drop
ping into a troubled doze, waiting for
day."-Chicago Journal.