The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-06-17

remained to become bridegroom.
These health conditions arc truly re-
rnhrkablo when the inexpcrience OF
the men for the hardships to which
they were exposed Is considered. Most
Of them walked a large proportion of
the journey. for the order was to
Tighten the burden on the teams as far
as possible.
When man became tagged by
marching, Captain Myers or some other
mounted officer dismouuted and swap
ped his splendid mount for "Shanks's
mare" thus giving both a change of
pace and a rest. Thus refreshed. the
weary private or non-com. was soon
able to resume the march, and stuck
to 1t until halt was made.
Youngest Of the Isoys.
Bugler w. L. Cowardin. or "3oogcr
Man." as he Is nffectionately known
by the boys, is veteran of the War of
1861 to 1865. who has retained his
membership in the battery over since.
He showed himself to be the youngest
of the boys by taking the road five
miles north of Petersburg and march
ing a-foot from there to Norfolk; and
1T is said that when tho days march
was done. he was the tirst nun on the
ground, and was up to fun for the
boys until taps sounded. Mr.. Cownrdin
would rather be bugler for the Rich
mond Howitzers than hold any Office
or commission. During his service he
has had the sad duty Of sounding taps
at the burial of more distinguished
men than perhaps has any other living
man.
Every member OF the conio,and loves
him almost as father. His expert
m
liable to the battery on it's journey.
Or. +. K. T. Warwick. n young ply
stefan, who is private in the battery
and who might be mistaken for ten
derfoot" marched afoot almost the en-
tire distance, and is lively as any
other man now.
Many others walked much OF the
distance, some perhaps all of 1t. but
the men were too eager to get home
last night to 1inger to tell their ex,-,
periences to newspaper men. s@'fs
All along the route of march the men
were enthusiastically received, and
most Hospitality treated by the people.
AT many places, whenever n brief
halt was made, the residents brought
out cool buttermilk and sometimes
other food. and at one or two places
buckets and tubs of lemonade awaited
the weary soldiers. HgHrf
Slept In Water.
The hardest night spent on the march
was Sunday, when the men slept in
water. This is said to be no exag-
geration. Rain poured down upon the
blanket-wrapped sleepers, but ma
lures sweet restorer" dened the eIe-
ments and nobody had to be treated
for insomnia. The water was said to
be three inches deep where some OF
ha lay nd
But the khaki-clad sleepers wrapped
in their wet blankets rocked not for
rain and wanted not for rest. Next
day. the only day they required slim
ulant, each man who wanted it, was
given bit of quinine and whskey.
They were all drenched to the skin
and shivering and chattering with
cold. Thus fortified. the men resumed
the march with renewed vigor.
A halt of six hours was made ut
Suffolk on account Of downpour of
rain. But there were few such re-
spites, the men taking rain and mud
and everything else with soldierly for
titude and marching guard tours-two
hours on and four off-in rain or wind.
heat or cold. OF course, there was
some fun to Tighten the spirits Of the
travellers. and buoy them up. and the
of the occasion and sang as they rum
bled or trudsed along. Three times
a day the horses had to be hitched or
unhitched and fed and meals prepared
and eaten, and II any ono thinks it is
easy to hitch, unhitch and feed sew
enty-six horses the Howitzers are will
ing and able to convince them to the
contrary.
Forage had been distributed along
the route at such intervals that 1t was
at hand upon arrival, the battery talk
ing only one days supply each day.
Some of the provender furnished was
not up to specifications, but the horses
had to take what they could get, as
did the men their ratlons.
sp00lSs in Dismal Swamp.
One night the boys camped on the
verge of the Dismal Swamp, and 1t was
here that Bugler Cowardin seized the