Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-01-16
o,eord Of 500-Mile Jaunt OF
eiqhth Battalion Field
Artillery in 1906.
caoM DOUGLAS TO RUSSELL.
= Burton Receives Cavalry
,.,runl Describing the Trip---
Bardships Encountered.

fl IAN c ;. Burton Is III receipt ol u
=, n number of the U. s. Cavalry
c,ation Journal. containing an ar
Fl entitled Five Hundred-mile March
.s.,,eb the Rocky Mountains by the
,.,.s,h battalion, Field Artillery, Fort
na.glos Csalt Lake city, to Fort ID.
pussel. Cheyenne, Wyo., April 20 to
\ a., % 1906" The article is by NAL d.
:, roote of the Artillery corps, who
-.,s IN command at Fort Douglas OF the
r,elfth and Nineteenth light batteries,
~ lad them in the march referred to.
~ column consisted of seven line OIL
-! ~ a surgeon. a veterinarian, BIB men,
sns civilian wagonmaster, eight civil
S"n teamstera. 227 horses. 81 mules,
slght new S-inch rapid fire guns, IL
saIssons. two battery wagons ana
nrges two store wagons, four Kit wag-
sgs SIGHT four-muie escort wagons. one
%nr.mule ambulance. When stretched
ml ON the road, the column was from
i y third to half mile in length. The
sntage consisted of 10 conical, three
rell and two common tents. besides
4 tents for the medical department. and
administration purposes On cold eve
nngs wood or sagebrush was always
,aind to make campfires. The article
says: "In order to see that every
ting was in proper shape before start
iag the battalion went into camp at
Fort Douglas for one day ard on the
Say following, April %, short march
was made and camp pitched
RARE EXPERIENCES.
The command ran into a rainstorm.
and then into a snowstorm shortly after
leaving Fort Douglas, the mud be-
came deeper, and for the last 10 miles OF
the days march the wheels OF the sup
ply wagon at the rear of the column
sank to the hubs In many of the mud
holes which 1t was impossible to avoid.
Just before reaching camp word was
received that several escort wagons
were hopelessly mired, and most or
the mules had given out. Some of the
artillery teams We're sent back to pull
them out, but the mire extended to
such distance that more teams were
needed Darkness came soon on ac-
count Of the heavy snow then falling,
and several wagons were left under
guard to remain until the next morn
Ing. IL was nearly noon of the 10Th
before the last OF the wagons was got
ten up. Most of the mules furnished
for this march were too light for draft
purposes. and the wagon master had
never had any experience with train,
and knew nothing whatever about eth
er wagons or mules He was dismissed,
and a teamster put In his place. April
&C. the command hiked through the rain,
snow and mud TO Wanship, IL miles,
where the weather cleared. Evanston
was reached on the 18th, with good
roads and good weather. Spring Valley,
u miles. was reached on the 30th, in a
binding rain and snowstorm.
THE HARDEST MARCH.
The hardest march on the trip was
thence to Fort Bridger. 10 miles, with
eight to 10 inches of snow on level.
All tentage, harness, everything was.
frozen stiff. AS the day warmed UP
The mud became worse, so it became
necessary In places to cut down the
roads on the supper side In order TO
keep gun carriages from slipping dwon
and orerturning on the hillside. Many
wheels were filled solid with mud from
hub to tire; In places teams had to
be doubled up to get through. At Fort
Bridger, one of the old barracks wa,
found used as stable, part of the old
Mormon wall was still standing, and
come of the officers quarters of logs
are yet there. The commanding Of
stone commissary and quartermaster'
buildings and used as a hotel The
.ommissary building is now a country
store Along the Little Muddy, the al
kallne water made the animals sick.
Vp to Hams Fork, the old pioneer
uall had been followed, but from that
remit instead of following it over the
hed Desert the command skirted
along The Union Pacific right of way,
leylhg upon the railroad for fuel,
water and transportation of forage.
Roek Springs was reached May 5. At
bltler Creek, May 8, the bridge was
N such poor shape that the equip
inent was only got over by unhitching
and taking the carriages over by hand.
IRON that point hot weather was en-
"unlered, and a new TRANSPORTATION
oulht from Fort Douglas was receiv-
20 nom the railroad. and the empty
, ua,h was returned TO the post on
RESULTS OF TRIP.
hawlins was reached May ~. where
laih' snow and high winds were EN-
eountered. Old Fort Steele was reach
90 On the 18th, where many of the
barracks, stables and officers quarters
are sun standing. There was very fair
usVellng after that on the high plsl-
WI o'OVO rect elevation, and Lara
.lle was reached on the 18th. The
mANel was through n picturesque coun-
w ana Fort d. A. Russell was reacn-
May 90, There was found here all
W. space desired for camping, and the
.uhhnand was made as comfortable as
Msslble. Nearly all of the horses on
ulS march We're mountain bred, but
saiy were too light for artillery pur-
ssgsss Three died on the trip, all lost
rssh, Tor the week crossing the Red
Desert was hard OH them. Some hot
pelher plenty of dust, water In
SsgSeIs from railroad tanks. clsterns
ea cars, Wild hay, etc. all helped
pun them down. on a long march
would be well to authorize an in
Iyesse In allowance of hay, especial
NIL Il windy or cold country.
s.inlee men had 10 be sent back on
Ses19unt Of rheumatism; otherwise tho
nollh OF the command was very good
~. Nas found cheaper to buy forage
tfefed on the spot when wanted
mn TO have II shipped from the post,
s,sr. civilian wagonmaster and team
is.ss were found 10 be unequal to the
isrio. 80 men were taken from the bat
ns "s 10 drive the wagons. The ord
~ -.