The National tribune., 1909-02-04
THE ENGINEER CORPS ON THE MOVE.

rat the proper time, and Co. D, under
fCapt Charles N. Turnbull, proceeded to
Beverly Ford to take up the pontoon
bridge there as soon as the cavalry had
crossed to the north side. The other
companies were engaged in packing up
and possiblg some other similar duties.
In the river bottom at the ford the air
was exceedingly keen and chilly, and al
tho at first we were not allowed to build
fires, finally it became SO unbearable
that little chip fires were allowed to De
started, and of dry wood that would not
smoke. Around each of these such
close circle was soon formed that even
the light could not be seen. At best, 1t
was a tedious waiting until the last
man" should make his appearance. This
was not new experience, and on some
occasions several "sure-enough last
men" would successfully hail US from
the opposite shore, when boat would
have to be manned and sent over for
khena, the horse, If any, swimming across
at the stern of the boat.
1t is always a moment of intense in
terest, and even impressive, when in the
darkness man crosses the bridge and
reports that all the pickets have been
s, gathered In and sent across, and adds,
81 am the last man"
At this the silent, listening men still
keep silent, when, stamping the bits OF
IRE in the dust. they spring forward. ac-
10 lH6lT OetdOSp 10 tllc
bridge and load the boats and material
on the wagons. This is accomplished
very quickly and in such order that the
! train could be driven to another point
on the river and just as rapidly laid for
another crossing; but as the last wagon
disappears quick-step is made for
camp, where the first meal of the day is
eaten and a wait r:sade for all the de-
tachments to come in and do likewise;
also to determine II all the details of
: work have been completed as ordered.
When the battalion began its march
that morning IT was undoubtedly the
last body of troops to leave the river,
Oct 13, 1853.
It is needless, almost, to state that we
were not troubled by any wagon trains
not even our own-of other troops. So
far as we could observe the whole coun-
try was entirely our own.
This was the case until We reached
Cedar Run. about sunset, which we
crossed and bivouaeked on the north
side towards CatIett's Station. Here we
had our second meal of the day-and
didn't the ground feel goodi
An early start was made the next
morning. Get. IL, and with rapid march
sng we proceeded by the road along the
railroad. No trains or troops were met
and from an inspection Of the extract
) from Gen Warren's map, published in
your issue of Dec. II, 1903, It is evident
that we had gotten the road ahead OF
the Second Corps.
Gen. Meade and Stam passed US, and
an officer of the Second Corps overlook
us Just about as we crossed Kettle Run
He inspected the crossing, and as re-
call ii he seemed to be rather interested
in the gait we were keeping up and te
have a rather quizzical, quiet smile no
understood at the time, but which ma!
be fully explained, by an inspection o.
the map already referred to. All wa!
quiet as it is there today, except our 81
lent forced tramping-no spare breati
for growing or telling stories. We dit
not know ii, but there were 1900 men
no grayer than we were, marching JUS
as swift, Just as silent, right straight TO
our left flank. Some, from sore feet
had now to stop and prick the blister
they could not bear any longer. soal
their stockings and pluckily pull out q
rejoin their company,
The battalion overlook Gen. Mead
and Staff on the crest of the ridge nortl
- Of and overlooking Broad Run just a
Bristoe battle opened.
The whole scene furnished the fines
subject for a battie-picture I observe;
during the war. Gen. Meade was mount
ed on a large, iron-gray horse-th'
horse and man seemed as one-and in
.tently watching the battle: just in from
of him was q blue line of troops in Do
sition and lying prone on the ground
while Just at his left was the battalion
at halt, standing In place. A batter,
mad been ordered forward by Gen
Meade to the support of the Secont
corps ana was tearing at a clean ruI
down the slope of the road to go int
position. All this intense and sudder