Evening star., 1911-05-28

miles. I think. 1t seemed five hundred
miles to me- for l was barefooted, and
the pike had been recently repaired.
The mode of marching us was now for
the first time systematic. We numbered
at least four thousand men. and were
divided into divisions. marching by col
umns of fours. The cavalry and artillery
marched en- masse between the divisions.
while the infantry marched in two files.
one at each side of the column. limbo
den's brigade did not seem to have seen
much hard service. at least I thought so
because their clothes were new. yet the
general had a new suit of gray on, and
certainly he had seen plenty of hard
service. The men were as kind to US as
could be expected; only one unpleasant
affair came under my observation all the
way In the heat OF a discussion guard
dubbed his Inusket and struck a wound
ed man on the head. / have no doubt
that the latter had his tongue to blame
for 1t: but he was a prisoner and q
wounded man, and the guard was prompt
ly placed under arrest
I have said nothing so far of the COM
missary arrangements simply because
there was nothing to be said. l do not
now remember getting anything to eat
until we crossed the Potomac. except
from Stuart's cavalry the first day of my
captivity. But my memory must fail me.
for / could not have lived unless | had
left Williamsport the arrangements were
regular-in their meagernes9. too regular.
We got about pint OF fieur every other
day, and with it now aud then a piece OF
rusty fitch. Some of the men tried to
make bread of the flour as we camped,
but the greater number stirred it up in
water and drank the paste, saying that
"It stuck to their ribs longer" that way.
w. Va, that. out of compliment to the
ladies. I ought not to forget.
As we marched through the town the
whole populace turned out to greet us,
not as enemies. but as friends and SYM
rathizers. They cried out to US to cheer
up-not to be downhearted-that we had
won a great victory at Gettysburg. and
though we were being marched to prison
we were already avenged by the thou
sands of Confederates that were left dead
or prisoners in Pennsylvania. They ap-
peared to be well posted by the northern
newspapers, and right in the teeth Of the
guards they upbraided the Confederates
for theft and violence north of the Poto-
mac. 1t must have been very calling to
Imbodens command to be revfled that
way by their countrywomen, but they
bore 1t with cast-down heads and made
no reply. We could not have done 1t, I
fear. had we been the guards. and. in
Pennsylvania
At last some Of our men, in reply to
questions on the subject. said they did
NOT give us anything to eat. There was a
sudden rush for the houses, and in a few
seconds the street was lined with women
with dishes Of cake, bread and everything
they could lay hands on with SO short a
notice.
The sight Of the food threw our column
into disorder. Some men tried to break
out OF the ranks, and this being resisted.
the women tried to break in. In the con-
fusion that followed few women were
pusned back to the street curb and fell
Gown. The falls WERE l think, acci-
when they saw them fall, they struck at
the guards right and left, and overpower-
ed many OF them, bearing them to the
ground. 1t looked for a moment as IL
tnere would be general fight which
must result in the death Of many, prison
ers and the escape Of others. but this
was prevented by the prompt action of
the cavalry and artillery. marching near
the scene Of the revolt.
X X
Then Gen. Imboden, or some one for
him. promised the people and the prison.
ers that the latter would be halted out
SIDE the town to receive the contributions.
In an open wood by the roadside we were
matted. and the guards themselves soon
brought us the coveted food. The sly
rascals must have tossed the dainties up
In the blankets as they brought them
along SO that every man of us at single
grab could get a sample of all they sent
got one good handful only. but 1t was
mixture Of gingerbread, cookies, cake.
cornbread and everything else that the
people OF Martinsburg ate. 1t was here
ary, 30 E,,fn foc taA