The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1912-12-27
A Wartime New Years
Day Experience

~ New Years morning. 1864.
when the thermometer was
below zero, probably the
- most undisciplined body Of
troops in the whole Union army march
ed into camp at Martinsburg. w. Va.
The men looked careless, fatigued.
sleepy and cold. Some of them were
bareheaded. which showed that they
had Travelled day and night and had
fallen asleep on their horses. Many
had lost their hats and caps by their
heads coming in contact with the
limbs Of the trees in the woods. Some
had the front and back parts burned
out Of their overcoats and trousers,
which had probably happened while
they were doing before the fire. A
few of them wore some Confederate
clothing. indicating apparently that
they had captured some Confederate
quartermaster's stores and had re-
placed their own damaged garments
with their enemy's clothing. Others
had their feet tied up with pieces of
blankets and sheepskins.
Many of the men were dismounted;
others were mounted on wagon horses
and mules, with the harness still on
the animals. This showed that their
wagon train had been destroyed and
that some of the men, who had lost
these animals.
The infantry and the citizens of
Martinsburg gathered around and star
ed at these troops in wonder. This
was General Averilrs command, four
regiments OF cavalry and battery that
had just returned from the Salem raid.
The raiding party left New Creek (now
Keyser City, w. va.), Dec. 8, 1868;
marched to Salem, Va. thence back to
Martinsburg, w. Va. arriving there
Jan. i, 1864, travelling twentyfour
days. During this time the party trav-
eled several hundred miles, tore up the
Virginia and Tennessee railroad tracks
to prevent General Lee from re-enforc-
ing General Longstreet, who was fight
ing General Burnside at Knoxville.
Tenn. At Salem the Confederate quar-
termaster and commlssary stores were
destroyed.
On our retreat dozen or more Con-
federate brigades were after us and
tried to head us off at every crossroad.
At Covington. Va. after the bridge
over Jackson river was burned, our
regiment. the Fourteenth Pennsylva-
MIA cavalry, which was the rear guard,
and few dismounted men of other
regiments that were with the wagon
train were surrounded on the south
side Of the river. One of the Confed-
crate generals sent in flag of truce.
demanding surrender, but we fought
our way through. After we burned
our wagon train we swan the Jackson
river.
On our retreat we Travelled through;
a severe snowstorm and slid down icy
mountains. Our artillery was saved
by pulling it over the mountains with
ropes.
drowned, frozen and captured, JIG
men and five officers.
A few men were SO badly frozen that
they died shortly afterward.
Thus on that New Years morning
we were cold. hungry. tired. sleepy.
dirty and shabby. Uncle Sam soon
heard of our condition and came to us
with outstretched arms, for on Jan. 10
he presented every one of us with
brand new outfit. which included over
coat. dress coat, blouse, hat, cap. shirt.
drawers. stockings, boots and blankets.
We soon commenced to get conceited.
for we believed that we were the only
brigade In the whole Union army. that
had ever received such a magnificent
gift from the United States govern
membranes F. Hays in Baltimore
American.