The Washington times., 1914-07-12
KENHNGTON TROOP
HIKES TO ANT|ETAM
Boys inspect Battlefield and
Veteran Explains the Points
of Interest to Them.

To Troop No. l. of Kensington, goes
she distinction of having experienced
ne longest hike, per mile, of any troop
m the District this season. On June 20
ne troop, under the supervision of
ocoutmaster c. y. F1lkins. started to
nike to the Battleheld of Antietam. They
proceeded along the Chesapeake and
Ohio Canal towpath. leaving tents, bag
sage, and other indispensables in the
Sose 4 canoe in the possession of
Scoutmaster Filkins. which was either
yaddled or hauled by the members of
ee troop.
lamp was pitched each evening. tents
-Sc,t ted ana everything made snug for
the campers during the nights. Thun-
1e~storms constantly menaced the trip,
and a number of drenchings were eX-
perienced by the boys. The party
.""cned Sharpsburg Landing late Tues
-ay afternoon, where a permanent camp
was erected, and a good nights rest
ENJOYED, preparatory to touring the bat
tlefieId the following day
L. c. Morton. together with Mrs. Fill
Kins wife of Scoutmaster Filkins, met
the Scouts at the camp site and escort
ed them over the historic battlefield of
AntIetam. Mr.. Morton, a veteran of the
civil war and a participant in the bat
tie. explained to the Scouts the exact
locations of the various troops as they
fought over half century ago.
During the stay in this vicinity the
boys also visited SharpSburg, the Oldest
town in Washington county, having
been founded in the year 76S, and at
tention was called TO the fact that the
town was just ninety-nine years old
when the battle was fought.
Visit Lee Council House.
The building in which General Lee
held council with his officers on the
afternoon of September Il, 1852. was
carefully inspected. and the next. OBJ
Ject of interest was the famous old
Dunkard Church. where the most
severe fighting of the battle of Antie-
tam was enacted: the church being
later utilized as a hospital during the
aftermath OF the great conflict
The boys continued along the -Hagers-
town pike. until Cornield avenue was
reached. Here they were advised as to
the positions of the various troops of
both the Federal and Confederate
armies. The stand of the Pennsyl-
er. on an old tree. indicated that it was
z hot place" in the course of the
dght
Bloody Lane" was next visited and
the scouts then hiked past Pipers corn
field 10 the observatory. Here an ex-
as all points of interest could be ad-
vantageousIv noticed.
Crossing fields of wheat, the scouts
visited the national cemetery. where
nearly 5000 soldiers, who fell in the bat
lie, were buried. Here they were en-
tertained by the keeper of the ceme
tcry, himself a veteran of the war and
q well-kncwn scout during his day.
After this the boys marched back to
camp, where a hearty supper was pre-
~ ~cl 70 ND
ing thunder shower caused them all to
turn in early for the night. After
fixing themselves snugglv in the tents,
the anticipated deluge soon followed.
Inspection of Battlefield.
Up again the next morning at 5
O'Clock. breakfast was prepared and
bandages TO protect their hlistered feet
we're made ready for the final inspec-
ton over the battlefield. Hiking this
morning was along the Burnside Bridge
road, until Burnside bridge was. reached.
This is the lower of the famous stone
bridges that spanned the Antietam
creek It was defended by the Confed-
crate general. Robert Toombs. with the
Second and Twentieth Georgia Regi-
nents of his brigade, and the Fiftieth
Georgia of Drayton's brigade, supported !
by one company OF South Carolina |
sharpshooters. and two batteries of
Aeld artillery.
The bridge derives its present name |
from the desperate efforts Of the Ninth |
Corps, under General Burnside. to force
E passage After four hours Of furious |
riehtinG il was finally carried by doUble |
quick rush and assault made upon the |
by the Fifty-flrst New
York and the Fifty-first Pennsylvania, |
assisted by the Twenty-first and Thirty |
fifth Massachusetts troops.
The Mckinley monument, which was |
erected by the State Of Ohio 10 the |
memory OF the late President Mckinley. |
was the next point visited. after Which !
the boys returned to camp, arriving |
there at noon, and arrangements for the !
homeward journey on foot considered |
Scouts who did not care TO complete the
return trip left by train at Shepherds |
town and Hsrpers Ferry. At Harpers |
Ferrv the scenes Of John Browns ac-
tivities were inspected and the his
torical tablets perused.
Georgetown was reached Saturday |
morning where the scouts bade "adieu
TO Scoutmaster Filkins and departed for |
their respective homes. The trip
was one never to be forgotten by the
participants, who duly voted II the !
most pleasant and profitable they had
ever experienced.
Those Participating.
The scouts who participated IN this
hike: Hesmer Hartshorn. Theodore |
Hsrtshorn, Ben Rawlings. Basil Bowie, |
Theodore Forbes, Galen Mckeever, |
Bradford Armstrong. Thomas Saxon, |
John Saxon, Frank Lemke. Leroy !
turne, RaL,h Van FOssen. Clarer'e . |
Ffske, Martin Wright, Herbert 4. An |
creWs, Edward Chaplin. and Elliott |
Adams. Of Troop No. l and Willie |
Belt, Arthur Speakman, and Charles |
Rynex of Troop No. 43.