The Washington herald., 1914-06-24

erals must now march fast TO defeat
| starvation. The country through which
they passed was parched with heat, bar
rem and for long stretches between the
rivers. almost waterless, as II was q sea
I son OF drouth.
Since leaving Lynchburg the men had
| been without bareback. the soldiers
mainstay. Their rations now consisted
OF six ounces OF -four a day per man,
and such beef as was issued at night.
warm and almost quivering. from the
emaciated cattle driven with the col
umns.
The roads were up and down a 4ic-
cession of steep mountains, through mar
row. heated valleys and along rocky,
solemn wooded slopes that were pictures
of desolation. The way was so rough
that weakened mules and horses lay
down to die rather than attempt to
haul the wagons and guns.
An Enchanted Valley.
A graphic diary Of this wearing march
| is to be found in the history OF the
Thirty-fourth Massachusetts Regiment. On
June 10 the men of the regiment suf-
fered for both food and water. On June
20 they were up at a m, and marched
twenty-one miles before p. m. At ..
m. they were again on the march.
They marched all night. passing
through Salem at dawn. The men found
the country so poor that they could do
no foraging. Before 10 a m. they had
added fifteen more miles to their credit
That afternoon the regiment covered
six miles in an hour and a half, over
steep mountain road. At $50 D. m.
they camped twenty-one miles from New
castle. having marched twenty-seven
miles since morning. Here they ha1
their first full nights sleep IN a week.
Continuing at this pace. the regiment
crossed Twelve-Mile Mountain. and the
main ridge OF the Alleghanies. on June
3. arriving at go a. m. at Sweet Springs.
having covered twenty-five miles that
day.
To the faded soldiers Of Gen. Hunters
command Sweet Springs was like some
enchanted valley. Here were gushing
springs Of sweet water. Never had water
seemed so delicious, A rest Of several
hours was taken here. and the men had
an opportunity TO inspect the hotel and
other buildings here that had fourished
when the Springs was a fashionable
resort. The main building was OF brick.
three stories. and about 900 feet long
The dining-room was 800 feet by So"
wrote the diarist OF the Thirty-fourth
Massachusetts. 'resplendent with mirrors.
Much Of the furniture, which Is OF the
richest quality. even now remains"
This property, not being used for mill
tary purposes, was spared the torch.
Relief Train Cheered.
Resuming the march in the afternoon.
the long column passed through White
Sulphur Springs. following the road to
Lewisburg, in the Greenbrier Valley.
1t was Gen. Hunters purpose to reach
Meadow Bluffs, in Greenbrier County,
where Crook had left depot Of supplies.
When this place was reached on June IS
IL was found the garrison had withdrawn,
taking the supplies with them.
The nearly famished Federals took I'D
their belts another notch and plodded on
They were without coffee now. The lucky
man with the ''makinss'' OF Eriddle cakes
was offered s. for a single "hapjack"
The next day the sufferings OF the SOL
diers from hunger were over, for a wagon
train with 70. 900 rations. sent from Gauley
Bridge. reached the column. II was greet
ed with cheers that told the men in the
rear that good news had developed in
front.
At the Gauley River which was reached
June q. the command was once more in
Federal territory. Here q halt OF two
days was made to allow stragglers to
come up. On June 30 the command
marched about . miles, to Charleston,
from which on July 1t was ordered to
move with all expedition to Cumberland
taking Washington.
The losses of the campaign against
Lynchburg and the retreat were: Killed
1os; wounded, 5s4; captured or missing.
20; total. go.
Tomorrow Sherman at KenesRw
-, Copyright, ls1IJ