The Washington herald., 1914-12-06

| who with a corps from Lees army had
made a rapid march across Virginia,
threatened Washington. the Sixth Corps
was detached by Grant from his army
before Petersburg for the protection OF
the National Capital.
No veteran OF the corps ever forgot the
scenes OF the 18th OF July. when the
Sixth landed at the Seventh street wharf
/ in Washington. just in time to cross the
city in a quick march and keep Early
out of the works on its northern side.
The corps had followed Early in his re-
treat into the valley and had formed the
backbone OF the army that was assem-
bled there under Gen. Sheridan. Its serV-
ice had been a glorious one, and at no
time more glorious than at the battle OF
Cedar Greek, when the second division
under Gen. George w. Getty, stood ike
q rock against the victorious Confeder-
ates under Early, who had surprised the
camps of the Eighth and Nineteenth
Corps.
This stand had saTed the day at Cedar
Creek.
Back to the James.
As soon as his work was done in
breaking the power Of the enemy in the
valley, Sheridan had proposed to Grant
that he send back to Petersburg the vet
Grams Of the Sixth Corps Grant had
good need OF them. for his army was
much depleted by the vIcissitudes OF the
siege, and by the expiration of the terms
of enlistment of many veteran regi-
ments.
The movement Of the Sixth Corps back
TO Petersburg had begun on December
when the first division broke camp at
Kernstown. Embarking on the cars six
miles north OF Winchester, the division
had Travelled by train TO Washington.
where it had embarked on transports for
City Point.
The third division, under Gen. Truman
Seymour, was the next TO move, leaving
Rernstown on December and arriving
at City Point December s. The famous
second division CGetty's) was left to the
last. 1t broke camp at Ksrnstown De-
cember 9. and arrived in front OF Peters
burg December l6.
Reunited on that date the corps held
line Of works that had been occu-
pied by the Fifth Corps. In these works
il was destined to remain until the clos
ing days OF the campaign. when. with
the rest OF the army, II was to move out
in swift pursuit OF Lee. that was to end
in the surrender at Appomattox.
Grim and Rusty Veterans.
An interesting glimpse OF the veterans
Of the FIRST division Of the Sixth Corps as
they landed at City Point fifty years ago
today is afforded in the "reminiscences
OF a hospital worker attached to the san
itary commission.
The first division reached our camp
bout noon and bivOuaCked' he wrote
our hospital dinner had been served
and We were uncertain what disposition
to make of the remaining pans of tur-
key Heft over from Thanksgiving). when
We thought OF these men. no had halt
ed for an hours rest.
Their haversacks were empty. but fires
were soon blazing. coffee was soon boil
ing and each group was intent on the
preparation OF their scanty meal.
1T was a picture. The corps was COW
cred with dust and heat Of a great cam
paign. They had been marching and
fighting with but little intermission for
three months. They were rough and
rusty. their uniforms were torn. thread
bare and spattered with mud. and the
men were rude, grim and much in ear
nest
They had an air Of the unconquerable
about them, steady self-relianCe and
perfect enthusiasm for their leader and
their work, which was verified afterward
in their characteristic and successful as
sault upon the enemy's works.
They gathered about their fires. hun
CRY. thirsty, Erimy: their knapsaCks were
thrown of. their arms weEe stacked and
their burdens lightcned for an hour. Men
were bringing wood and water. while the
coffee was boiling upon the Goals waiting
for tho hardtack. which with II was to
he their only meal. The fellows lined
the road. asleep. on the rampage, on
the lounge and nibbling their scanty ra-
tions.
An Assault on Turkey.
We started out with the remnant Of
our hospital dinner. Turkey did not Of
ten grace the camp. and the boys needed
no other invitation than our approach.
We We're instantly surrounded. and for
a moment were ready to think that those
men were wolves
The circle grew larger and larger. New
heads and faces. peering one above an
other, were added to the crowd with
every moment. while before me were a
hundred cups blackened by many a long
campaign. with a hundred voices. each
demanding his share of what We had
Antony "a servanO was standing near
me within the circle. holding high above
his head another pan OF turkey. A hun
dred hands were raised, hands OF every
shape and shade, all extended to scram-
bic for bone, each finger on the stretch,
expressive Of eagerness and want
In an instant the pan was emptied,
each soldier with a handful Of turkey
soup. or OF bare turkey bones. working
his way out OF the inner circle. with
face of such jolly satisfaction that We
wer" repaid for all our trouble in their
behalf"
Next day these men were facing hull
lets and shell in the trenches before Pc
tersburg.