Evening star., 1919-03-30

at the wltchinS hour, I'm the dead vast
and middle Of the night to quiz these
Tended at such presumption. have
transformed themselves into wisps
OF floating mist. The ghostly drums
have ceased to beat, and have become
melancholy whippoorwlls and chuck
wills-widows. the grinding Of the
wheels of guns and wagons has be-
come only the windswayed boughs Of
trees. and the hollow voices roaring
out commands became owls. But the
Rambler has no doubt that Braddock's
army marches over that road every
night on it's fateful way to the Alle-
gheny Wilderness
Braddock's army marched over moro
roads than any other army that ever
followed flag or thrilled to the blast
of bugle. That army marched over
roads in this part of the country that
were not made until long after the
oldest survivor of those troops passed
through the gates of Valhalla. Every
where through the Potomac country
one one comes upon a road over which
Braddock marched. One OF the nu-
numerous mistakes of Sir Edward
Braddock was that he did not leave
map of the routette followed. The
main points along his march were re-
corded in his orderly book" or order
book. and some of these places. per-
haps all of them. have been identified.
Braddocks line of march from tho
mouth of Rock creek to Cumberland
may be roughly sketched by means
Of these entries in the orderly book:
From Rock creek to Owens ordinary,
fifteen miles; to Dowden's. fifteen
miles: to Frederick. fifteen miles; on
the road to Conogogee (Conoco-
cheague). seventeen miles: to Como
gogee, eighteen miles: to John Evans.
sixteen miles: to Widow Baringer's,
eighteen miles; to George Polls. nine
miles: to Henry Enock's, fifteen miles;
to Mr.. Cox's, twelve miles: to Col.
Cresap's, eight miles; to Wills creek.
sixteen miles: total, ia miles" Tho
distances. no doubt. mark a days
march, and the places named were
the camp sites.
Part of Brad1pck's army marched
from Alexandria to Winchester by a
road on the Virginia side OF the Poto-
mac, then turned north, crossing the
great river and joining the main body
of British regulars and American CO.
lonials. part of that force, which
marched on the south side Of the Poto-
mac. was certainly of the 44th Grena-
dier Regiment, under command of Sir
Peter Halkett. The following is taken
from the famous orderly book, COPY
of which is in the Library of Con-
gress:
Camp near Alexandria,
Tuesday. April 8. 1858.
Six companies OF Sir Peter Halkett's regi.
ment will march for Winchester at 9 O'Clock
Thursday morning.
March route Of Sir Peter H.lkett's regiment
from the camp at Alexandria to Winchester
To old courthouse. 1S miles; to Mr.. Coleman's.
on Sugarland run. where there is Indian corn.
ETC., I2 miles, to Mrs. Miners, Is miles; to
Mr.. Thompson's. ye Quaker where ye is 5000
weight Of corn l2 miles; to Mr. They's II
miles (the ferry of Shenandoah. 12) from Mr..
They's to Winchester. 23 miles-97 miles.
opeckon, canvas will be provided for the
troops. As soon as the artillery arrives at
Winchester detachment Of their regiment
and whatever part you shall Judge prepared
Of the Rangers must be ordered to march with
the artillery to Wills creek.
All these places named have been
identified and parts of the road con-
Meeting them In 1855 are still in use,
and no question arises that this Is not
a really and truly Braddock road. The
Rambler walked for a long distance
on that old road. and told Of 1t in his
rambles over the Coleman. Miskell,
Bridges, Mutt. Thatcher and Hummer
farms. between Sugarland run and
Broad run. In the Sterling neighbor-
hood of Loudoun county.
The point at which that part of Brad
docks army that came from Alexan-
dria to Rock creek in the boats Of the
big ships Sea Horse and Nightingale
landed has been disputed. The troops
landed near the mouth OF Rock creek.
Perhaps they landed on the Washing
ton side and perhaps on the George
town side Observatory hill, now oc-