The Washington herald., 1921-09-29
MARINES HIKE
TWENTY MILES
TO WILDERNESS
Forces Ready Today for
First Sham Battle of
ManOevers.

l. 81 OItditt DdttIC VI
ManOevers.
WILDERNESS, Va. Sept as
With forces encamped in the
heights north of Wilderness Creek.
scene of Charlottesville, and other
desperate battles of the civil war.
the Marine Expeditionary Force Is
all set and in readiness to go over
the top tomorrow against an i'm
aginary foe in the first sham battle
of the maneuvers.
The ground on which the sham
battle will take place Is crammed
with sites and objects of historic
interest. Near the headquarters of
Brig. Gen. Smedley D. Butler. COM
manding general of the force, is
the headquarters used by Gen.
Grant in the last campaign of the
Army of the Potomac. which
brought about the ending of the
war.
Near Wilderness Tavern.
Within a few hundred yards of
Gen. Buffers headquarters also is
Wilderness Tavern. celebrated in
history. Two or three miles to the
north is the hamlet of Chancellors-
Vile. and near 1t the stone shaft
which marks ths spot where Gen.
Stonewall Jackson fell, accidentally
shot by his own men, while leading
his army corps after his great
strategic success at the battle of
Charlottesville. Near It is historic
salem salem Church, scene iof another
Tomorrow's exercises will COM
prise operations by infantry. artil-
lery and the Marine Air Service
They will be witnessed also by the
first party of guests to attend the
maneuvers.
High Omcers Expected.
This party will consist of about
twenty members of Congress, off,
bers of the army, navy and Marine
Corps. who will come as military
observers. Among the latter will
be Maj. Gen. John A. Lejeune. COM
mandant of the Marine Corps, who
led the famous Second Division IN
'ohNSs -Hoy- oth. " chutll neville,
who commanded the celebrated
Marine Brigade. Brig. Gen. Charles
McCawley, Admiral Moffitt, head of
the Navy Air Service. and a number
of others.
Today's y hike of nearly twenty
miles from Fredericksburg, where
the men spent the night. to the Will
derness Run. was a long and dusty
one. and proved a severe test of the
physical fitness of the men. after
their two rainy nights in the field.
General Lends Hike.
Brig. Gen. Butler. carrying a
sixty-pound pack and rife,
marched with the Marines on their
hike from fredericksburg. Gen.
Butler has won two Congressional
Medals of Honor and DISTINGUISHED
himself in France by converting
Brest from a mudhoIe into the
finest camp in the A. F.. F.
When the column left Fredericks-
burg Gen. Butler walked at it's head
When he had covered six or seven
miles of the march. word came from
the rear-guard that many of the
men were falling out of the ranks
and reporting theselves sick and
unable to walk further.
Sets Example to Marines.
zen Butler was himself footsore
and fatigued by the bad weather,
but upon hearing the report at once
sara Well, let's see what example
VIII DO. Accordingly he went to
the extreme rear. where he found
group of men in a Geld, stretched
OUT. and apparently feeling very
What's the matter?" said the
general to the first man of the
We're pretty sick. general, and
m afraid We can't walk any fur
'her, was the response.
Do you think II I carried your
pack you could go on a way?" said
the general. Remember you are
Marines. and Marines never quit.
a good many of you hayen't been
Marines long, so I'm going to show
you what a Marine can do. I'm
more than 40 years old, and I've
already walked further than any of
you, but I'm going to carry your
pack and rifle all the way to the
wilderness, so come on boys, let's
get going.
Takes Sick Mans Pack.
Accordingly the general shoul-
dered the pack and rifle of the
sick man. and with the whole
group set off down the road,
gathering up stragglers as they
went. all of whom were ashamed
to fall behind while their general.
carrying rifle ana p.,t~ ,r..t
ahead
Accommodating his pace with
that of the tired and footsore men
who were with him, Gen. Buffers
progress was very slow. and from
time to time he would halt and
look over his men, picking out
those who were worst used up and
telling them to wait until ambu-
lances could pick them up. 1t was
not until nearly 7>o'clock that the
general reached the camp. after
the whole distance, but he
brought with him every straggler.