The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1922-08-15

through the city. This pleased US,
for we all wanted to get sight of
"Old Abe" When our regiment
reached the edge of the city we
heard tremendous cheering ahead,
and as we neared the corner of
18th ST., and Pennsylvania avenue,
we beheld Abraham Lincoln stand
ing on an elevated portico of Will
lards Hotel. He was tall and
straight with a sad care-worn ex-
preston. He stood motionless as a
statue with high silk hat lifted a
little above his head. We were
marching in column by Company
front and covered the street from
curb to curb, and as each company
swept past, its commander faced
about and gave the comand-three
cheers for President Lincoln, which
were given with an earnestness that
meant something more that the
mere cheering. 1t meant that they
recognized him as president of the
nation; that they were there in
obedience to his call and they were
now going forth determined to do
and if need be, die for their coun-
try. No doubt, the great heart of
Lincoln was deeply moved with
pity for the soldiers-the boys in
blue, as the marched blithely by,
with drums beating, bands playing,
and colors fiying-giving him their
last and final greeting, for he GER
tainly realized that many-very
many of them, were surely march,
ing to their death. Marching away,
never to return-that they would
soon seal their devotion to country
with their blood and leave their
bones to whiten on southern fields.
But to all appearance, no such
thoughts entered their minds, for
while marching through Washing
ton, and on out, turning our steps
southwark, company after company
broke out in song-"We'll hang
jeff Davis on sour apple tree"
and Rally round the flag boys"
which was taken up by regiments
and Brigades, until one grand
chorus resounded along the entire
column.
This days march was long one
and unusually tiresome. Sore feet
and tired backs made the nights
sleep refreshing indeed. The soft
side of a stone for pillow and
mother earth for bedstead, had
greater attraction for us that night
than the most elaborate and taste
fully arranged sleeping apartments
could have had under the circum-
stances in times of peace.
A day or SO more of hard march,
ing brought US to a place called
Nokeville. Here we encamped for
two or three days waiting for the
different army corps to concentrate,
and while lying here we made out
our company payrolls. /.
Breaking camp on the 3rd of
May, we started for the Rapidan,
via Warrenton Station, which was
good two days march. We
reached the Rapidan on the 5th and
crossed over, passing by the log
where Gen. Grant sat but short
time before, when he wrote the
memorable dispatch ordering Sher-
man to move-to commence his,
now famous march toward Atlanta
and the sea. 1t was getting dusk
when we entered the edge of the
Wilderness, where We bivouaced for
the night.
l cannot describe to you my
feelings (Which l presume were
common to alD as we lay down
that night among the trees and
close to the scene of the battle
which had been going on from noon
till night, the roar of which we dis
tinctly heard while on the march a
considerable distance away-giving
US an idea of what We ourselves
might expect, when we arrived at
the front. "The Wilderness" is in
wild desolate tract of country.
situated in Spottsylvania county,
about five miles broad and ten miles
long. 1t is an immense Jungle.
covered with a thick underbrush.
cut up with ravines, making the
movement of artillery and cavalry,
almost impossible. General Lee and
his men were familiar with this
ground and he was satisfied to al
low Grant to advance without op-
position, thinking he might be able
to destroy his army in the very
beginning of the campaign, for,
ridden in the forests, Lee could mass
his troops and hurl them upon any
point of the Union line which he
chose to attack.
The End, 9Th, and 9th corps un-
der the command Of General Han
cock, Warren and Sedgwick, re-
specitvely, comprising $4,000 men
had crossed the Rapidan about a
day ahead of our corps which num-
bered $4,000, making an army of