Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 94, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 July 1907 — ANOTHER LETTER FROM CO. "M" [ARTICLE]

ANOTHER LETTER FROM CO. "M"

A Description of the Hardships That Were Experienced. Foet Harbison, July 25, 1907. Editor Republican: I but briefly touched on the long, hard march with insufficient food, in my postal card, and now I wish to discuss it at farther length. Following noon mess Tuesday we were informed that we were to go out on a two days’ tour and that each company was to prepare one day’s rations for its men and that one day’s rations would be supplied in the field. No instruct ions were given to the officers at the school where the order was given as to what the military problem would be, no maps were furnished, and the object of the march was shrouded in deep mystery. One regiment was in the city attending the unveiling and one was left in camp. We had had one noon mess from the fresh meat supplied in \ihe morning and had enough left to make two beef sandwiches for each more. We also had enough bacon to make one sandwich for each man. That was all the government issue we had on hand. Each bad one egg, hard-boiled, and a lemon each, supplied by company fund money. We were marched out at about 4:20 o’clock, under a burning sun, equipped with tent and blanket roll, haversack, canteen, and rifle. At about 8 o’clock that night, after a hard, hot march, we were baited for the night and pitched our shelter halfs on the ridge of a hill Something was to happen, we understood, but just what it was we were not told. At 1 o’clock the company was called upon for a detail of two men for patrol duty, and went out under an officer from another company with a detail from each company. At all men were aronsed and put nnder arms ready to move at a moment’s call. But we were not called, but struck tents at 1:80 Wednesday morning and rested until 9;30 and then were moved up, our company gding as a reinforcement to com paniea gone out before. We were not told whait to expect, nor much about the position of the enemy, as ascertained by the patrols and telephoned in from the outposts. We were finally halted near a covered bridge that commanded tbe stream crossing, and deployed along a fence for a considerable distance, where we could be under shelter and at the same time get a good view of the enemy if it was developed. After waiting two hours in this position we gathered the unreliable information that the enemy had retreated, and a rain coming up several companies took shelter in the bridge Most of the boys had finished their sandwiches, etc., either the night before or that morning, and all were hungry. What few farm houses there were in that neighborhood were stripped of everything in the eating line. At about 12:30 we moved oat and marched thru mud and boiling snn, np hill and down hill, with infre quent halts. We were rested once in awhile, but it was a hard drag. Sergeant Brenner and John Morgan had bean feeling badly and were foroed to give up early in the morning. Crosscup had been oat on midnight patrol and dropped ont; Chapman had sore feet and finally went down and was carried by hospital assistants across tVo guns. At 3 o’clock we were halted and given two cans of beans and a piece of bacon, no bread, for twenty-two men. Then Col. Edwin P. Thayer came up and' entered a protest against the insufficient food and poor arrangement for feeding the men. He decided to tugr'ln the ration and pulL ior camp, bat it was in violation of his orders, and so after another long march we were halted and issued four cans

of beans for twentj -two men. It was a taste around only, but it helped a lot, except that while eating it we were ordered to report at once to join the main column We had dropped into the hay scattered about the driveway of a large bam and reluctantly left it. A half mile further, however, we were halted and many fell exhansed, heads on their tent rolls, and slept and rested, their clothing lathered with perspiration. A good housewife boiled eggs and naked biscuits, which she buttered and spread jam. I succeeded with great difficuly in getting a biscuit for each of our boys, and they were the best things ever eaten. We rested until 7 o’clock, and in the meantime Col. Thayer had notified Gen. McKee tnat the condition of his men was such that he did not feel justified in keepirg them out longer. The medical officers said the men’s condition was bad and that Col. Thayer was taking a correct step. Gen. McKee would not consent to this step, but Col. Thayer did it anyhow. We were marched on to camp, reaching here at about 9:30, the most com pletely exhausted lot of men I have seen. Today men are broken out with heat, have sore feet, are tired all over, and it was hard to find any able to place on the regular guard detail. Bupper was coo >ed after we returned, and a good breakfast, parti lly purchased with company funds, was supplied this morning, bnt none are able to drill. Lieut. Woodworth has been acting as battalion adjutant, a mounted position, and escaped the long march, being with the paraders in the city and with the camp defense; forces after his return. He caught a bard day’s Work on horseback and is about done up today. Others in camp who escaped the hike, including Corporal Snyder and Privates Day and McGinnis, had about -60 hours’ continuous guard duty. Emmett Merritt had a 72 hours’ detail as tbe Colonel’s orderly, but that humane officer saw that those under him were given reasonable treatment. With a full knowledge of the respect that should be accorded the gentlemen at the head of the Indiana National Guard, I wish to say that I can in ae manner reconcile their demands on the boys from the shop, and office, and store and farm to any reasonable purpose. Tbe exhaustion of the men in long, hard driven marches with insufficient food is certain to discourage and demoralize not only the men but the officers of the Guard, and when company after company lined np in front ot Col. Thayer’s tent this morning and gave him three cheers or nine “rahs,” they expressed a sentiment that justified his humane insubordination in the violation of orders from headquarters that would have exacted the impossible from the enlisted men, whose loyalty and patriotism is very essential to the welfare and perpetuity of the Indiana National Guard. Capt. Geo. H. Healey.