On the March

[Dave Hull]

No we had no stock or artillery pieces. Yes it was in the rain, on the tank trails which lead out to the training areas on post. Nothing can soften up the ground more than a few squadrons of M-60's and M-1's as they roll through. But the Georgia clay mud is not the issue at Benning, it is the sand.

I was stationed there for about 5 years Bama.

Dave

Dave

 

[Freddy]

According to my GGF it was cold enough for squalls of snow. He complained about his feet and ankles. Of course, he had been recovering from a Minnie in his thigh. He mentions only about 25% making camp together, while the rest straggled in with blistered feet.

On page 115 of the regimental history the march is confirmed at 22 miles. The Colonel explains that Kentucky turnpikes are paved with "broken limestone, and are as hard as rock" and this hurt the feet of the men making their "legs swell so as to be almost disabled".


http://books.google.com/books?id=X4...&resnum=6&ved=0CDEQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

[gold lotus 99]

Hi, Sam,
Another soldier's account is "History of the Seventh..." by Daniel Lieb Ambrose, also a free Google book. http://books.google.com/books/about/History_of_the_Seventh_Regiment_Illinois.html?id=SLtEAAAAIAAJ

This was my gg grandfather's unit; have read the book once, and yesterday started re-reading to take notes. Numerous accounts of marches, one described where the soldiers left the road covered in blood as their bare feet were cut by the rocks in the road. Also descriptions of marches where men dropped out to rest, and eventually made it to camp.

The book is as though the author combined a personal journal with almost daily entries, with post-war official reports and interviews with officers. The journal entries note the weather, the terrain, etc., as well as daily troop life. It will tell you about marching, and a whole lot more.

Good luck on your story...