ty-four days; and because of the rigor
of the Northwestern winter, and much of it through a pathless
country,--the command sleeping in tents on the snow-covered
ground,--the men called it the "Moscow journey." The mercury at times
stood 30 deg. below zero, and never was above the freezing point.

Companies E and H returned by way of New Ulm to Fort Ridgley, 45 miles,
on the 7th and 8th of January, having marched since leaving the former
place in November about 825 miles. The only company of the Sixth
Regiment at the fort at this time was A. Company E was assigned
quarters in the stone barracks, on north side. The duties were not
heavy and the time passed comfortably enough for soldiers. Musicians
Seidel, Eberdt, Jakobi, and Sproesser now rejoined, but not for duty,
being detailed in the band; also Sergeant Steifel and George Paulson.
Sergeant Siebert rejoined on the 20th. Sergeant Huhn was detached as
acting post hospital steward on the 27th, being afterwards
discharged--on the 20th of February--to enlist in the same capacity in
the regular army. Henry Steck, enlisted as private in the regiment on
the 3rd of February and assigned to the company, joined for duty March
20th,--native country of recruit, Wurtemberg. Bast rejoined on the
10th, and Radke about the 15th. Captain Schoenemann left for St. Paul
April 4th, and Lieutenant Holl assumed command of the company. On the
19th Sergeant Siebert was promoted to first sergeant and Corporal
Stiefel to fifth sergeant, and privates Radke and Gabbert appointed
seventh and eighth corporals, respectively; but the latter scarcely
ever acted as such and was reduced to the ranks, at his own request, on
the 13th of the following month. George Paulson was detailed in the
regimental band on the 7th of May.

At the beginning of May a detail of about a dozen men of the company,
under Sergeant Huth and Corporal Radke, were sent from Fort Ridgley to
Milford--12 miles--to relieve the cavalry at that post. On the 15th
Corporal Smith replaced Corporal Radke there. This detachment returned
at the end of the month. While there the woods of the Big Cottonwood
and in the neighborhood of Milford were thoroughly scouted, both by
parties from Company E and from Company G (posted at Fort Wilkin and
Madelia), but by the former traces only of the Indians were found.

The Sixth Regiment being ordered to rendezvous at Fort Snelling, to
prepare for their departure to the South, in accordance with the ord