They often diverted to that point _materiel_ that had been originally designed for St.Louis.
As the army lay at Jefferson City, preparing for the field, some twelve or fifteen journalists, representing the prominent papers of the country, assembled there to chronicle its achievements.

They waited nearly two weeks for the movement to begin.

Some became sick, others left in disgust, but the most of them remained firm.

The devices of the journalists to kill time were of an amusing nature.
The town had no attractions whatever, and the gentlemen of the press devoted themselves to fast riding on the best horses they could obtain.

Their horseback excursions usually terminated in lively races, in which both riders and steeds were sufferers.