Lincoln Highway Military Convoy

The April 12th Chambersburg (Pa) Public Opinion had an article on the upcoming Lincoln Highway military convoy which will retrace the original one made back in 1919. Harry Fike will be in it driving a 1918 Dodge Army Staff Car.

The new convoy will spend its first night in Fayetteville. The first convoy spent an unexpected night at Chambersburg after failing to get beyond Frederick, Maryland because of breakdowns.

The Chambersburg Public Opinion July 7, 1919, said there was a mishap at the Western Maryland Railroad bridge near Thurmont, Md., when the top of one of the vehicles was knocked off while going under it. This caused a detour where three trucks ran off the culvert and had to be pulled out.

The objective of the original convoy was to test long-distance motorized transport and to demonstrate the need for better roads as well as recruiting. Of course, a young Army officer by the name of Dwight Eisenhower was along and later, as president, he initiated the interstate system.

Sure Would Like to See This Convoy, But Unfortunately Will Be Out of the Country When it Happens. --RoadDog