Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-07-14
THE WEST AUGUSTUS HOME.

THE WEST AUGUSTUS HOME.
THEIR TRIP TO PHILADELPHIA--TH
WEEKS INCIDENTs--HosPI-
TAIATY OF OTHER TRooPs-RETURN
AND WELCOME HOME.
&C., &C., &C.
The West Augusta Guards Of whose de-
parture for the Centennial under Capt.
VIM. L. Bumgardner. we gave an account
last week got back Saturday afternoon and
were heartily welcomed home in the most
fiattering manner. In conversation with
the boys we get some particulars of their
trip which will be interesting to all who
take an interest in the company. and that
includes everybody.
THE PASSAGE OUT.
The trip from Stanton was quite agree
able until, On arriving in Baltimore Sun
day morning the company was informed
that it could not proceed further until
evening, Notwithstanding their tickets
called for undetained transportion straight
through to Philadelphia. Capt. Bumgard-
| ner was not however to be detained in this
way and going to work with his usual vim
had the company transported across the
point in a steamer and there had the car
hitched on to cattle train. Upon arriv-
ing at Philadelphia at the cattle yards
| they were still several miles from the Cen
tennial grounds. where their camping
ground was, and the conductor of the cat
| tie train said he could take them no furth-
| Ell as he had no orders. sis there a track
to the place ?" asked the indomltable
| commander of the West Augustus. The
| conductor said there was. "Then," said
| the Captain, "this car shall go there" And
| he went to work hunted up some higher
officers Of the road and in short time had
| an order for the conductor to proceed with
| to camp.
/ THE ARRIVAL AT CAMP.
| Arriving at the grounds the company
left the car but had to hunt up their camp
| ground, no escort being in waiting for them
| as it was thought they were detained in
Baltimore. While waiting with arms
| stacked at one point, q gentleman drove
| by in his carriage and stopping offered to
| find their camp, which he did, this being
the first of a long series of courtesies they
received from residents of Philadelphia anG
| the North afterwards. AS they marched
on to camp and passed other companies
the troops from Vermont, Pennsylvania
| New Y rk and elsewhere cheered them as
| they passed, hrzzahing for Old Virginia
They went into camp adjoining the battal
ion of the LIST Virginia regiment from
Richmond. and did guard duty during thei
| stay with them. There was reveillee at
| A. M, guard mounting at 8 A. M. ant
dress parade at Z 2. NJ. The men not Oh
guard duty were allowed liberty Monda,
Was spent by the boys in looking over The
Centennial and going into the city. Mon
| day night the city Of Philadelphia seer
| from camp seemed blaze of fireworks ant
at IL O'Clock of that night every bell, loco
motive whistle and everything else thai
could make a noise was turned loose, ma
king deafening noise.
THE GREAT PARADE.
The West Augusta Guard, though hay
ing done camp duty with the Virginia bat
| TALON, did not parade as a part of that
command but were the next organization
to it in the line. The route of march was
over 10 miles long and marched under al
intensely hot sun. All along the route
citizens handed the troops ice water ant
lemonade and showed other kindly atten-
tions- In passing one point private G. G
Henderson being sick fell out Of ranks ant
Surgeon McChesney was taking him to TIL,
sidewalk when Philadelphia ran across
the street and said, CDR. take him around
to my Office where he can be better atten
| ded.' The kind offer was accepted ane
Mr.. Henderson was taken around to the
office of Mr.. \. S. Gray, No. 1853 Walnut
| gentleman, where the hospitable and
thoughtful host had ice, towels, &c., and
wanted to send for medicine for the sick
man which last, however, was not
| needed. In a few moments Mrs. Gray, a
lovely and most refined lady, came in to
see if there was anything that the gentle
hand of lady could best do. When Mr..
Henderson had recovered and was leaving
with the Surgeon, both Mr.. Gray and his
wife invited them to call at Their residence
| giving them their address. No other Incl.
dent that the boys tell, seems to have
| touched them as much as this one, and if
Mr.. Gray and his wife should reach Staun-
ton this summer and get away alive they
| might count their lives clear gain.
THE MILITARY CoURTEsIEs.
| The courtesies received by the West Au-
gusta, both from the military and citizens
| were almost too numerous to mention.
The boys got dangerously thick with the
18th and 23d N. Y, the 22d Pennsylvania,
the Vermonters and a lot Of others. The
Vermont regiment sent eheir drum corps
over to serenade our boys. Gov. Hartranft
of Pennsylvania with his staff called at
their camp, and the interchange of militia
ny courtesies with the adjoining military
was frequent. On one occasion Lit. Byers
being down Sin the city of Philadelphia,
saw a miscellaneous crowd of Pennsylva-
mia, Massachusetts, Vermont and New
Y ork privates who called out. ''There is
Virginia commissioned officer; come over
and take commando The Lieutenant
went over and found that they were par
ty of gentlemen volunteers who insisted on
his accompanying them in command to a
restaurant where fine collation. was set
out Guard mounting was gone through
at the saloon with much merriment, and
I 7
liquids. 1t would be impossible to tell in