The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-07-13
RETURN OF W. A. G.
THEIR CENTENNIAL TRIP.

. seven GAYS SUJOu.l stl itlC GCHtCHiieS'.
At the depot they were met by a number o.
citizens, among whom was Captain Bnmgard
ner who had been called from Philadelphia
several days previous in consequence OF SICK
ness in his family. leaving the company III
charge of First Lieutenant McQuaide. AS the
company formed into line in front OF the &C.
pot, Captain Bumgardner delivered neat III
tie speech, in which he commended the boys
for their department. whilst in the Quaker
city, and gladly welcomed them home. lie
then invited them into the American Hotel,
where great tubs of lemonade and clarct
punch awaited them and to say that they and
their numerous friends did full justice to
the treat. would but family express the relish
with which cup after cup of the delightful bcv-
crage disappeared.
After resting few moments the company
marched down to the III den and Hendricks
pole, and after three cheers for the nominees,
were addressed briefly by General john Ech-
OILS, who welcomed them bark in a very happy
effort.
| We rive below n description of their pill
grimage, as kindly furnished us by an officer
of the company %
The West Augusta Guard met in their armo-
~ in the Odd Fellows building Saturday 0 p.
NJ, July lst, 1876, with knapsacks and accou-
trcments ready for the Centennial trip. 1t
looked like the stirring times of 1861, to see
the boys so well equipped and soldier like.
They mustered forty strong, and at 10 O'Clock
every man was in ranks, and at the tap of the
drum marched to the depot where they were
surprised to see the send-off extended them by
the Augusta Fire Company. They were not
allowed long to contemplate this. They were
marched into a special car provided for them,
and were soon speeding on their way. OF
course there was no sleep for the first night.
There were too many energetic ''conductairs''
asking for our tickets before we could quiet
ly embrace Morpheus, and every one enter
ING the car would be Immediately met by sew
eral voices "Hcllo Bill l didn't know you acere
here - Railroad officials and colored clergy
men were treated with the same salutation,
no distinction of rank or condition The
slumbering citizens OF all way stations were
saluted with Centennial huzzahs and regular
4tl of July tigers, and many were the inqur
les as to what regiment this was, never for Il
moment suprosing that one company could
raise such unearthly noise. At Gordonsville
found them all to man as wide awake and
fully prepared for raid on the Centen NAL
chicken limbs as though they had been out for
a month. but alas ! those lynx eyed watchers
of hungry travellers had drawn in their sup
plies, and taken themselves for other places,
for what reason mo fellow can find OUT
The change of cars was made all safely, but
there was not so much room and decidedly
more persons to cry to 81 did not know you
were here -
On to Alexandra we sped with the same
jollity and jokes flowing rs freely rs water
from our new water works. There is a
Corporal No. 2, who fully deserves the three
letters on his cap, wv. A. c. and would
make distinguished end man on a minstrel
troupe. He tired not for the whole trip to
Philadelphia, but was the life of the whole
party until the toothaehe seized him. He ar-
piled to the surgeon, who gave him relief and |
suggested that to keep the air from the inside |
of his mouth would be beneficial. If you had
seen the picture of distress that went over his
broad countenance, and the length Of the |
countenances he had hitherto made radiant by |
his sallies, when this advice was heard, you |
would have thought the boys had received Or
ders to turn back. 1t all went for naught, for
the cOrporal's masticaters were not out of |
sight moment the whole trip.
From Washington we took the B. & 0. road
for Baltimore, where we were met with the |
startling intelligence that we would have to |
remain unit! G P. NJ. The boys all said they
liked Baltimore, but they did not desire to see
the Centennial there. So their CAPTAIN with
that vigor and energy which marked him |
through the whole trip, whenever the COM
fort OF the boys came into quess:on, was eff |
for the F. 4 w. depot, and sought an inter-
view with Mr.. Crawford, the superintendent,
and lie courtcously agreed, il they were ready |
in half an hour, he would put them through. |
In 30 seconds every man was i'll line, and were
hauled over to the p. & w. depot Here they |
were attached to a cattle train, but it was no |
slow train, for they went as fast as passenger
trains do here. This was the most delightful |
ride Of the whole "trip, through the finest Sec
ton OF country i'll the whole world.
We were .'steered'' through to Philadelphia
by P. NJ. Sunday, landing Immediately OPP
posite the Centennial grounds, from which
point we marched to Fairmount Park, a dis
lance of mile and half where we struck |
tents,--We were camped next the battalion of
LIST Virginia VOL, consisting of companies A, |
and c, commanded by Major Ordway; on
the other side was q battalion of YER
mont Volunteers, and Immediately in front a |
battalion of Detroit Cadets, and in the same
park were the 9TH and 23rd New York regi-
ments. Everything event merry as a mar
riage bell" We were soon on terms OF init
macy with all soldiers, and interchangng of
visits was kept mp during the whole stay. All |
were under the stars and stripes, and seemed /
willing to let the ''dead past bury its dead"
Talked over the late difficulty in the friendliest |
manner imaginable. Monday dawned upon
them, and reveille found every man ans YER
ing to his name. Breakfast over and ats A. NJ |
every man was allowed, unless detailed to
camp duty, to visit the Centennial exhibition
many of them not returning until the wee
small hours OF 4th July stayed in town to
witness the grand torch light procession of
about Is miles long, and one OF the grandest |
advertising mediums ever presented to an
enthusiastic 4th July audience. At IL NJ OH
Monday night there opened anoise that wonld
have done honor to the internal regions, OF
any other unearthly place. All the steam
whistles, bells, cannons, guns, fire crackers
and CANTON crackers were let loose for the
space of an hour, entirely drowning the INDIE
pendence Bell that every one wanted to hear.
Some of the boys have not the din and CHATTER
out of their ears yet, and will not for years to
come, -Four A. NJ. 4th found them again an
swering reyele, and after q hearty breakfast
were III line, marched to Belemont station on
the Philadelphia & Reading Rail Road ami
were taken to the city, and at 1880 P. NJ, were
in line OH Broad street participating in the
grandest military display that their eyes ever
beheld. They marched about 10 or y miles
during the day, and only one man fell and he
was up in "a hours. They had orders to wear