The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1880-10-24
THE LIGHT INFANTRY.
Their Trip Southward-DoinRs ut At
lnntn mud THOR welcome Homo.

The trip Of the Washington Light Infantry
Corps Of this city 10 Atlanta Ca Ia attend the grand
military fair aud laying the o the new
memorial armory OF the Cato city Guard there was
Of those undertakings that lend 2est citizen SOL
dicring and keep UP The spirit of command 10 work
| ing pitch. Under the patcrnal care Of col. Moore
there was little fear II harm coming 10 tour boys, "
and 1t was doubtful II such long trip. to what
new and interesting country TO almost all OF them,
could have been undertaken under better auspices,
Railroad fares and other expenses were reduced TO tho
lowest limit and arrangements made to obvlato all
/ hut so much Of tho 'roughing II ms would serve
| for experience In campaigning. In addition to this
the trip came Mt good time, after the corps had
grown accustomed to the latest issue Of arms and lust
after their outfit had been served out to all OF
them and IN Its hest and brightest condition. "
| Is certain that no organization could have madea
bcttcr appearance than did the Light Infantry rs they
started from this city last saturday evening As Is
forms Of blue with dark-biue overcoats, lined with
red, them, the so-calcd "bear- skin " fur
knapsacks, and red blanket tightly strapped. This
made an appearance at once trim, solid, and soldier
like which was well sustained by tho bearing Of the
members The Austrian cloth white coats were sent
| ahead by express. The numerical strength OF the
corps Is shown by the fact that those who went were
sufficient TO form battalion OF two fair companies,
(of which Lieut. Ross acted rs adiutant and Sergeant
| Duffy as sergeant major, while those who remained
behind turned out as another good-s'2cd company,
commanded by Corporal Cramcr,) as an escort TO
| their comrades. The following account of the main
spices cannot iall Of Interest to those interested In
militia affairs, or having pride In the worthy repre-
sentation of the District OF Columbia beyond our
| borders.
The route was via the Piedmont Air Line, AMI pass
ing through Virginia, North and South Carolina and
Georgia, the principal points OF interest being rredc-
| rcksburg, Richmond, and Danville. Va, Green's
| boro and Salisbury, N. O., AMI Spartanshurg, y.
New England and Rhoic Island carrying the corps
| through to Atlanta and return. The RAILWAYS they
passed over Were the Baltimore and Potomac, Rich
mond, Fredericksburg, and Potomac, Richmond and
Danville, Carolina Central, and the Charlotte and
Atlanta Air Line. These roads all In splendid
railway officials for their courtesy and kindness to the
entire command. At Brooks station. point about
eastwardbound train jumped the track as they wer,
going the switch. This occasioned delay OF aon
two hours, but the boys did not mind It, as they tool
advantage OF the delay in having generally joll,
good time. Richmond was passed In the night ant
sunday morning found them at Greensboro, y. C.,
home OF stonewall Jackson the ladies' turned out CT
to honor our boys, and the scene there was ont
were iavishly bestowed, every member OF the corp
being remembered.
The command were met about twenty. five mile
this side OF Atlanta by the Gate city Guards, and, II
nm appropriate manner welcomed to Georgia. The
arrived Mt Atlanta about O'Clock A. Nj. Monda
A morning and were escorted to their camp, one mil
from town. Camphres were built, and the scene re
I minded one Of the days of actual war. owing to
not all that holiday soldier might desire. hut to Of
canpagners this, the only drawback to mar the pleas
nrs OF the trip, was not seriously consisrsI ~,
comfortable, and II there was want unsupped 1t WI
n no fault OF theirs.
Il Monday was devoted to sight seeing. the prncip
points of Interest being the cotton and ice Factories
IS At night the visiting soldiers, consisting Of u
om Hartford CONN a ths Mobile R % the soanei
n Rifles, OF ralbatton. Ca: the Montgomery Gregg
is the Eufau'a Light Infantry. the sedgwick Guards,
y Waterbury. Conn; the Richland Dragons and Il
II Rchland Rifle Corps Of Columbia; the Detroit lhgl
i Infantry, the sherman Cadets. of Lawrence Mass
e men Of Chicago IIowcs Artillery Company. of Sal
Jacksonville. Ca: Company c, Fifth Illinois Nation
e through the city, the streets being one contnuo
blaze OF light from the calciums, the fireworks NJ
OF the torches that lined the sidewalks.
Tuesday grand parade Of hfeedivisions consstli
Is Of the above named organizations and Of which Of
ii Col Moore commanded the centre. marched to q
c, fair grounds and reviewed by Governor C0quit
ct In the evening the Governor held a reception, Will
was generally attended. and his entertainment al
to s p"Hs %s,s IN and ns ,rss sr s
u faction that so good an executive has been aga
a. elected to administer for another term of the affairs
w the Empire state OF the South. Governor Collu
W. was particularly well pleased with Company A. al
u, was most earnest in his endeavors to have them st
" over to the memorial services, which took place
~ Thursday. lie went far rs 10 threaten the
" with an executive order compelling compliance wi
MS wishes, ana only wheh INFORMED ny ,"l' Moo
that the corps could be absent but five days did
y. forcgo his entreates.
a Wednesday witnessed the sham battle. but owing
III preparations for departure home Company was II
W able to take part At $3.50 p NJ. the corps took
train for home amid the regrets OF the entire comm
nifty and particularly of the visiting soldlery, ano
whom they had made hosts of friends. The freedc
OF the city was extended them, places of amuseme
v, made free to them, AMI everything done to ma
ny this trip that will not soon be forgotten.
ay AS we predicted on their departure, Company
ey bore themselves, both rs soldiers and gentlemen.
lit that has reflected much credit ON our cit
n High encomiums Were pronounced ON them by
state ocials, the militia, and the citizens for t
tlon In marching eyOlutions, and their precision
nd every movement Of the manual of arms. The Allan
ey Constitution, In describing the parade on Tiesda
= says: "Then came the washington Light lnfantr
By massive. snowy, impresslve-moving as u their gre
n blue legs were simply parts OF n single being
sty 1t wonld he hard to individuals where all VI
de SO courteous and kind but the corps to man
loud in their praise Of Mr. Samuel W. Small, Of
ng Atlanta Constitution, better known here as " {
N, ST. He was indefatigabe in his successful eTo
nd stay he did not sleep. lie continually the go,
Ire by his lavish expenditure of money and the thousn
ch and one kindnesses he showed them, has made
friendship that will never lie forgotten
St The home guard OF the corps assembled at the
mory early clock Thursday evening" patti,
M hrong also beginning to gather outside, and form
ere at abOnt nine under command OF Corporal Cram
,n- assisted by Corporal Kruger the only officers in
city. There were about forty mnskcts In line. 7
w first march was made to the arinory Of the Vetei
en- Corps Eighth and streets, where this organzat
VIII Joined the to the number Of about thirty Ca
Thomasen? y then led the column to the Baliim
and Potomac depot where they were drawn up In
on the platform, and about IL p. NJ. the special tr
r dashed into the station amidst great cheering and
thusiasm. The first TO appear were the honor
he members and their families laden with cotton hosa
~, sugar cane as trophies show where they hal be-
The returning sodlery quickly fell into line In
Id companies and marched past exchanging tho Tor,
lots sles VIII IN, . AZ am ,hona mndn"ht.Itv Ya,rv
iii suffering from waito sleep, they rod as firmly as
, ar bronzed veterans they booked like fresh from
.,' Southern suns. Another hearty welcome avail
I'm them outside. where the crowd lining and almost
md Ing the broad Avenue amounted to thousands desI
~ the lateness Of the hour. opposite the Metropoli
Hotel the objects Of the reception drew up In line
saluted the escort as it passed to lead the way III
and pIaned the IMPRESSION they must have m
'n at Atlanta. The procession was then form
We We headed by Donc,'s Light Infantry Band, twi
Oh likewise betrayed no evidences OF fatigue the v.
ST. ran Corps, the Honorary Members Association,
large company Of stay-at- homes and the two CO
panes lust returned followed by calcium lights WI
Illuminated the whole. Rockets, Roman candles,
se coored fires In profnsion were set OH along the lin
to turn, and converted the whole into military page
and i,' ',s uaSsa:rs nersormed Some avn,n,ion.
the return, such as marching In open order with
anced arms and hands folded which greatly incre'
the general enthusiasm, which found vent In CHI
-. one Of them Is a soldier - etc. Arrived at
ohn armory. arms stacked and Mr.. u. q. Da
~, .hs eorps S the name Of the citizens 81,
at MS them q heartfelt welcome home, and express
on. tho pride felt In the corps and It's achievement
~, few ringing words, assuring all the friends OF
a corps that The regard testified on so many occas'
AZ and especially by this attering reception, APP
m , caied and would always he striyen to he deser'
M lie assured them that his command had borne III
IA, selves not uuworthily Of their high reputation
no accompanied them TO share In the pleasures oil
IA. | trip. Ranks were then broken, and after the
,rh | hearty personal greetings among the members,
'"o congratulations given and received, full justice
done to supper spread In tho adjoining apartment
the lberality Of contributing members and to vi
all were invited. Thus closed at a late hour what
800 | long be remembered as q rival 10 the famous Bos
'ss- Bunker IiiIl trip OF several years ago
Tee ne SIS Pants 10 Order.
the An endless variety to select from. T.
iih- man BrotheTs corner Seventh and f. entire build