Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-15
WELCOMED ATMIDNIGHT.
RETURN OF THE CADETS FROM
NEW ORLEANS.


Their Arrival by Special Train--TheI
Reception at the Depot by tho Firs
Volunteer Regiment-The Escort anC
COLLATION. at the ArEnory-Incidents o
the Trip.
When it was understood yesterday thai
the Savannah Cadets were expected u
return during the evening from New Or
leans, the First Volunteer Regiment was
ordered out by Lieut.. Col. Reilly
TO escort the returning soldiers from the
depot to their armory. The summons
issued to the members of the respective
companies forming the regiment were
promptly responded to, as every
member Of the regiment felt
that the Cadets had worthily rep
resented it and the Georgia soldiery
in one of the most memorable OF compet-
tive military contests between commands
of a high order Of excellence that mas
ever taken place in this country.
The train upon which the Cadets were
expected arrived at the depot shortly
after o'clock and found the regiment
drawn up in line to receive the returning
military. A large crowd of civilians filled
the approaches leading from the cars TO
the street. 1t was soon learned that the
laved at Apaachicola junction,
short distance outside Of Mobile,
over two hours, and had failed to
reach Wavcross on time to connect with
the. fast mail, and that the savannah,
Florida and Western officials had ordered
a special train to be made up there to
bring the company on to savannah, ana
that IL would not arrive until nearly md
night The regiment and large crowd OF
Il, hot Accommodated
patiently waited the coming OF their boys
in gray, Notwithstanding the rain, which
set in after 10 O'Clock.
At11:15 the train was heard approach
ing. and as it rolled into the depot the
regiment was standing at present
arms" AS the Cadets appeared on the
platform they were greeted with cheer
after cheer.
The march from the depot TO the Cadets
armory, on Bryan street, was then begun,
the route being ap Liberty street TO Hab-
eTsham. up Habersham TO South Broad,
thence TO Abercorn street, and up Aber-
corn to BRYAN. All along the route
the returning company was warm
" greeted, Notwithstanding the
Iateness Of the hour, and when the band
struck up "Dixie," near the corner of
BroughtOn and Aberc0rn streets, the en-
thusiasm found vent in a succession of
Cadets filed past the regiment and marched
into their armOry.
The hall was brilliantly illuminated
and across the south side a spacious table
laden with substantials and delicacies,
furnished under the supervision of Maj.
John SchWarz, gave the Cadets a sugges-
tive reminder of the duties which they
were still expected to discharge.
Quite a crowd of people occupied one
cid off bo hoH
the staircase and gave the soldiers most
hearty greeting as they marched around
the hail and were finally halted
on the south side. The companies CON-
pleting the regimental formation were
drawn up on the west, north and east
sides of the room. Capt. George A.
Mercer, of the Republican Blues, was
introduced, and made brief but
hearty address of welcome. lie said
at Mobile and New Orleans they could
not have been given a warmer greeting
from their fellow soldiers at Savannah
than was being given them on the
occasion of their return from
a field where, if they did not happen to
receive prize, they had at least showed
themselves to be true soldiers and had won
by their brilliant exhibition the heartfelt
gratitude of the First Regiment, and had
drilled military organizations OF the
country, and thus had nobly illustrated,
not only their city, but their State. He
was satisfied that the people OF
Savannah were proud Of the man
ner in which their soldiers had been
represented by the Cadets, and that they
would not hesitate to honor them and
unite ON this occasion in extending them
a hearty welcome on returning to the city
and their homes.
Lieut.. +. Brooks, of the Cadets, replied
that the hearty welcome given them by
their fellow-soldiers was deeply appre-
Grated, and that he was confident that
when all could be said TO explain
why the command had not re-
turned with some of the trophies the
soldiers of Savannah would not feel that
their greeting was out of place. The
Cadets had returned from a great contest,
and mad already signifed their determi-
nation to profit by their experience at
a time not far distant, as he believed.
The cadets, he said, thanked the regiment
for their hearty greeting.
At the conclusion of Lieut.. Brooks re-
marks the company was ordered to be
seated, when the details of the visit to
Mobile ana New Orleans were discussed
with the merits Of the supper and COLA
ton.
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