Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-03
7 E AR IS w ERE SHE
And Amid Them Two Cavalry Troops
Leave the City.
Soldiers From Fort Myer Leave for
Other POsts-Lively Scenes mt
the Depot This Morning.

to be the worst fooled lot of bandits the
gun ever shone upon. That train was
loaded from stock to muzzle with soldiers.
armed and carrying ball cartridges. 1t was
taking away two troops Of Uncle Sans
cavalry, X Of the ninth and H OF the
eighth who have occupied the charming
quarters at Fort Myer for three years, and
in that time have made SO many friends
that their departure today was the cause
OF an immense amount of real regret
The scene about the station this morning
reminded one very forcibly Of old wartime
days, for there was all the hustle and hurry
of band Of soldiers starting out on a
campaign. but there was none Of the con-
fusion that marks a party Of civilians when
they go off together. 1t is no small under
taking, however. to handle such an outfit,
and the officers had their hands full getting
everything and everybody on board the
cars and to sec that nothing was left be-
hind that ought to go. and incidentally that
nothing went that ought to stay. 1t took
a special train of twelve cars to carry all
the men, horses and baggage and two big
engines were put at the head to pull them
six baggage cars and a horse car. The work
OF getting away was made comparatively
easy by the fact that all the luggage was
sent over last night and carefully slowed
III,
Bright and early this morning the men
were up at Fort Myer doing the thousand
and one little things that must necessarily
De Done at the last moment Handbags
were packed, carbines were given one last
ruD down, haversacks were loaded and 'ftt-
TED up with all sorts of things to make the
Journey pass more quickly-cigars. tobacco.
and other materials that are dear To the
average soldiers heart, some OF which. IT
Is to be feared. were carried in bottles. A
sooo many OF the men, especially in X
Troop 0he colored troop. are married. and
the result was that there was a large as
sortment Of wives. and also a goodly de-
tacnment OF small and variously shaded
children. who had to be marshaled into
line on their way to the train.
But by o'clock all was ready. and the
line OF march was taken I'D toward the
city and across the bridge and as they be-
gan to draw out Of sight Of the post which
had been their pleasant home for three
years past many an eye was turned back
to have one last look at the wooded hill
which shut out the view Of the barracks
and parade ground. In Georgetown a num-
per OF cable trains were called into requisi-
ton to transport the band to the station.
AS they passed down the avenue they at
tracted a great deal of attention and many
goodbye was called out to them from the
early morning pedestrians. When they
reached the corner of 18th street and Penn
sylvania avenue the men gave q rousing
cheer for The Evening Star and waved a
farewell with their caps.
NJ the station.
The train was all made up and ready for
them when they reached the station and
little time was lost in getting on board. But
II was then that the real fun began, for
there were crowds Of people awaiting them
on the platform to see them off, When
the train finally pulled out the band had
there been one on board, would have played
THE Girl / Left Behind Me-" for there are
tears and sorrow In the heart Of many a
colored belle in Washington today. AS
most or the female sex VINO were on the
platform to bid the soldiers a long and low
Ing farewell were colored, 1t would seem as
though X troop must have cut a wider
swath in local society than did their white
comrades In arms. The good-byes and hand
shakes and kisses were long drawn out, for
there was considerable delay in getting the
special train of. and it was nearly 10
O'Clock when Washington saw the last Of
these two troops of cavalrymen. H
troop carried away ffty-eight men and
three officers and X troop sixty-one men
and two officers: The privates and nom
commissioned officers and their families
were provided with tourists sleepers where
they were made as comfortable as they
could desire.
At the rear end of the train was attached
a Pullman sleeper for the accommodation
Of the officers and their wives. In this were
Capt. Hughes, Capt. Fountain. Lieut.. Steele,
Lieut.. Benton and Lieut.. Perry. Mrs.
Hughes and Mrs. Steele were also OF the
party.
OF the two troops H is bound for Fort
Meade and X for Fort Robinson. One car
was necessary to transport the horses
which are the private property Of the Of
ficers. The other horses belonging to the
troops were left behind, and will be utilized
by the men Of the sixth cavalry, who have
been detailed to Fort Myer. In one of the
cars rode Pluck. a great. big. ugly-looking
bulldog, who is the pet and pride of the
men In X, and who look upon him as their
mascot and friend.
Sorry to Go.
In conversation with a Star reporter this
morning the officers expressed a great
deal Of regret at leaving Washington
which is always the Mecca of a soldiers
heart. They have enjoyed their stay at
Fort Myer to the fullest extent, ard carry
away with them only the pleasantest
memories Of their hospitable treatment
here. Still they take the change very philo-
sophcally, for soldier is accustomed to
being moved about at the will of the
powers that be. and after a certain length
Of time they seem to get restless them
selves. and are ready enough when the
change comes.
The departure Of these two troops this
morning still leaves two troops at the fort
Of the seventh. Capt. Bell. Lieut.. Bald
win and Lieut.. Sewall, and A Of the first,
Capt. Bonus and Lieut.. Lands. Troop
will leave on Friday at Ills for Fort Sam
Houston, at San Antonio. Tex. by way of
New orleans, and troop at the same
time for Fort Staunton. N. Mex.
Sixth Coming In.
Last evening about Z o'clock a special
train brought in five carloads Of troopers.
the first detachment Of the sixth cavalry,
who were coming on to take the places Of
the men sent west. There were 1876 men in
all. making two troops. and H. They
brought with them thirty-one private
horses and a great deal of baggage. These
two troops were among those which were
hurried on to Chicago last July at the
time Of the big strike and have been there
ever since. Troop II is commanded by Col.
d. S. Gordon, First Lieut. E. F. Wilcox
and Surgeon b. Munday. Troop A is COM
manded by Capt. H. NJ. Kendall. Lieut.. A.
P. Blockson and Lieut. A. Gray. acting
quartermaster.
The train bringing the troops consisted
CT five tourist sleepers for the men, two
palace cars with the officers and their
families. and the baggage and freight cars
with the troop property. The men were
served with coffee at the depot, and were
afterward loaded on street cars and taken
over to Georgetown, whence they marched
to Fort Myer. The remainder of the sixth
cavalry, from Chicago, will come on to
take the vacant quarters at the fort as
soon as the other troops move out.