Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-23
THE BLUES ARE BACK
4 Great Ovation rendered The Battalion
Upon their Return.
MET ny A BIG CROWD.
The Walker Light Guard Escort
Them from the Depot-Speecbes
and Refreshments at the Armory-
Governors Orders MIscnrricd.

Such an ovation as was given The Blues
has hardly been accorded any military
organization in this city since the war.
Their band was at the depot. the Walker
Light Guard. under command Of Captain
Frank w. Cunningham. were there,
about dozen OF the Blues who were un'
able to go to Pocahontas or had returned
were there; some Of the most influential
and prominent citizens Of Richmond were
on hand. and all united in giving the
boys warm and hearty greeting.
The home military formed in the shed
just to the west OF the track, and the
crowd gathered around them. When the
train pulled into the depot mighty chesi
rent the air from the hundreds or throa's
in the shed. This was quickly responded
to by a tiger" from the warriors VINO
leaned from the Car-windows and grasp
cd the hands OF the friends who gathered
to greet them. Meantime the band play
d Dixie" and shout after shout Was
given by the large throng.
MARCH TO THE ARMORY.
The Blues were quickly gotten out OF
the cars and formed within the she'd me
Walker Light Guard, together with the
Richardson. and Colonel John Bell Bigger
VINO were on hand. marched out into the
street and drew up in front OF the depot
They stood al present and the baAu Pig .
ed Home. Sweet Home" as the battallon
marched past. The Blues then halted ana
stood at present as the Walker Llsht
Guard and the association passed anu
headed the procession, which marched up
Seventh to Main street, and thence 10 'hc
armory on Ninth and Cary. Inc route
was brilliantly Illuminated with calcium
lights. and crowds stood on the sidewalk
and cheered the returning heroes.
Ia the armory the three companies
formed. with the Blues facing the Walker
Light Guard. Major Richardson al
vanced and made an ornate niue huuIess
Of welcome He said: Blues tor my
self ana in behalf Of the association 1
desire to congratulate you on your re-
turn to your home and families. MOI
withstanding the ardnous duty you nav
had TO perform. not one wcrd mas reacheu
my ear which was not COMMENTATOR
of your soldierly bearing and Gentlemahly
deportment Ii is gratifying TO me 10
hear so much good said OF you, and l
am proud that the honored name OF the
Richmond Light Infantry Blues has fallen
in such gallant hands.
MAJOR CUTCHINS RESPONDS.
Major Cutchins replied 10 this, and
OIL behalf Of the Blues returned thanks
for the ovation that had been given them.
81 was about TO say" he began, that
IL was unexpected, but this would have
been an Injustice to you as well as TO the
gallant boys whom / have the honor to
command This reception was not uneN-
pected; but It Is none the less appre-
ciated. The Blues, by their strict at
tention to duty, have won the commenda-
ton Of all who know them, and they are
worthy Of an ovation
Addressing himself TO Captain Cunning
ham, Major Cutchins continued; we re-
turn our thanks TO the gallant corps
who has honored US, and we appreciate II
none the less because II comes from
the Walker Light Guard
Turning TO the Blues. Major Cutchins
then said: "Divest yourself OF your KNAPP
sacks and other encumbrances, and get
in eating order"
This was promptly complied with and
with a whoOp the ranks were broken, ana
the soldier lads, who have been in camp
for ten days. soon gathered around a
banquet board, where punch ana cholce
viands were dispersed, and for the nonce
they forgot that such a place as Poca-
hontas existed, or that there was ever
a striker.
The GOVERNOR DID RIGHT.
Several Of the officers were seen after
the battalion was dismissed, and they gave
4 gloomy account of the situation in the
coal region. They were unanimous IN
their statements that, but for the presence
Of the troops. riot and bloodshed would
have occurred, and all asserted that the
Governor had done nothing more than hi
duty when he sent the militia 10 Poca
hontas The miners, they say, are very
hostile 10 the railroad, and would moi
hesitate to burn the cars and destroy th'
track at the first opportunity given them
As a matter Of fact, they are afraid Of
the soldiers. and the presence of the mill
tary is the only thing that Is keeping
them from violence, They are friendly
| TO the people OF Pocahontas. and dc
| not want to hurt them or injure thei
property, but are very sore against thu
| Norfolk and Western. Not one Of tn,
| soldiers who were approached last nigh
| believed that a settlement Of the strik'
was anywhere near at hand. on th'
contrary, they were of the belief that tn,
| operators were supporting the miners an'
coercng them to hold out In their strik
| until the Norfolk and Western would b'
| forced to cut down their freight-rates.
| VIRGINIANS HAVE NO GRIEVANCES
Several OF the officers interviewed SAT-
| that they had had conversations with tn
| Virginia miners. These men said they h8
| no grievances, but were willing TO Wort
| under the scale OF wages that now exists
| But they said that when the West Nir
| ginia miners came over and demande'
| that they quit work they were forced to d.
| so, else. when the soldiers departed, thei
| lives would have been in danger.
| AS for the complaint of the Board Of
| Trade Of Pocahontas that business wa.
being injured by the posting OF sentinel'
around the town, the soldiers all say tina
| is all buncombe. Not single person WHIT
| can give any account OF himself Is pre-
| vented from entering the town, and when
| ever a guard is In doubt as 10 whethe
the person should be admitted he SENDS
| him 10 headquarters where Major Simon
passes upon the question Of his admission
HAVE HAD ROUGH DUTY.
The Blues are all tagged out, and al
| though they do not appear TO have sui
fered very much. they say they hav'
| seen some very rough duty. They had 4
| do guard duty almost necessarily. The!
! were on twenty-four hours and off twely
hours, and on several occasions wer
forced TO do extra duty.
Private Bayliss, who was struck with
| rOCk, sui mas MS ntdu DduudbcIf puN IL
| Is rapidly recovering. He was the her
Of the hour last night, and crowd
| throngcd around him and induced him q
tell how he was hurt.
The Orders Not Received.
Governor O'Ferrall said last night tha
he could not account for the miscarriag
of the orders with reference 10 the retur
OF the Blues, as result OF which tha
body Of soldiers left the coal-helds befol
the Portsmouth Battalion arrived on n
scene. The Portsmouth Battalion wa
sent TO Pocahontas TO relieve the Blue
and an order was sent to Major Simon
by the Governor on Tuesday night diree
ing that the Blues be kept on duty unit
the other soldiers arrived. Up to the tin
Of the departure of the Blues yesterda
morning these instructions had not reacl
ed the commanding officer at Pocahonta
| General A. l.. Phillips was informed
one Of Richmond's most prominent bus
ness-men yesterday that one OF his mo-
valuable employees was doing picket dui
at Pocahontas. and that he had telegraph6
| the young man 20 remain as long as n
cessary. The businessman also said hi