The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-05-23
FIRST REGIMENT
HAS DEPARTED
--
The Brave young Soldiers
off for Florida,
IEET clIN0AV MORNING.
LEFT SUNDAY MORNING
ON THREE SECTIONS OF A SPE
CIAL SOUTHERN TRAIN.
NEWS AND OBSERVER GOES WITH THEM
And will Keep in Touch with the Boys Thous,
ands Of People Ga'her at the Station TO
Bid Fond Adieus, With Quiyeriug
Voice Breaking Hearts and
Weeping Eyes.

Weeping Eyes.
The three Southern specials that left
Raleigh i'm the early forenoon of yes
| terday, broke asunder more cords of
love and tender emotion as they pulled
| out of the Union depot, than any trains
that have ever steamed out of the capt.
| tai city.
These trains were freighted with a
thousand MS loyal young patriots as were
ever mustered under flag. There were
two or three thousand people-mothers,
brothers, sweethearts and wives, sisters,
who had gathered about the station to
bid adieu to the daring young heroes.
Baskets of dainty viands, roses and
ever green's: smiles set in glistening
tears; STOPPING mothers and grandmoth-
ers, doting fathers and brothers, neph-
ews and nieces, merchants and lawyers
| and physicians, workingmen, mechanics
and officials were mingled together in
one vast sympathetic throng, bidding
adieus. moistened with unstrained
tears and wishing bon voyage to the sol
dier boys.
The First regiment of North Carolina
volunteers were departing for Tampa,
Florida. The order had been given, and
| without Il murmur, without a single re-
sistance. every man, every boy, for
there are some who are not yet men,
fell III line ut the tap Of the roll call,
silencing forever the dastardly canard
that North Carolina, the first at Ala
nance. the last at Yorktown: the first at
Bethel, and the last at Appomatox, and
now first at Cardenas, was even hesita-
ting in obeying the country's call to
arms
Twelve companies were boarding the
trains, not companies comprised of no.
hos, and thriftless good for nothings, but
companies comprised of many of the
best of the States young men, young
men, many of them who had quit good
lucrative positions and comfortable
homes to go into camp to eat measured
rations from tin plates and drink water
from canteens. This was the class of
young men that were taking their leave
yesterday.
The Governors Guards, of Raleigh,
were among them. Eighty-three strong,
sons and brothers OF our best people
among them. Charlotte, Durham, Win
ston. Reidsville Goldsboro, Concord,
Waynesville Asheville, StatesvilIe and
Shelby, each mad contributed of
their young patriots to make up the de-
parting regiment. Raleigh bade them all
bon voyage. and as the trains pulled out
q thousand silent prayers went up to
the throne of the king of battles that
his protecting care might go with each
and every one wherever they went
guide them, guard them and bring them
safely to their homes and loved ones
| again.
The scene at the depot was touching.
II have witnessed scene close akin to
| il just 81 years ago yesterday" said
| Mr.. n. w. West, when the First regi-
Inent of North Carolina volunteers left
Raleigh TO go and join Lees army, and
| all this brings up memories of that in
| teresting time"
! The three Southern specials stood in
waiting under the shed at Union depot
| when the clock struck s. A little while
| later the entire regiment marched down
| IIillsboro street to Fayetteville, thence
| down Fayetteville street to Martin street
and thence down Martin to the station.
/ Tents, baggage, guns, horses and even
knapsacks had already been loaded on
the trains. The people of the city did
not know the hour of leaving, but when
| the sound of the drum was heard it
spread over the city like an electric cur
rent, and within ten minutes crowds
were hurrying TO the station from every
section of the city.
The troops marched down and boarded
| their respective trains, and the great
surging crowds surrounded them. The
boys were as jolly as could be, and by
| their cheerfulness much of the solemnity
| of the occasion was dispelled, but with
| 1t all there were many touching scenes.
Said one weeping mother to her boy:
go my darling boy, but remember your
| Saviour your country and your poor
lonely mother
/ "Oh, ! shall be so lonely without you,
/ said a loving wife. take care Of your
precious self and hurry back to poor me. -
Many other touching incidents were
observed, but with it all there was a feel
| ing of general good cheer. The boys
wanted TO go, and they stood the the
| ordeal of parting like heroes. AS the
trains moved out a mighty yell burst
forth from the car windows, which was
taken up and echoed and re-echoed by
the throngs of people. while thousand
handkerchefs, hats and fans We're wav-
ing the trains adieu.
/ On the first section there were $50
men, including the regimental officers
and members of the band. Also on this
section was Mr.. Fred Merritt, the News
and Observers special correspondent
who will go with the North Carolina
troops wherever they may be ordered.
On the second section there were 315
men and on the third 317 men. A total
of 9S2 men on the three ections.
/ The enh-l train consisted of So cars,
each section being composed Of one Pull
man, nine day coaches, and two baggage
ears. Each ear was lettered to indicate
the company it carried
/ On the first section were the regimental
officers and musicians, and the Charlotte
Hornets Nest Rifles, Goldsboro, Win