The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1898-05-05
They Amt Dressed in That Color Yet
Nor Are They In Depressed
Spirits.
Co. IA Is O. K. and an Organization OF
Which Princeton May Well
I Feel Proud.

lie. nOWeVer, 1t Will be best to treat OF
the events which occurred during the
trip. When the final goodbyes had
been said and the cloud of luttering
shandkerchiefs had been lost to view
the boys began to realize that for them
war had really begun-the first step
had been taken, Until the train
reached Elk River the recruits busted
themselves with their baggage and in
ascertaining JUST who was on board.
At Elk River the town was given a
parting salute which must have been
heard even by the boys of 81 sleeping
in the church yard. No recruits were
waiting at the station: in fact there
were very few people out to see the
boys TX .:...
When the train drew into Anoka the
track was lined with people. Co. B.
wassat the depot but were ordered 10
take a later train so no one except a
baggage detail came with US. Anoka
is certainly a patriotic city. Flags
and colors were to be seen everywhere
and the cheers as our train pulled out
were deafening. - -
In Minneapolis there was no demon
stration, the crowd being massed at
the Milwaukee depot to bid godspeed
to their own troops. However, when
ST, Paul was reached all work seemed
suspended and everyone was out to re-
ceive the troops. Those of your read
ers who heard the selection, ';The
Spirit of 49, at the campfire Thurs
day night can imagine what occurred,
only they must multiply the noise at
least a thousand times. We were pre-
coded by a band and the Duluth COM
panies who Unanswered some and we're
apllsnded, but when we showed up
dressed in all sorts of clothes and car
frying all manner of parcels, then it
seemed as if all the patriotism of the
city was concentrated in the voice of
the multitude. :'Never mind the
clothes, boys-give 'em HE'LL" ''Three
cheers for the recruits,'' God bless
our noble Volunteers Eat Spanish
steak every meal, boys,' and thousands
of other injunctions were heaped upon
u.s..
But occasionally we would strike
crowd who wanted to see uniforms and
then such expressions as "Coxey's
army" "Hayseeds,' 80, you tramps,"
ETC., would stir up the fighting blood
of the boys. ''Never mind them, boys.
They wont know you in a month";"
would come from some old veteran and
the incident would close without blood
shed.
We were allowed an hour for break
fast and during this time the re-
mainder of the third arrived. We
were soon assigned our positions in the
line of the parade and then came a
long wait during, which time all sorts
of FRANKS we're played by the wags of
the regiment.
When the time came for the third to
pass the governor in review it was
nearly noon and to the boys in line it
seemed as if the rays of the Cuban sun
had already begun to boil them. The
crowd at the capitol and for several
blocks beyond was SO dense that even
marching in column of tours there
was no room left for the file closers.
We followed the colors and therefore
were Witnesses, probably, to as great
a display of patriotism as any company
| in the parade. AS the colors passed
along the men uncovered, the women
bowed, and then as they recovered
from the salute, a cheer would go up
that fairly rent the heavens. School
children were stationed in groups
| along the line waving colors and sing
ing patriotic songs. They, too,
honored the red, white and blue in a
manner that was most gratifying to
the gray haired veterans who had de-
Tended it and the boys who had volun-
teered to if the opportunity comes to
them. Words can but feebly describe
the scene and the reader will there
fore be left to picture it for himself.
We marched Is miles and the entire
route was lined with people, who had
/ left their business for the day to vel
come the boys and encourage them.
The whole brigade marched to the
State fair grounds where the boys are
now encamped and this, while it gave
our boys a taste Of what they are likely
j to find in store for Them was a trial