Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-05-16
(fFIfOR CAkP| LEE
Huntington Rifles Leave for
Richmond.
THOUSANDS SAY GOODBYE
Affecting Scenes Witnessed
H.. at the Station.
MANY OLD "VETs"IN LINE
Men Who Wore Ghe Gray Mmrcl, wi Ii
Those Who Wore The Nlue md the
Band Plays "Dixi." nnd,-ynnkce
- Doodle" Rev. e. L. Well
'5 s9sss ford's Farewell Address.
MANY OLD "VETs"IN LINE

The Huntington Rifles have gone to
war. a
Yesterday afternoon at 43O O'Clock
over. 100 men who had responded to
President McKinley's call for troops
to follow the Stars and Stripes wher-
ever the flag may be carried ed
the train for Camp Lee at Richmond
whittier they went to DE mustered into
service and assigned u duty. Captain
r. Thornton Marye WAS in command
and the men We're: clad in regulation
girt about them. .5E.,
1t was an impressive scene Thou
sands of people gathered at the station
to bid farewell to the Young men who
had shouldered their muskets to fight
for the cause Of liberty. humanity and
civilization. Stirring addresses were
made. and the band played Dixie"
Yankee Doodle.'' Star Spangled
Banner" The Girl l Left Behind Me-
that old patriotic hymn
MY country It's of thee.
Sweet land of liberty
and that other grand old song, .
''Blest be the tie that binds
Our Christian hearts in love"
Side by side men who wore the gray
and those who wore the blue marched
to the depot to say goodbye to the
young soldiers. Yes, it was an impress
sive scene. Men who had once fought
in deadly array against each other on
the field of battle struck hands. Sec
tional feeling gave way to American
patriotism. Mason and DiNon's line
was wiped out. and the pain of the
past soothed by the balm of unity of
a common people-Americans.
AT the train cheers Went up from D.
600 throats when the Huntington Rifles
filed into the coach reserved for them
~
brellas. while the men and the se:,men
from the auxiliary cruisers Dixie and
Yosemite threw their hats high into
the air. The band played q national
air. .H#
But there was another scene that
was more affecting. Mothers. daugh-
ters. wives and sweethearts clung to
their loved ones with tears streaming
down their cheeks. and from many
lips came the last words: C;ood-b bye,
God bless you and bring you back to
me-"
Fathers We're there. too. and to their
sons they whispered q few words of
advice like this: My son. remember
your father: be a man, and when on
the battlefield stand up for the ilas of
your country; don't let it trail in the
dust"
Idle curiosity. may have taken some
people to the depot to witness a scene
that is without parallel in the annals
of this beautiful little city by the sea,
but the heart that did not throb With
patriotism was not beating in
the breast of an Americana; and
the eye that was not linmed
by the scene enacted and the
throat that did not feel 4 choking
sensation were not in that great
throng of humanity. Men said fare
we'll to mothers, fathers. sisters and
sweethearts who may never return to
tell the story of the conflict waged in
the cause Of humanity. But like the
Romans of old who followed Caesar.
they will fill soldiers graves. and what
can be grander than men offering
their lives on the altar of civiliza ton
and Christianity. 5s-4s.i2
Long before 9 o'clock yesterday af-
ternoon people began to assemble at
the Casino. the company's armory.
The soldiers also arrived early to pack
their haversacks. A little later on the
band from the Soldiers Home and
hundreds of Union veterans headed
by that one-armed soldier, Major
Thompson, Governor Woodfin and
others, arrived. They We're met by the
members OF Magruder Camp. No 36.
Confederate Veterans. &$
At $3.50 o'clock the stentorian voice
of Sergeant Archibald was heard
shouting: Fall in!" There was a rip
Pile of excitement The men grabbed
their guns and took their places in
ranks. Necks were craned in order to
get a glimpse Of the boys who were
soon to be off to war. There was
moment of suspense, of painful silence.
Then came the command: Forward.
march, In single column the men
filed out of the armory on the lawn of
emerald. A mighty chorus of cheers
greeted them. Captain Marye then
took command, marching the compa-
ny to the front of the Casino, where
stood Mayor Walter a. Post, Major
Thompson and the Rev. e. T. Well
ford, pastor. of the First Presbyterian
church. Here, on the banks of the his
toric James, the soldiers listened to
farewell addresses that touched the
patriotic chords. causing outbursts of
applause. Mayor Post was the first
speaker. He said:' s-3
."Captain Marye. officers and men of
the Huntington Rifles:
1--WE have met here today to testify
to our appreciation of the sacrifice you
are making in thus responding to the
call of duty, and going forth to de-
fend the honor and dignity Of our
country. We know full Well what it
means tc leave home, friends and
loved ones and respond to the nations
demands.
.Ie it shall be your fate to have to
go upon the field Of battle you may feel
assured that the earnest prayers of
the good people Of your city will so
with you, wishing you God speed in
all your efforts. and when victory shall
perch upon your banner and your
Journey home Is announced you may
Il Mayor Post then introduced Rev. E.