The San Francisco call., 1898-04-21
THE COLUMN
 OF INFANTRY
The White Horse Cavalry Escorts the Command
 From the PreSidiO.

There was a stir of preparation at the Presidio at an early hour yesterday, for the boys in blue of the First United States Infantry were to leave on orders to fight for their puntry. Before noon there were several hundred civilians on the grounds-Iittle children in white gathering wild fl wers, soldiers wan dering forth for the last time with those they love, small boys waving flags whose meaning they little understood, while song birds poured forth their wealth of melody from the throats of rusty cannonS used as ornaments on the grounds
 A former English cavalry officer who was present when the soldiers assem- bled on the upper parade ground said: They are as fine drilled body of men as I ever saw, for every movement is a poem"
 That sentiment was in the hearts of all who witnessed the departure of the pride of California for the scenes of future conflict. The scene was inspir- ing from start to finish, the music and the marching appealing to the patriot ism of all as Good luck!' was cried out all along the inc from the Presido to the ferries. The start was made at 220
 Every soldier marched as if his heart was in the cause, and was a beauti- full sight to behold Captain Lockett's troop 1 of the Fourth Cavalry escort the infantry to their point of embarka- tion.
 At the turn of every road there were volumes of cheers, and the sight along the winding paths of the Presidio was as fine as was ever witnessed in the State. Along the line of march be- tween the Presidio and Van Ness ave- nue the soldiers were greeted by the ringing of bells and the blowing of whistles, as well as by volumes of cheers. By the time the procession had reached Van Ness avenue the streets were alive with spectators and the cheering was begun with renewed vigor.
 Last January California celebrated the semI- anniversary of her statehood with a parade of thousands or soldiers and clvllanS along the same streets traveeI yesterday by the First Infantry on it's way to the front On that occasion, too, Colonel Miles com mand turned out and exceedingly handsome and soldierly the L4en looked in their dress coats and stiff helmets, proving one of the most attractive feat ures of the display.
 An immense crOwd-eStimated to be the largest ever assembled on the great boulevard-lined the sidewalks of Van Ness avenue and heartily applauded the regiment that from long association has become dear to San Franciscans That event had been advertised for weeks; almost every county in the State contributed to it's picturesque ness and hardly city, town or village but sent it's quota to swell the crowd.
 But yesterday, with barely forty eight hours notice and with no pre- paration whatever beyond an invita- tion to the school children to assemble a far greater crowd choked the broad avenue until it was only with the great est difficulty that the police and cavalry escort could clear passage for the regiment.
 At Lombard street, where the col umn swung into Van Ness avenue a battalion of police, under command of Chief Lees, with Lieutenant Birdsall acting as his adjutant was drawn up in column of platoons, ready to escort the gallant First to the ferry. There were three compan1es-A, E and C. under command of Captains Whitman, Spillane and Gillen, respectively, the piatocns being in charge of Sergeants George B. Baldwin, Martin, Conboy Brophy. Perrin, Campbell and Mona han. At 2:45 o'clock the soldiers, head ed by the cavalry troop, wheeled into the avenue, the police took the lead, and to the strains of Tenting on the Old Campground," the grand march in review of the tens of thousands began.
 The change in the appearance of the regiment from the parade of last Janu- ary was striking. The dress coats had given way to service-stained fatigue blouses; drab slouch hats replaced the heavy helmets; the neat-fitting trous- CTS were partly concealed by brown