The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-06
GUARDS GIVEN AN OVATION.
sAvANNAH's WELCOME TO THE re-
TURNING SOLDIERS.

ArmOry an Ovation-CoI. John
Screyen's Address to the Battalion.
Ladies' Served the Soldiers Brenk-
faSt-Camp Established in south
ern sectIOn-Many Men FurIOugh-
ed, But Fifty Remain in Charge o.
the Camp-ROster of the COmpn-
mics.
That which has so long been looked for
ward to has been realized, and the Guards
are at home again. Both the soldiers and
their friends here have wanted them back,
and, now that they have come all are de-
lighted.
With their coming the last of the SOL
disrs that left Savannah under the first
call for volunteers are back. This means
that the SO men which this city furnished
have returned, and that, apart from the
satisfaction all feel from having the boys
with them again, the condition of affairs
is to be restored to what it was before
they went away. Many have said that the
departure of so many young men from the
city cut into its business considerably, so
that increased activity may now be ex-
pected.
The Guards arrived at Z O'clock, city
time, yesterday morning by way of the
Central from Atlanta. In accordance with
the plan that had been decided upon as
the best means of avoiding a rush and
overcrowding, the train was run into the
cotton yard just north of The station, and
there the men left the cars half an hour
after their arrival
The battalion was met by many mem
bers of the Savannah Volunteer Guards,
who wore their gray uniforms armed and
under command of Capt Williamson. The
union of the gray of the escort and the
blue of the returned soldiers made a pretty
combination. The classes of members OF
the Guards, other than active were also
down al the train. They maintained a
line, and marched in good order. Among
them We're many of the veteran and hon
orary members, men of prominence in the
city.
A squad of policemen was at the train
under the direction of Lieut.. Reilly. They
kept the crowd from getting into the
yard, and thereby interfering with the
movement of the troops
When the men left the cars they were
formed in companies in the yards by the
first sergeants. Several of the officers OF
the escort had, in the meantime, arrived
and made known to Lieut.. Col Garrard
and the officers of the battalion the pro-
gramme of the events of the reception.
The Guards Of the escort were halted on
Liberty street, near the station, to wait
the coming of the battalion The band of
the First Georgia Regiment was out
There was large crowd at the depot, and
all was expectancy until the head of the
column of the battalion was seen moving
from the gate.
Col. Garrard and Lieut.. Newell T. West,
battalion adjutant rode at the head of the
column. First in the line was Company
b, Capt Thomas Screven. Following this
came Company L, Capt. w. T. Hopkins
Company M Capt w. G. Austin, came
next, and the rear was brought up by
Company K, Capt. ]. Ferris Cam. with
their respective companies marched the
savannah men who have received dis
charges from the army. There were some
twenty of those out with the four COM
panies, most of them in their blue uni
forms that they wore in the service, Sew
eral men who are here on furlough or sick
leave were out in uniform to meet the
battalion, and they also marched with
their respective companies.
Owing to many of the members being
absent from their commands on sick leave
or furlough and to many others
AoNih5 AGN0lNcu discharges from
the war department, the com
panies did not show very fun ranks
Company probably had the largest num-
Der in ranks. The others did not show
up SO well in point of numbers, but all
made good appearance so far as the men
personally, their soldiery bearing and the
excellence of their drill were concerned.
The men did not look like the raw re-
cruits who left Savannah five months ago
to enter the service.
The march was begun with the band IN
the lead, playing Dixie" and "There'n Be
a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight"
Then came the escort of active members
of the Guards and of those of the other
classes. The battalion came last, march,
ing in excellent time and keenly sensitive
to the rousing reception that was being
received.
People lined the streets until the armory
was reached, and there they crowded in
front anxious to see all they could of the
movements of the soldiers There was not
nearly as large a crowd out as there
would have been had the arrival of the
troops been at a later hour but there
We're fully enough to show the men that
the citizens are glad to have them back
and that they have a plenty of friends in
the city.
When Bull street was reached the
Guards, under Capt Williamson. and the
drawn up in line in front of the De Soto.
The command present arms" was given,
and the returned soldiers marched by with
arms at the port, in Acknowledgement of
the salute. The people in the street and
on the De Soto and the Hussars balconies
cheered. The march was continued
around the square, the escort falling in
at the rear of the battalion When the
front of the armory was reached the
battalion was brought to a halt and al
lowed to rest
The balconies of the armory were filed
with ladies', who had gathered to welcome
their young friends. There was a mighty
waving of hands and handkerchiefs and
some of the ladies even got enthusiastic
enough to raise a shout of welcome. All
this was very pleasant 10 the bows in
ranks, and they looked as if they enjoyed
1t thoroughly. As they caught the eve
Of ladies they knew their faces were COW
cred with smiles, and they seemed TO think
that ID was Indeed good to be there"
Presently the command to stack arms
was given, and the men were soon reliev-
ed of the weight of their guns, blanket