Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-05-14

DEPARTURE OF THE LIGHT IMAM
TRY.-Tne departure OF the Alexandra
LIN, Infantry about half-past eleven
Ole ock tc-d1y has probably been the
mo,. ;boroughly discussed event and
one which nas caused more real inter-
est than anything which has &C ;u.red
III Al,Xaldria for many years. From
Yesterday morning, when the O.. der .or
the d-i arturo Of the company was re
Ceivei, until noon today the interest
had been intense, and many fond
motler aud sister spent night Of
anxiety waiting for the break Of day
when the final preparations would be
made aod the heartrending adieux take
place Alexandria boys had lef5 here
over Que hundred years ago with Gen.
paddock later, with the Continental
army, in 1912, again in 1916 Alexandria
came TO the front, they had rallied to the
defense of the cguLtry in 1861 F.; they
comprised six companies of the Coo
Tolerate army, and now, in 1888 they
have promptly responded to the call to
arms in a conflict with foreign ma
ton The last time the Alexandria
boys left their native homes there Was
No time to bid good bye to loved ones.
The companies were asleep on their
srms, and in the "wee sma" hours theg
were aroused from their slumber5
10 Il g before al overwhelming
Zoe Ga this occasion, however, there
was an interval of twenty~four hours
in which to make preparations, to bid
Lends good bye and TO take affection
aie farewell leave of low d ones. The
armory last night was bessie ged by an
anxious crowd, and until late hour
the sidewalk and neighborhood were
thronged with people. This morning
the members of the company and the
drum corps, which had also been order
ed to Richmond, were moving early,
and the scene at and about the armory
was animeting. The members of the
Infantry and the drum corps were max
iog their ioal preparations for the star
Allmoved with precision and GOODNESS,
aud there was every Indication of firm
determination on the part of oil to
march to any point to which the com
aand may be assigned, either in this
sountry or elsewhere, and perform their
duty 10 theif country with the ardor
ever Characteristic of OLD Alexandria.
A the hours passed away and the time
ior the departure drew near there were
many affecting scenes. Mothers amid
sobs babe last farewell to their sons
ssnd men with choked emotions shook
hands with them and wished them God
speed B sides anxious sisters and
brothers, dreading the parting scene,
moved toand fro with anxiety depicted
on their cOuntenance. Add then, too.
lie ,-1y friends Of the soldier boys
were out in force, and though numbers
0! them attempted to assume a noscare
air, 1t was evident they were i'll at ease
ana Ia their hearts deprecated war.
Inc solemn time came at last when the
thrilling word attention" sounded IN
Inc hall, and with the members of the
DIum Corps 126 men formed in line.
W W men order had been restored Rev. O.
l. Bal, Of Grace Church, read some
appropriate selections from the Episco-
PAL ;nrayer Book, after which Rev. j
! Va llams, OF gle NJ. E. Church South
Male some fitting remarks, in the
course OF which he reminded the mem.
jpeFS that they were all Virginians and
ne was confident they would ac-
! 4ut themselves creditably in every
9rrucGlar. The reverend gentleman
iid also there were other enemies be
sizes Spanish bullets for the soldiers to
s'o'a--the many temptations to which
ITney Viii be especially subjected. NJ.
l"unams again called attention to the
,aV, mat they are Virginiaps and urged
upon each member of the command to
perform bis duty to God and his couu-
~ lie then repeated the Lords
payer IN which ali the members with
AIRED heads heartily joined. 1t was IL
'''AuIeS past 10 o'clock when the CON-
llrll 'stteplion" was heard. and ter
F fHlnates later the compsuy and Drum
~ ps emerged from the aru DRY. The
recession was formed in the following
Sfder The Drum Corps, r. E. Lee
amp OF Confederate Veterans, old
ht4s1 "a of the Light Iufantry, hesoel
~ Oaptslns F. l.. Smith and Gee. a
,,1usn0ach, and Lieutenauts Hill, Mon
ao =, and Marbury, each member bearing
cited State flag, Junior Alexsudrs
Meat Infantry in new and pretty
UNIFORMS and the Alayandris soht I,