The record-union., 1898-06-06
GREETING OUR VOLUNTEERS.
LAST NIGHTS RECEPTION OF
BATTERY @.
q Midnight Demonstration at the
Depot-OH for Fort
Candy.

Despite the conflicting reports as to
the day and hour which Battery G,
Heavy Artillery, composed of Sacra-
mento volunteers, would pass through
the city on its way to Fort Candy, Or,
there was a great gathering of citizens
at the depot last night on the arrival of
the Oregon express at 11:45, to welcome
the soldiers. 1t was not until last
evening that definite information was
received of their coming, but the news
spread rapidly by telephone and other
wise.
One report on Saturday was to the ef-
feet that the battery would reach here
that night. Then it was announced
from San Francisco and published in
yesterday mornings dispatches that
General Merritt had ordered the bat
fery to leave on Monday. Last even
ing some one received word from a
member of the battery that the sol
diers would reach there last night, and
about o'clock this was verified at the
railroad Office here.
In view of the uncertainty of their
coming and the brief notice given, the
men should be proud of the warm well
come they received on their arrival
at midnight, when fully 1000 persons
assembled at the depot to receive them.
AS the train came in a grand rush was
made for the four cars that carried the
citys soldiers.
Orders had been issued to allow none
Of the men to leave the cars, but they
took kindly to the order. Not a man
of the battery had thought of turning
in'' until after Sacramento had been
left behind, and their voices swelled
the cheering that rolled UP as the train
came to a stop. Captain Cooke sprang
from one of the front cars, and was
at once surrounded by host of warm
friends, who wrung his hands and
asked all kinds of questions, most Of
which the worthy Captain had no time
ITO answer.
The mothers and sisters and fathers
and brothers and friends of the soldier
boys swarmed alongside the cars, and
greetings fell as swift as smiles in May.
The rear door of the rear car was
thrown open, and through the aisles
flowed a stream of citizens, eagerly
searching out some particular face or
faces.
Chief of Police Dwyer and a number
of his officers We're on hand and allowed
nobody to enter the train except by The
door mentioned, and by that means
most of the crowd passed through the
cars, sought out their relatives and
friends, and said some cheering word
before the train rolled out carrying the
boys away to the mouth of the great
river of the Northwest.
The local Red Cross Society caused
boxes foranges and other fruits to be
taken into the cars, and while these
gifts were appreciated, the sol1iers
Were most interested in having q few
words with relatives or friends. AL
most every p9rson in the crowd had
either relative or dear friend in the
battery, of course, and il was more like
a family meeting than a reception to
Uncle Sans soldiers. The train left
promptly at II o'clock, midnight, and
the solalers sent out cheer on cheer, for
the old home they We're again leaving
after so short visit.
Lieutenants S. w. Kay and o. j.
Boden of Battery were until their
enlistment, employed in the railroad
works here, and are very popular with
their late comrades. Recently the
workmen at the shops contributed a
sufficient sum to purchase each If the
Messrs. Warmly and Faaiy were Sc
1ected to go to San Francisco and pre-
sent them to the officers.
This they did on Saturday last, and
last night, when the battery reached
here on it's way to Fort Candy, Lieuten-
ants Kay and Boden made the following
written acknowledgment of the gener-
Gus and thoughtful action of their old
associates:
ITO Messrs Warmly and Fealy, com
mittee from workmen railroad shops at
Sacramento and others of our fellow
workmen: The undersig ned, officers ,.
Battery c Sacramento Battery First
Battalion Heavy Artillery, California
United States Volunteers, desire to ac-
knowledge with profound gratitude .he
splendid gift Of an artillery saber made
to each of US by our fellow-workmen CT
the machine shop, by the above commit
tee. The intrinsic value and the artis-
tic beauty Of these sabers would rem
der them cherished treasures at all
times. but their chief value in our eyes,
at this time, arises from the sentiment
of esteem, respect and loyal friendship
on your part. that they so splendidly
typify. About to depart from our
homes to serve our country TO the best
of our ability, these sabers, girded by
our sides, will serve to remind us that
we have not been forgotten, aud many
a lonely hour will be cheered by rec
elections of the kind friends whom we
have left behind us.
LAS some evidence that we are deeply
moved by your generous confidence, we
promise that the swords shall never be
drawn against the weak, but always in
their defense; that no stain of dishonor.
disloyalty or cowardice shall mar the
brilliancy of these shining blades, and
that we shall ever feel-behind each
blow struck with them for libecty-the
encouragement. love and sympathy Of
our Sacramento fellow-workmen
LIEUTENANT S. w. KAY,
LIEUTENANT O. J. BODEN."