The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-09-01
AT CAMP ALGER.
Boys Lose No Time in Preparing for
Departure.
al to the Scranton Tribune.

Special to the Scranton Tribune.
Camp Alger, Dunn Loring, Va, Aug.
31.-This is a day long to be remem-
bered by the boys of the Thirteenth
regiment. Their camp is the scene of
the liveliest activity, excitement and
enthusiasm. They are preparing to
take the train which will bear them
far away from this place of sorrow
and of suffering into a land which
they call home, and which has be-
come dearer to them every day which
they spent here.
Camp was a study this morning.
The reveille was sounded at the usual
hours, and Immediately after break
fast all spent some little time in pack
ing up what they-more by way of
figure of speech than with any truth
call valuables. At 8 o'clock the COM
panes fell in for muster-those of the
First battalion having been mustered
by Major Stillwell, and those of the
Second by Major Wood. When they
We're dismissed camp presented the
ideal type OF a hive of industry.
Seven hundred men took off their
coats and went to work with a will.
Knapsacks and haversacks and can
teens were made ready, and soon af-
terwards the city of white canvas
disappeared in an instant. as if by
magic. Tents We're rolled, pegs and
poles gathered, the heavy army wag-
ons We're pulled into place, and in the
twinkling of an eye details of sun
bronZed, honest-faced, stalwart young
men were loading everything in sight,
the rubbish having been placed in one
heap and destroyed in a monster bon
fire. Nobody minds the work, so great
Is the excitement and the burning de-
sire to bid adieu to Camp Alger and
to Virginia. 1t is expected that the
trains will be ready to move at $3.50, or
at o'clock.
LAST HOURS AT ALGER.
The last hours of camp life at this
place We're certainly not devoid of live
ly emotions and of stirring interest to
the members of the Thirteenth. Yes
terday afternoon they saw the Eighth
leave the grounds, and went to bid
them good-by, promising on both sides
that they would meet soon again on
their own soil: but when it was an
nounced at dress parade last night by
Colonel Coursen that we would move
today, and not tomorrow, happiness of
a hitherto unknown nature pervaded
the camp.
In the evening the boys got out in
the company streets and shouted and
cheered till they were hoarse. quickly
improvised drum corps passed back
and forth, and all to the very last
man felt proud and rejoiced in the
TACT that on the morrow they would
go to a place more cOngenial to them.
more likely to be rich in pleasant
memories, and which they could Just
iy call home.
After tattoo at o'clock, while camp
was quiet, bed was not thought of
ana the scene around was one of rare
magnlhcence. The rays of the bright,
full moon, shining from the cloudless,
exquisite blue above, and lighting up
the cosy, white city pitched on the
green sward, presented a picture
which could not easily be surpassed
for its beauty. The boys remarked it,
ana reJoiced that, though Virginia
gave them a warm reception, which
was almost roasting on the night they
come here, the last night they were
TO spend in this region will long re-
main in their memories as one OF the
richest most perfect beauty. Sever
al times when packing up their goods
some OF the boys, either in a tantaliz-
ing or in a sentimental mood, began
TO sing Garry Me Back TO Old Vir-
ginia," and from every direction came
yells full Of force and meaning: "Nit!
Nit! Mil"
PATHETIC HOSPITAL SCENES.
This morning there were several
pathetic scenes enacted at division
hospital. Many of the boys, even
while rejoicing that they themselves
were soon to get away, did not forget
their sick friends, but paid visit to
them In order to bid them good-by and
TO offer them some words of fellow
ship which would cheer them up. It
ts not easy for an outsider to under
stand how strong are the bonds which
bind soldier to his regiment. He
lives with 1t, he follows 1t, he even
dies with it-it is his regiment. and