The San Francisco call., 1898-06-17

II don't seem to have crossed
 any State line yet, and I find it difficult to realize that we are far from old Tennessee and on the shores of the Pacific"
 This was the happy tribute of tovial >old Colonel Smith, First Tennessee Vol unteers, to the people of every city, town and hamlet through which his regiment passed on its way across the continent. For the strapping Tennes- seeans have been the recipients of one long ovation continuing through near ly a score of States.
 Tt does seem as though the people had showered upon us more than the usual courtesies," '" remarked the colonel, "and l know now that there is no longer any North, or South, or East, or West. The reception accorded my regiment at every point amply demon strates that sectional lines are forever obliterated."
 A third of a century ago this same gallant old colonel, then a dashing young captain, wore the Confederate gray; now the blue envelops his form. Under the stars and bars he earned a record for dash and daring that none can doubt will be completely sustained under the stars and stripes. A native of Virginia, Colonel Smith removed to - Nashville, Tenn, soon after finishing .. his education and soon established him. self in his profession-tha of architect. On the breaking out of the Civil War :. Colonel Smith returned to his native State and was given commission as captain in the army of Virginia and Ia I After the fall of the Confederacy he returned to Nashville, which city he has since made his home. Colonel : Smith entered the State service three :. years ago as colonel of the First Regi- ment, National Guard of Tennessee, and when the first call for volunteers was issued his command was one or the first to respond.
 :. The First Regiment went into camp - at Nashville seven weeks ago with the Second and Third Regiments, and when the latter were assigned to the Cuban forces the men of the First felt that they were being sighted. At last they were given their choice of going to Cuba or Manila, and every voice was for Manila.
 The regiment, numbering 1207 officers
 
 in four sections, the first, with the headquarters and four companies, roll ing into the mole depot at 4:35 o'clock and the last section shortly before mid night. The entire command was held on the other side of the bay all night and will be brought over on the 6:3O boat this morning.
 At Sacramento, Ogden, Denver and
 low -i-l0l entertained, but the fame of the Red Cross Society of San Francisco has spread throughout the East and the soldiers look forward to the reception they have been told awaits them at the ferry depot this morning with liveliest anticipation. They will not be disap- pointed, for the ladies have made elab crate preparations to entertain the men from Tennessee. All day yesterday the members of the society were engaged in preparing for the occasion. Edibles of almost every description were pro- vided for, while the tables in the ferry headquarters were heaped with flowers until they resembled great banks of blossoms. Colonel Smith and his men will look like a section of Golden Gate Park when those ladies get through decorating them this morning and start them up Market street to Camp Mer- ritt.
 The Fifty-first Iowa band has volun- teered it's services to the Red Cross So- ciety for the occasion, and with the fine band of the First Tennessee there will be plenty of music. The regiment is not fully equipped, there not being near enough arms and uniforms belonging to the State to supply all the volun- teers. But they were divided up among the three regiments, leaving about a third of the men in each regiment un- provided for. But when the quarter masters stores have been drawn upon it will be found that no finer command has been assigned to the Army of the Philippines than the First Tennessee Following is a complete list of the con- missioned officers:
 Field and Staff-Colonel, William C. Smith; lieutenant colonel, Gracey Chil- ders; major, Albert B. Bayless; major, B. Frank Cheatham; surgeon and major, Richard A. Barr; assistant surgeon and captain Reynold M. Kirby-Smith; chap lain and captain. Lewis J. Leland; adtu- tant and first lieutenant, James K. Polk: ouartermaster and first lieutenant, An drew J. Duncan.
 Company A-George Reed. captain; Will liam A. Alexander, first lieutenant; Charles NJ. McLester. second lieutenant
 Company B-William J. Whitthorne, captain; Edward s. Fowler, first lieu tenant; Robert O. Ragsdale, second lieu tenant.
 Company C-Henry R. Richmond, cap- tain; Alfred J. Law first lieutenant; Rob- ert E. Martin, second lieutenant
 Company Civilian J. Gilbreath, Cap tain; Edward c. McNeal, first lieutenant; Joe R. Cooke, second lieutenant.
 Company E-James F. Hager, captain; Granville L. Chapman, first lieutenant; s. Morgan Williams, second lieutenant.
 Company F--Alvan C. Gillem, captain; Robert L. Milan, first lieutenant; Henry H. Eastman, second lieutenant
 Company CHI. B. Myers, captain: Hugh Sparkman, first lieutenant Thomas F. Bates second lieutenant.