The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-24
MIoHIGANDERs' WELCOME HOME.
Col. Gardeners Soldiers Met Every
where With Open Arms.

The Michigan soldiers had a roval well
come on their return home. one battalion
of the Thirty-first Regiment was from
Detroit and the whole city turned OUT TO
welcome its return. Not less enthusiastic
were the welcomes al Monroe, Ann Arbor.
Lansing, Ypsilante and half dozen other
places which furnished their quota of the
red-necked boys that made up Col. Garde-
ner's gallant regiment.
The demonstration at Detroit was a
jubilant one. The train which carried the
returning soldiers, was six hours late,
but the people thronged the streets. wait
ing for Its arrival and when it arrived
Inc scene, according to the Free Press.
was such as had never before been VIZ
messed in Detroit. The Governor and local
military, veterans corps, Grand Army and
half dozen civic organizations and
crowds of citizens, with a dozen bands.
met the boys and escorted them from the
train to the Detroit arnory, where the
formal welcome and banquet took place.
The Detroit papers devoted two pages
to the reports of the regiments return
and its reception. Gov. Pingree took a
prominent part in the welcome, in which
the Mayor of Detroit, Bishop Foley and
other leading men of the state Joined.
Like the reception of most of the return
ing regiments, il was difficult to adhere to
anything like formahty. The returning
boys were too anxious to reach the loved
one at home Some of the scenes and in
cidents reported by the Free Press are a
sample of what has taken place upon the
return, probably, of nearly every regi-
ment in the service.
~. A..
meeting of Lieut. Campbell with his little
3-year-old child. The child's mother had
placed it on the stage, near the officers
table, in the armory, with a flag in It's
hand, and created within the childish
heart a flutter Of expectancy by telling
him that papa was coming When the
gallant boys marched in, and the roof rang
with the plaudits of the people. the little
one was as enthused as any one, waving
the small flag and crying, Papa! Papaw
When the lieutenant finally made his APP
pearance, the little one could scarcely be
convinced that this bronzed and hardy
soldier was the papa of a year ago, and
it required some persuasion to convince
the youthful heart that such was the
truth.
A gray-haired mother, wrlnging her
hands and crowding from place to place,
created attention.
"Where is my boy? Oh, where is my
boy? Can't somebody tell me where my
Charley isl?
A smooth-faced giant in blue overheard
her and rushed through the crowd like a
foot ball player
Mother, dear"
THANK heavenl It's Charley. my dar-
ling boy!'
Then the spectators turned their heads,
while the weeping woman swayed in the
strong arms of her noble son.
Such were the scenes which continued
for half an hour amidst the most delight
full confusion. Two thousand people shak-
ing, hugging and kissing 226 boys in blue,
and doing it with a madness that prevent
ed interference. The hubbub was incom-
parable and the presence on the stage of
the representative citizens committee OF
reception did not serve to add a bit of
dignity to the happy mortals who were
once more, reunited after year of sepa-
ration.
Col. Gardener had every reason to be
proud of his gallant boys, and no doubt
he was.