The record-union., 1899-02-07
JOY AT SOLDIERS RETURN.
MUSIC, CHEERING, SPEECHES
AND A BREAKFAST.
Battery @ rendered a Rousing
Reception at Armory Hall
Yesterday.

arrived from Fort Candy at $3.50 yes
terday morning. AS the train bearing
the soldiers came into the depot sa-
lutes were fired by members of Troop
B, the Second Infantry Band played
lively airs, and there was cheering to
the echo.
Captain Cook saluted the crowd, and
said, How are you? how are your
to dozens of friends. Then bugle calls
called the men to marching lines. Com
pany G, under Captain Zittinger, and
the Signal Corps, with Colonel Guthrie
in charge of all, escorted the soldiers
to Armory Hall, where there were
speeches and breakfast
From the moment that the start was
made from the depot until the soldiers
had reached the hall they were followed
and cheered by hundreds of men. wo-
men and children along the line of
march Grand Army men We're con-
spicuous in the crowd.
The Mayors carriage, the police es-
cort, and the presence of many we'll
known officers and citizens in line lent
the color of official welcome to the re
turning soldiers, while the hearty
cheering of women and children, the
waving of flags and the shouts of thou
sands showed how close was the cause
of the soldiers to the hearts of the
people.
The ceremonies at the Armory were
brief and patriotic. From beginning to
the conclusion the members of Battery
c did most of the cheering, heartily re-
joicing that they were once more on
the soil dear to them
AS soon as the returning soldiers had
marched into the Armory, escorted by
Company G, they formed in lines
around the breakfast tables, after
which Mayor Land raped for order.
He was accorded the most respectful
attention during the delivery of his adj
dress of welcome, during which he said,
in part:
Captain Cooke and Members of Bat,
terry c.: On behalf of Sacramento, l
greet you on your return to the city.
and I bid you a hearty welcome to
your home. We appreciate the fact
that you went from pleasant places
and stood ready to offer up your lives
for the cause Of your country. When
the President issued his proclamation
you were the first to respond, and we
feel proud to see those again who so
calamity left their firesides in the hour
of the country's peril. We trust that
your future will be pleasant, and that
it will be as patriotic as has been your
past"
The members of Battery c at once
offered three hearty cheers and a tiger
for Mayor Land, cheered for their Cap
tain, cheered for Company G, and for
the flag of their country.
Adjutant General Peeler was intro
duced as one who could deliver a mes
sage on behalf of Governor Gage. He
said the Governor was unavoidably de-
tanned on official business, for which
reason it was impossible for him to
be present The Governor, however,
had sent his compliments to the SOL
diers, and with his good feeling a short
address, which the Adjutant General
proceeded to read. 1t was as follows:
Citizen Soldiers: No higher or more
pleasant duty could devolve on the
Executive than this of greeting and
welcoming you, gallant volunteers. up
on your honorable retirement from mill
tary service. When your country called
for assistance you answered with eager
and intrepid voice, Ready
ssObedient to the commands Of your
superiors, you patiently submitted to
the severe discipline Of the camp and
barracks. Though the field of battle
was denied you, still your country deep
" appreciates your courage and self
sacrifice.
"a soldiers duty well performed in
the bivouac is as glorious as in the bat
tlefield The privations and restraints
of military life have been borne by you
with courage and with honor.
To-day the frown and menacing
arm of the enemy have yielded to the
smile and glad welcome of the friend.
The war drum ceases its pulsations,
and Peace, like the Lethean touch Of
Somnus, smoothes the angry spirit OF
our people, and rejoices the hearts of
mothers, sisters and wives.
May success In civic life follow your
patriotic footsteps, and may you live to
cherish the flag which you have so
nobly and valiantly upheld. I salute
and welcome you
Assem- blyman Dibble then addressed
the soldiers on behalf of the citizens
of the State at large, apologizing for
the fact that he had had but a few
minutes notice that he would be ex-
pected to speak
1T is peculiarly fitting that l should
address you,' he said, for it has been
but a short time since / was a soldier
boy, fighting for the same flag, and
I it has been more than thirty-ive
years, short as the time seems. This
scene calls back the memories of 81,
when we marched tos fife and drum for
the salvation of the Union and the
destruction of slavery. My young COM
rades (for. / feel like calling you that,
as much honor is due you as to those
who fought in 81 or in this late war,
for all of you volunteered and stood
ready to offer your patriotic services
to your country. Your heart was there,
and this recalls the fact that you re-
mind me of the lines of Milton in his
little ode on his blindness. He said.
They also serve who only stand and
watt So, / say you are entitled to
your country's gratitude just as much
as if you had fought, and it gives me
pleasure to welcome you back to the
State from which you enlisted, and
whose citizens are proud of you. There
is Just one other thought that your
presence suggests-the fact that the
salvation of the Republic depends up
on the volunteer soldiers of the United
States for our standing army is but
handful compared with the standing
armies of the great European Powers.
But yesterday California regiment
in the far, far East was called upon to
repulse those who attacked the flag,
so / ask all here to remember the Cali
fornia boys when their prayers ascend
to heaven tonight
When the speaker concluded there
was great cheering again, and it not
only included the speaker. but the