The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-07-06
|FOOTSORE, BUT HAPPY,
BLUES SING WAY HOME
Countryside Turns Out on
Sunday to Greet Battalion
Marching to Tune Of
v Onward, Christian
Soldiers.
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With the same spirit OF cheerfulness
ind enthusiasm with which they de.
parted from Richmond on Friday even
4 Ing on one Of the most arduous cam
5fpaigns In the history of the command
The Richmond Light Infantry Blues re-
turned to the city at $3.50 o'clock last
might, marching with firm tread to
that old and familiar Christian war
song. Onward. Christian Soldiers
The three companies, who pitched
tents together Saturday night struck
camp at 4:15 yesterday afternoon, and
left Centralia about quarters OF
an hour later.
Headed by Major Bowles, chief in
command. they hit the dry. dusty trail
for home. swinging along at gait
that would have done credit to regu-
4 tars. Overhead broiling. sun glared
down, the rays beating on the defense
less heads of the Blues with unabating
fury. Beneath, their blistered feet en-
.ountered deep sand, water, mud and
Sie6ged stones. Sometimes they stun
bed. for their step was rapid and their
eyes on level to catch a first glimpse
Of Manchester's smoke; but they kept
always on. never losing step or ut
tering a word of complaint. On their
backs rested heavy guns and blanket
rolls. while weighty cartridge belts, to
which canteen and haversack were at
tached, swung around their waists.
an They had about all they could carry,
and all that any soldier going forth
to meet real enemy could be expected
to bear. Shifting guns from hand to
II shoulder and back again, and oc-
casionally tightening their belts, they
swung along like veterans, for all
that most of them had come out of
heated offices and dusty stores. where
they had little chance to practice for
a march few would care to attempt
without previous experience.
How Far to Richmond:
struck the pike for half mile or
more, then walked down the Peters,
burg car line to save three-quarters
of a mile, and then returned to the
dusty trail, along which they marched
with undiminished enthusiasm and
fortitude until Swansboro was sighted
and it's streets entered on the last
stretch home. Fifteen minute hats
We're made twice so that the men might
rest their weary bones and fill their
oanteens with fresh water.
Te0 stoPs were maze where wells
were convenient. and the farmers
seemed glad to let the dusty-throated
boys turn to and drain their wells. If
need be- to relieve their thirst. Now
and then one or two would lag q few
yards behind. but it required just a
word from an officer to bring them up
on the run. Thus they kept together all
along the way, and the rustics who
turned out from infrequent farmhouses
saw the Blues marching along in a
solid mass as II they We're on parade.
Frequently the road was almost I'm
passable. Sometimes the mud or the
sand was, half a leg deep, and it re-
auired an extra effort to plough ones
way through and to keep in line and
together. But it was done, as the shoes
and general appearance would have
( testified to any observer.
Occasionally beneficent cloud
would hide the burning rays of the
sun, but for the most part they shone
down With unceasing vigor until he
had sunk below the clouds banked In
the west. The men sweated through
their clothes like dray-horses. Per-
spiration ran in rivulets down their
faces, and their hair was matted in
strings. Neither belt nor leather leg
ging was impervious to the inside
moisture. Khaki uniforms were as
wet as If the men had passed neck
high through a river But 1t seemed
!. to make no difference. They would
wipe their sunburned faces with hand
kerchiefs that had long since been
soaked, and keep on. At the hating
places packs Were thrown down with
a sigh that Mnbosomed a world of
WEAKNESS. and canteens were upturned
( Tor draught that tasted as sweet and
refreshing as the tabled nectar of the
gods.
"How far Is 1t to Richmond?' was
the question that assaulted the ears
of every stranger who crossed the
trail Of the Blues. How far is it to
Richmond?,'
Swnnsboro Turns Out.
At first it was seven miles. then six,
gradually dwindling down until the
z housetops of Manchester glinnmered in
the distance. and the men knew for
place about three and half miles
from Manchester. the Blues shouldered
their packs. many with grimaces Of
tender flesh. and swung along to the
martial air. Of I'm Afraid to Go Home
In the Dark which readily lent itself
to marching strains. The vanguard
took it up, and it came down the line
to Company C. bringing up the rear.
every. man whistling in tune. AS the
refrain grew stronger the men quick
ened their tread. and the last lap was
( made In faster time than any part of
the whole dusty march. Sometimes
singing. sometimes whistling. they went
B faster and faster. until the column
was swinging along at the rate Of six
miles an hour. AS one tune was fin
ished. another was taken up.
5E Sometimes it was "Auld Lang Syne''
z then We'll Hang John Brown On a
Sour Apple Tree. coward, Christian
Soldiers! or some other equally mar
tial air. The whistling and singing
85helped as band Of music. The boys
Z forgot they We're tired In the Joy OF
singing together in the cleaning and
pains and aches were left TO take care
II of themselves. They We're footsore
and their faces, arms and shoulders
were blistered, but they didn't care
then, for, at last, in the distance loom
led up the great dome Of Sacred Hearl
Cathedral signalling its sabbath calm
H and peace and rest
Quiet sedate little, swansboro was
at last entered and the Blues got into
regular formation, passing down It's
7 single street to the tune of coward
Christian tSoldiers!" The familiar wal
@song and hymn was peculiarly appro
Il pirate to the day and the men.
All Swansboro, young and old be,
will dera6 oh