The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-15
SERVICES HELD AT
OLD STONE CHURCH
Can1ped Last Night Well Down
the Valley in Regular War
Time Fasliion-Only Cas-
ualty, So Far, Has
Been a Mashed
Thumb.
ny II. ". SIMPSON.


~ Howitzers pulled out from here
at o'clock to-day on the first
lap OF the practice march through the
battle-marked Valley of Virginia to-
ward the ancient city of Alexandria,
l5s miles away. Led By veterans of
the Confederate Army. insplrcd BY
cheers OF the stanton multitude, they
moved with true military precision
down the streets Of this historic town
and beat 1t out to Old Stone Church
under tie blistering glare of the sum
mer sun. Although there was 40 at.
tempt to produce a spectacular Sunday
effect. the coming OF the soldiers made
1T so, practically the entire population
turning out to watch the show. At
the far edge OF the city a line halted.
while soldiers and citizens ted in
commencing the nerve of tlose who
were beginning the endurance test
Fourteen Miles the First Day.
Fourteen miles was the sum total.
OF the days tramp. 1t is fun eight
miles from Staunton to the church,
whore the battery rested for an hour.
Whether II was the sprinting instinct
or the desire for food was not ex-
planned. but these youngsters hoofed
1t In a fraction over two hours in
actual walking time, and that. too
after spending the night in merry
making, without one wink OF
sleep When they pitched camp at
Burktown Grove tonight they were
prepared to turn in before taps. only
the sentinels being on guard. while
the others dreamed and snored. Cap
tain Myers shook hands With himself
and closed his eyes, for the first time
since Friday.
Regarding the march as nothing more
than dash around the block. the
i!owitzers to n man were in rare good
form. They got into Staunton around
the daylight mark In wha, is known
as the Flats they piled out an1 scat
tered. lined up for an early breakfast.
knd then unloaded car OF stuff. load
ing IT again into four heuvy army
wagons BY . O'Clock the caravan was
under way.
With sunrise the crowds came from
all directions. Representatives of
Stonewall Camp Confederate Veterans,
met the special, and expressed regret
that the early hour made it impossible
to extend more substantial greetings,
although this would have interfered
with the program and thrown the
schedule out of gear.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Ellyson, DR..
James Power Smith and Congressman
Lamb went TO the residence of Cap
tain T. D. Ransom for breakfast, being
picked up there on the way out. In
Eustrious youngsters, with an eye on
the almighty dollar, swarIned into the
flats with picture cards and stamps,
the one volunteer postman being load
ed down when he lugged it TO the sta
tion. There was a real dash OF army
color about the place. Instead OF GO
ing under heavy marching orders, the
battery was relieved OF knapsacks and
the like, the whole outfit being loaded,
while the soldiers Travelled with can
teens as the heaviest burden.
Great Trip From Richmond.
The trip up last night was a warm
proposition. In the Pullman the war
time fellows were snoozing away, but
in the day coaches the thing was diff
ierent, the sudden stopping of the
train being followed by yells and
shouts that made the inhabitants rub
their eyes in wonder. 1t brought many
OF those in the rear car from the land
Of slumber, though nobody complained
AT Gordonsville an old negro woman
was there with the chicken and pie.
Being close trader, she did not hand
packages into the windows until the
men had crossed her palm, but they
cleaned her out in jiffy, and she wept
because she hadn't pulled the necks
OF other fowls.
"1hat old woman reminds me OF the
lemonade boys who staked off posi-
t!ons last year near Jamestown, sait
private. "One sold 1t at 10 cents {
throw The other gave two glasses TO
nickel. and when | had gulped dowl
couple asked him how he could dt
it. With a straight face he informe,
me that dog had jumped in his bar
rel. But watch ME operate on this
roosters Leg"
thoroughly sober and orderly, thu
men proceeded to keep the sleepy one
awake They gave a minstrel perform
ancc. with barkers and all the appur
tenances of the real thing, the facts o
which will be duly recorded In tim
by the. ''war correspondents. wht
liked out from here to-day, refusing t
turn back toward home like ordinar
TYPEWRITER Founders. When sleepin
room was being dIshed out last nigh
by the Pullman conductor, one Of til
''war' writer's was assigned to an up
per berth, though when lie crawled u
he crawled down and called for re
fund, because there was no railing. a
he had expected, to keep him from roll
ing out. The tribe, however, was IN
dustrious, for when The -Times-Dis
patch correspondent was jerked frol
his upper at about the hour when i
usually. turns in, the magazine brl
gade was stacked ZIP on lumber Pill
grinding it out by the ream. Also
there were artists aboard. On the marc
1t will be difficult to put the war stui
on the wire, as the battery Is movin
Through a region somewhat remot
from daily reach of the telegraph,
twenty husky mules We're broug|
along to pull the food and raiment,
required four wagons, everything b
ing included, even cooking stoy
With 100 hungry men to feed, CAPITA
Myers has shipped =. 'els and box
to various points along the line q
maroh, for what went out to-day lns
he cleaned up by Tomorrow The
are two hacks or phactons for u
1Continued on Third Page,)