The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-07-06
y Wishing to see the singing sol


diers.
The hymn was kept up until the
Perry Street station was reached and
the command given to halt. Major
B so,',,, Lieutenant Mcdowell and DR..
their. horses heads back to the COM
mand and looked on with smile as
the boys formed in line. Then. with
every company in place, the battalion
sshouldcred arms once more, the last
time before the armory was reached.
they hiked it down the street, crossed
the Free Bridge. swung. the corner into
seventh, pulled up the hill. and then
t pa ne, down Main to the armory.
ed at about $40 O'clock, and the ia
nous campaign of the triumphant
Blues was at an end, except as it be-
comes a valued treasure In the store.
house of memory. It was for home
route
With shout the boys poured down
stairs and into the street. whence the
fathers, and beds that never looked so
cosy before.
Remarkable Campaign.
Though the campaign lasted only
two nights and days. 1t was in many
respects a feat. at the most trying
OF the Blues were sent into the field
to make forced marches that would
have been received as a test for reg
ulars For the whole time either the
an Intensity. 1t seemed at times. al
most sufficient to fry an egg In the
sand, o. they were rained upon until
they We're wet through.
On Saturday night they pitched tents
IN a heavy " shower and YESTERDAY af-
sun sur, that had ,ul. unhindered sway. No
ts e raes lost and IN pefgnE was eut lost e n
Withdrawing when 1t came time to
march again. There was quickness and
dispatch. about everything they did.
% on re9 eacan IN e.mp
eggs and baked beans, Sometimes the
fare was varied with fried onions and
potatoes. Many ate the onions raw
Just before retiring, and that they were
lily have been attested by the subse-
quent snoring. Mosquitoes and other
winged and crawling pests worked
busily. but they could not break the
knit up all the raveled sleeves of care.
1t rained during the evening, and 1t
rained again al night. A little water
seeped through the shelter tents, and
bare feet attached to long legs spent
most of the hours just on the outside
OF the coverings, stretched into the
damp grass. Every man slept in his
uniform and some also in their shoes.
to put on again. Many man dried
his footgear the next morning over a
candle and then limped round until the
shoes had been stretched again into
proper shape.
Guard was mounted at o'clock. and
every hour was called by the sentinels
on duty. ELEVEN o'clock, and all's
WE'LL I" was the last that most heard, for
then wet and weary heads were repos-
ing on haversacks and the candles
night came only the drowsy sentinels
We're up.
They were relieved every four hours,
but the same, guard kept duty all
When their off-hours came they slept
with their shoes on. and their guns
besides them, ready when the corporal
should call them up again.
Camp ut Centrnlin.
Centralia was bought out when the
battalion reached camp after battle on
tents were pitched the whole command,
with the exception of the sentinels
and the cooks, to the latter OF whom,
by the way, great credit is due for
their untiring and faithful work. walk
ed over to the little village and stalk
ed before the admiring and wondering
| Inhabitants. There is only one, store.
| Perhaps 1t was unawares for the sup
i ply OF ginger ale, soda water and COCO
cola was soon consumed. and many who
I7entered its dusty portals returned
| empty-handed.
Sandwiches made of every edible
material placed between crackers were
eaten on the spot, and the men cried
/ for more. The proprietor looked as
| though he would gladly give his soul
/ to accommodate them, but he had no
/ more to sell.
But there was plenty OF water in
/ the wells, and canteens We're REALIZED
/ q hundred times day Many of the
lSillagers came over on Sunday after
noon to see the camp, and when first
the white dresses Of the advancing
| girls were seen through the pines many
/. a soldier who had on little more than
Fretire hastily to the confinement OF
4 his tent, When the visitors We're gone
A they came out again, and freedom In
= matters of dress was az unlimited as
4 when Adam walked In the Garden OF
4 Eden.
imam who could have acted as chaplain
had to go back to his Sunday-school
lin Richmond. The boys spent the
morning and early afternoon pleasant
lily With games that perhaps. under 9TH
Ter circumstances, would have heen re-
lgarded as unsuited to the day. But
5Ecamp life has customs of its own
(which, when viewed in the proper
tligit, are seen to be suited to Its
of close walls and hard
lcobble-stones.
More coca cola and ginger ale was
wanted yesterday morning, hut the
.Iproprietd OF the little store could