The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-14
Clleered by Large Crowd,
Soldiers Leave by Rail
for Staunton.
TRIP DOWN VALLEY
WILL BEGIN TODAY
Government, Much Interested
Sends Officer Of Regular Army
toAecompany Battery--Routc
Lies Through Historic Bat
tlchclds, Where Stone
wall jackson Led Men.


"ULLY equipped for the long march
down the Valley of Virginia. the
i Chesapeake and Ohio depot on
their special train last night at
1910 o'clock, bound for Staunton. from
which place the journey afoot begins.
Crowds ofspeople filled the station and
pushed to the very doors OF the train
cheering and waving handkcrchiefs in-
til the rear lights OF the Pullman dig
appeared around the curve Save for
the absence OF arms. the cannone ers
presented a most warlike appearance
being dressed in the regulation khaki
and carrying. each man, his own tent
and knapsack. There were present
also several war correspondence to
chronicle the peaceful Invasion Of the
country which more than forty years
ago was the scene OF series OF bloody
battles
Followed by Crowd.
The battery had orders to present it
self AT the arnory at . O'Clock sharp
last night. Several minutes before
that time every man was there. and
ready To fall In. The inevitable crowd
had also gathered and cioked the door
ways for some time before the battery
made It's appearance. A short prelim-
mary drill was indulged in before the
men were taken out to the street. The
tramp of many feet on. the floor Of the
drill room was a signal to the waiting
crowd which yelled and called the
boys out.
Promptly at . O'Clock the battery
was formed in front OF the armory.
and the trip was begun. The line of
march to the depot lay along Eighth
street TO Broad. down Broad to Ninth
and to Main. thence to the depot. AT
every cross street the cheering crowd
increased and foil in behind tho SOL
diers. When the battery crossed
Broad the mass of people was so
dense that for few minutes all the
cars and wagons had TO stop. motor
men and drivers waiting patiently and
Eooh-naturedIy until they could move
ahead without running over someone.
The only halt on the way TO the de-
pot was at the store of Mr.. T. c. Sub
let. at Thirteenth and Main Streets.
where. at his request. Captain Myers
stopped the battery and section by Sec
tion marched the men in. Each got a
cooling drink and good cigar. Mr..
Subleit is one of the most enthusiastic
friends OF the battery In the city. His
brother is now member of the Howit-
zers. and many of his people fought
with the historic command during the
war. His courtesy was much appre-
ciated by the men who gave him three
rousing cheers as they marched away
down tho street.
Scene mt the Depot.
AT the depot ranks were again
broken, and the ninety or more uni
formed men We're engulfed in the army
of civilians, which was too large to
be- let into the sheds. The favored
few--close friends and relatives OF the
soldters--were enough to make walk
ing along the platform a rather diff
cult matter.
About five minutes was spent here In
Sood-bys. which, however, bore but
slight resemblance to the proverbial
Soldiers Farewell" Every one was
laughing and cheering with the same
breath. Then came the bugle call, and
a second afterward the men tumbled
into the coaches and the train moved
out OF the sheds. This was where the
crowd broke loose and cheered again
and again as the sound of the bugle
partly drowned the roar OF the train
dwindling away In the distance.
The train consisted OF three day
coaches for the men. to the rear OF
which was attached the Pullman Am
bassador." tor the officers and visitors.
tanning the provision wa gons and two
wagonettcs for the visitors. Behind
this were two cars carry ing the horses
and mules
Last night was spent on the cars.
Early this morning the march Of 159
miles. along the route OF General Jack
son in the Civil War will be COM
menced from Staunton. This section,
which is now one of the most beautl-
%,,1 ,rr 4 ,Nfl flY,o n, ca
was, during the war, the scene Of some
OF the hardest fighting. The line of
march lies down the Valley, through
the mountain gaps to Alexandria. The
Howitzers expect to reach their des-
tlnation a week from Tuesday IL all
goes we'll.
Government Interested.
The trip has created much interest,
rot only throughout Virginia, but in
other States. The War Department
was quick to recognize It's value, and
has sent Captain Kllrain. of tho regu-
lar army who Is stationed at Newport
News. to accompany the battery. He
arrived in the city yesterday at noon,
and was fitted UP at once with a How
ltzer uniform. In n recent letter to
Captain Myers concerning the trip.
Captain Filrain compllmented him on
his plan, and said that IL all the vol
unteer military organizations of the
country would adopt the idea It would
mean that the volunteers would equal
for discipline tho men of the regular
& army.
Tho stonewall Camp. Confederate
Veterans, will tender a roception to
the battery soon after Its arrival Sew
sra1 hours will be spent In viewing
the places OF historic interest5InS the
city. The chaplain$of the battery, the
Rev, DR.. James Power Smith, who will
accompany 1t along the entire march
Will preach to the men In tho historic
3 Old Stone Church. This Is about eight
miles from Staunton, and it Is thought
that tho battery will arrive there about
dinner time,
Besides pr. Slnith,a number q { 5"war,
v time" lIowitzers vii IA occupy the
\ wagons alons with the Invited guests
q m q news pa per CORE pondents.S Others
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