The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-23
BLUES TO LEAVE
FOR HOME TO-DAY
Members Of Battalion Will Pull
Up Stakes With Pangs
of Regret.
LAST DAY A STRENUOUS ONE
Major Bowles Highly Pleased
With Results OF
Encampment.
LAST DAY A STRENUOUS ONE
BY a. II. w. MAcKRErH.

City, Va. July 2a.--Though tho men
had looked forward to some inisgiv-
ing 10 the encampment. realizing that
they were 10 have experience in the
line OF military duty such as they had
never had before. the battalion as q
whole would like to stay in camp an
other week, having become hardened
TO the strenuous life. and tomorrow
morning Will pull UP stakes with many
pang OF regret. Pulling pegs and
taking down tents and packing all the
battalion effects will begin at o'clock
tomorrow morning, and the Blues
special train for Richmond and home
will leave Basic at 1l.15 o'clock. ar
irving at Main Street Station some
where between 3 and o'clock.
Another train. carrying all the tents
and government property in use now
by the Blues. and to be transferred TO
the other State encampment of Vir-
ginia troops. will leave one hour
Inst Day In Camp.
This is the last day in Camp Will
liam Richardson, but II Is not DIFF
ferent from the others. The Same duty
is expected and exacted. After the
usual morning company drills. the
entire battalion was organized into a
police detail and camp and parade
ground were thoroughly gone over and
cleaned. There is now not q piece OF
paper. not rag, stick or a bone
anywhere in sight. The grounds are
as clean as II we'll kept lawn. and so
II Will be left. when. tomorrow morn
ing. the battalion. singing It's fare
we'll songs. marches bravely out. Every
trench and every sink will be filled
and covered UP.
All rubbish will be burned, and
those who come after will not know
from The appearance of the site that
here more than 200 men lived and
drilled for a week II is expected
that the appropriation from the militia
fund OF $1,000 will fully cover all ex-
penses and the battalion will not be
forced TO pay g cent more.
The comm'ssary department. In
whose hands all disbursement OF food
and other supplies is placed. has done
it's work ably and we'll, and due credit
should be given to Lieutenant D. w.
Bowles, Jr., and his competent assist
ant. Sergeant Rudolf Sicgel. who, ut
terly inexperienced before in the hand
ling of such large outlay, have man
aged to fill the stomachs of the men
and the camp with peace and content
Major Dowies Pleased.
In speaking this morning OF the en-
campmcnt, Major Bowles said
II have been proud OF the Blues
Battalion before. but l have never
been 80 proud of IT as on this occa-
sion. The men have shown that they
can be real soldiers. They have shown
that they can perform the same duties
eSacted of the regular army. We
have done everything that is required
of regular army encampment, and
] think there Is no body OF State MI
litia anywhere that has ever done is
much,
Its fine thing to march down the
streets in full dress uniform, with
crowds cheering from tho sidewalks,
and pretty women and girls waving a
the men. but this is finer still, for we
know now what the men can do.
There has been good order, and only
ono man has grumbled. He got lee
ture. and there was no more srum-
bling.
Tho hike yesterday was a little
hard on the men, but they stood 1t well,
and last night they forgot their cares
and sore feet and enjoyed themselves
as only good soldiers can. And to-day
they will go through the same rou-
tine, and do as we'll as they have done
since the battalion has been here.
You may say that the Blues have
done everything In order, everything
that the army regulations call for. and
have done 1t with all thoroughncss.
Yes. am proud of the battalion. proud
err OF 1t than I have ever been before"
and tho major smiled one of his char
acteristic smiles and answered the
mess call.
The good conduct OF the Blues has
been appreciated in Basic City and
Waynesboro. and thousands of people
have visited the encampment. There
have been several automobile parties
from Staunton, and there is always a
large crowd at dress parade.
Major Bowles received this morning
a letter from William Richardson, of
Richmond. a great grandnephew of the
first captain of the Blues. in whose
honor the camp was named. The let
ter was one of thanks and apprecia-
tion. ouch as would come from a de-
scendant of an honored and honorable
sire. -
Burial of Bottles.
Late this afternoon. after dress pa
rade. the whole battalion turned out
TO perform certain last sad rites II
was funeral, a funeral without tears.
without signs or wailing for departed
ghost. In the coffin. or rather collins.
for there were several of them, lay the
remains OF all the GROWERS" Every
bottle and every can found in camp
was buried with due and proper cere-
mony. There were no set services,
only a great rumble of shouting and
laughter long trench representing
the grave had been previously dug. and
carefully. at the setting of the sun.
the last remains OF that which had