The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-24
BLUES BACK HOME
FROM BASIC CITY
Crowds Watch as They March
From Main Street Station
to Armory.
MAJOR BOWLES ENTHUSIASTIC
Satisfied That Week in Camp
Put Men in Shape for
Real War Duty.

Richmond was the scene yesterday
OF military activity. Those abroad
early in the morning witnessed the
departure of the First Battalion. First
Regiment. Virginia Volunteers. for the
annual encampment at cuipeper. while
In the afternoon the Richmond Light
infantry Blues Battalion returned
from their manoeuvre practice at Basic
City.
Detrainins at the Main Street sta
t'on the bronzed and tanned soldiers
were welcomed home by large
crowd. Headed by its band. the COM
mana marched UP Main Street to
Ninth. and thence to the armory az
Sixth and Marshal! Streets There
many friends and admirers were wait-
ing to receive the troops. and the
latter lost no time in leaving the
armory after they had been dismissed
by company comma nders and hurried
home.
Week of Real Work
The Blues put in week of the
hardest work they had ever experi-
enced. but the members were unani-
nous in declaring that they would
have enjoyed spending the remainder
of the summer al Basic
The only hardship which MANY OF
them endured was from sore feet bu,
after several days OF tramping and
practice marches this difficulty was
eliminated and the men became har-
dened to their work
Only two men were upon the sick
list. Private J. s. Hutchinson was
ordered home from the camp on ac-
count of fever. while Private Holt w.
Do Tot
men are of Company d.
~ have brought back a battalion
OF real soldiers said Major E. w.
Bowles, who was immensely pleased
with the work of the camp.
There was no grumbling in camp,
and even though the men We're COM
PEELED to do the same work as those
Of the regular army. with the excep-
ton of cooking, I found that all of
them enjoyed camp-life.
The camp was a perfect model. Its
sanitary arrangements were ideal,
which was testified to by the perfect
health of the men. There was no sick
ness. except the fever developed by
Private Hutchinson, which. I under
stand, is nothing serious. However,
as precautionary measure. ! thought
1T best TO send him home.
1T feel that with the training We
have had the Blues are now capable
OF any military duties which they may
be called upon to perform. They are
a me body of disciplined and trained
soldiers. ready and able for any
work"
Everybody Enthusiastic.
All of the Blues officers were en-
thusiastic over the success of the en-
campment. The men were equally as
we'll pleased. There were many ex-
pressions of regret that the encamp
ment period was not more than
week
The special train bearing the SOL
diers was scheduled to arrive here at
3 o'clock. but owing TO a delayed de-
parture at Basic, due to loading the
heavy baggage. it did not get into
the Main Street Station until 4. The
trip was made in three and a half
hours.
Details from each of the four COM
paaies were left at the station to
transfer the heavy equipment from
baggage cars to trucks for removal
to the armory. This work was speed
lily done.
The remainder OF the battalion.
under the command Of Major Bowles.
marched immed!a tely to the armory.
Each company was taken into the as
sembly hall and dismissed. AS the
command to fall out was given,
rousing cheer went up from the men,
and they scattered to company rooms.
only to emerge a few seconds later
and hurry home.
The first official act of Major Bowles
upon entering headquarters was TO
issue an order to all company COM
mandcrs ordering them to notify tire
men that drills will be dispensed with
until September Is.
Each summer II is customary for
the Blues to stop their weekly COM
pany and monthly battalion drills.
They will now have nearly a two
months holiday from this duty.