The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-07-25
FIRST REGIMENT
OFF FOR GRETNA
Richmond Grays March Through
Heavy Rain and Entrain
for Camp
WILL BE GONE TEN DAYS
Hard Work Ahead for Militia
men-Many Admirers See
Soldier Boys Leave.

Loaded down with accoutremonts Of
the camp. Companies y. Il, Z and +. OF
the First Virginia Infantry. composing
tho Richmond battalion Of the regi-
mont marched through a driving rain
last night from the Seventh street Arm
Org 10 Elba Station. where they board
cd special train bound for tie ioin,
manocuvres n, Mount Grctna. ia. The
special pulled out OF the station at 9
o'clock and Will arrive in camp at 4
o'clock this morning.
The inauspicious weather failed 10
put d danper OH the occasion. The sol
diers gathered at the armory shortly
after o'clock and lost no time in get
ting into their khaki marching clothes.
y larg,. crowd gathered around the en-
trance TO tho building and watched the
preparations Tor departure. Promptly
at Sis o'clock the four companies filed
out OF the armory. carrying the ful!
equipment Of heavy marching order.
Headed by Band.
Kessnichs Municipal Band headed
the marching column and pilotcd the
procession through the heavy rain.
At seventh and Broad Streets 81 large
crowd stood for more than an hour UNI
der umbrellas and awnings to watch
tho soldier boys leave. The column was
headed by Major Lawrence +. Price &C
companied By members OF his stan. The
-four companies marched next Ia osder.
followed by the hospital corps and four
heavily loaded commissary wagons car
ryins supplies for the outing. y strins
of automobiles carrying friends ana
admirers brought up the rear of the
procession.
The march to tho train consumed
less than twenty minutes, and the at-
tnal loading less than i've Despite the
rain which fell throughout the evening,
large number OF girls braved thu
weather to sse the soldiers of on their
hike, and remained Loyalty on the Job
until the lights of the last car disap-
poared from view
Ten Days OF Work.
The battalion Will spend ten days in
tho joint manoeuvre camp a Mount
Grotna. They VIII be strenuous days.
FOR the regular army officers in charge
have a program OF work which VIII
take every available minute which can
be snatched from the periods OF noces-
sary rest. Long hikes over country
roads or over ground where there arc
no roads all will be daily feature.
The men must put up their own tents
this morning and must then arrange
tho interiors for living purposes Their.
Will nc guard duty for many Guard
mount VIII be Of daily Occurrences NJ
tho last a sham battle viii be the Gull
mination OF tho series of military prob
lcms which viii have been worked out
Encampments OF this sort are no
longer places Of frolic. There are
some amusemcnts. and the novelty OF
the experience. with the fascination o:
playing At war. lend much TO the It.
tractiveness of going into camp. But
ths real purpose is to learn. SO the
mllitiamen, who serve their states
without pay at home. are taken where
wartime conditions are maintained ana
are put TO school that they may learn
how to qualify as the defenders Of the
nation when the need comes
All tho Virginia regiments Will arrlv..
at Noun, Greina to-day. Correspond
encc Tor the soldier boys IN camp should
be addressed as follows: Private john
Smith. COMPANY . - virginia In
iGntry. Mount Ciretna Pa"