Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-07-10

On hoard Virginia Troop Train
sonewbere in Alabama, July Z.
COMPANY G. entrained at 1880 o'clocF
Thursday morning at the yards neal
IFS deserted camp site on the STATE
Fair grounds, and the long trip te
the Texas border wasl begun.
With the rest of the battalion o1
which it is a part, the company re-
snonded to reveille at o'clock with
the stars still shining and the chill
that preceedes the dawn making the
air rather nippy. After hurried
breakfast, the work of breaking camp
was commenced. Cots were toldeo
and loaded on the wagons tents
struck and folded and hauled to the
baggage car, pegs pulled up and
boxed, and the bitches smoothed over,
The men, reclining on their blank
ct rolls and haversacSs, presented
more of military aspect than had
anv nhase of the encampment pre-
ceding.
The train left over the seaboard
Air Line tracks headed for Charlott'
but never reached it.. Sleeping cars
nromised the battalion at that point
were not available, and the tram
was diverted to Raleigh. Here hop
&C already shaky were shattered, and
no order to detrain coming IN, as
the train pulled out Of the station
The men started to prepare for a
night in the day-coaches. Backs OF
tho seats came off and were laid
across the space between two seats.
This made tolerable, couch, Tor
two, though rather 'humpy in the
middle. There were not quite en-
oueh seats to give each man one, so
some were left without a share, even
in such double berth. These pitch
ed their blanket rolls in the aisle or
slept curled up in q corner seat.
One or two slept ,h;t%G7 N the Spok-
ing-room and half in the aisle.
By four o'clock, tired bodies re-
fused to respond further to such ap-
peals for repose, ana the few sleepy
one were thoroughly awakened ny
the clatter and hustle ofthe majority
getting up and dressing.
Toilet facilities were even less ade.
quate than sleeping quarters. The
supply of water for washing was
exhausted after mere handful had
scraped off the CRIME of cindery
night, and the drinking water, div
erted to ahlutions. did not last much
longer.
The high spirit of the men that
marked their departure from Camp
Stuart has not, however, been dam
pened by these ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
even by the continuous rainy weather
that has marked the trip since the
first day out. Good humour also re-
ceived two tremendous boosts last
night, at Southern pines, and Mon
roe, North Carolina. No stop was
made at the frst-named place, but
as the tran rolled slowly through,
baskets of peaches were handed up
through the windows by cheering
townspeople, crowd of whom was
lined up along the tracks waving
flags and handkerchiefs.
1t was at Monroe, however, that
the spirit of the men received their
biggest boost, Here a water-stop
was made, and as the train rolled IN
about dusk, the station was already
crowded with residents of the town.
Girls somehow seemed to make up
most Of the crowd, and others pour
ed in as the noisy troopers began
singing and cheering in response to
the greetings they received.
One brave miss broke the ice by
tripping over to the Alexandria boys
car and responding to the cordial
shake of a khaki-clad arm, Not will
ing to be thought partial, she start
ed down the line Of windows, from
each of which alf-projected body
cheered her good-fellowship and
reached out rather grimy hand
to touch her laughing white one, as
it tripped down the line of windows.
Her example was quickly follow
ed by others of Monroe's prettiest.
and soon the whole train eighteen
cars long, was almost solid line
of handshakings and laughing sallies
of wit and harmless Irritation.
The greetings exchanged, re-
naming few minutes were not allow.