Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-06-30
$4,000 PEOPLE GIVE
ATLANTA s REGIMENT
A FAREWELL OVATION
Governor Presents American
Flag to Colonel Hall and
Tells the Regiment Never to
Let 1t Go Down in Defeat

! An immense throng of Atlantians esti-
mated at $4,000 assembled at the Termi-
nal station Wednesday morning ana
gave the boys of the Fifth regiment
great send-off on their departure for the
mobilization camp of the Georgia ma
tional guard at Macon.
Men. women, children, Confederate
veterans, automobiles and policemen
overlooked the plaza in front of the sta
| ton and filled the adjoining streets.
The crowd big and the people
were so enthusiastic that the soldier
boys could hardly make their way
through the pack when they marched
up to the station from the armory.
Efforts were made to Keep everybody
but soldiers out of the train shed, bur
the crowd good naturally overstepped
all regulations and poured down to the
tracks to shake the hands of the boys
in uniform and give them rousing fare
well cheers when the trains pulled OUT.
Although it was S:39 o'clock before
the first troop train departed over the
Southern railroad. the people began TO
gather at the station shortly after
o'clock BY o'clock the streets were
literally streaming with people on their
way from all directions to bid the Fifth
adieu, and by the time the regiment ar
rived there was a solid mass of spec
tators all around the station.
On the Spencer monument facing the
station entrance stood Governor Harris
and party of officials and prominent
citizens, waiting for the arrival of the
boys in khaki.
IMPRESSIVE. EXERCISES.
With the governor were Colonel Asa
G.. Gambler, of Atlanta, chief of the
governors staff, wearing his uniform;
Major George NJ Hope, commanding the
Old Guard of Atlanta: Captain A. Med.
Wilson, commanding Company A of the
Old Guard; Captain w. NJ. Camp, COM
handing Company b of the Old Guard;
Colonel w. L. Peel president of the
American National bank; Captain James
w. English, president of the Fourth
National bank; Nell r. Wilkinson, for
mer president of the Atlanta chamber
of commerce; Walter G. Cooper, secre-
tary of the Atlanta chamber of COM
merce; Charles j. Haden, president of
the Georgia chamber of commences; E.
Y. Clark. secretary of the Georgia cham
Der of commerce; E. p. McBurney, pres
ident of the Atlanta commercial ex-
change; James D. Robinson; General A
j. West, formerly commander of the
Georgia division of the United Confed-
crate Veterans; Bishop Warren A Cand-
Ter. chancellor of Emory university;
Colonel E. f. Pomeroy, formerly COM
mander of the Fifth regiment, and
others.
Shortly before o'clock the police
began to clear a space in front of the
monument. Just at o'clock the first
ripping notes of the bugle sounded the
approach of the regiment along Mitchell
street, and the crowd sent up a roaring
cheer.
Pushing their way with difficulty
through the pack, the Fifth regiment
band led the way to the cleared space
in front of the monument, drew up
facing the governor and his party, anG
launched into the stirring strains of
Dixie"
Up went the hats of the men In the
crowd, up went the American flags of
men and women, and up went another
great and thrilling cheer in which could
be heard the wild note of the rebel yell
where the Confederate veterans Joined
their voices to the uproar.
THE GOVERNOR SPEAKS.
Then came Colonel Orville H. Hall.
commander of the regiment, followed by
officers of his staff, and behind them
The men Of the regiment, rank on rank,
black gun barrels cleaning on their
shoulders.
Saluting the governor, Colonel Hall
said:
your excellency, 1 have the honor to
report that the Fifth regiment, National
guard of Georgia, is enlisted to mini
mum strength and is ready for depar-
ture to mobilization headquarters"
The governor saluted in return and
addressed the regiment as follows:
Colonel Hall and men of the Fifth
regiment, at this moment the words
that come into my mind are: Ready,
Aim, Fire. In those three words, which
I hear ringing in my memory across
a span of nearly sixty years, is summed
up all the training of soldier.
We'll do 1 remember day about 55
years ago when the colonel of our regi-
ment COVE us the first command to
charge with fixed roaycEets. In those
days the charge was made in solid
ranks, and as we dashed along with our
bayonets fixed there came into our
pathway a zine thicket. AS We had no
orders TO separate ranks and go around
Ihe thicket, we went straight on.
a dogwood bush got tangled up in
my legs and threw me flat on my back
and took my gun away from me. But
want TO say that was the only time
was ever disarmed in the Civil war.
Cor no Yankee ever did to me what that
dogwGod die.
and that is the way you viii learn
on the tcrder. but I believe it will be
a wonder if you ever get close enough
to any Mexican for him to see the CLEAN
Of your bayonets. And Just here want
to say that 1 wouldn't give one man
Of this regiment for the whole of the
race across the Rio Grande.
"THE HONOR OF GEORGIA"
wherever you go in the service of
this great republic. you will take upon
your banner the grand old name of
Georgia, your native state. And you