Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1917-09-24

THOUSANDSSEEB
Company G Departs for Camp Nc
Clellan at Admission, Alabama,
This Afternoon-Business in the
City Practically Suspended While
Big Procession Escorts Men to
Train.

was busy place from the time the
members of Company G, First Regi-
ment of Virginia, better known 10
cally as the Alexandria Light In
fantry, arose this morning until
they had finished packing their per-
sonal belongings and company lug
gage and had seen it safely started
for the Union Station. But the work
was done orderly and long before
the noon hour everything but the
men themselves was at the station
ready for the train which was to take
them out of the city at three o'clock
this afternoon and carry them to
Camp Geo. B. Mcclellan at Admission,
Alabama, which they will reach IN
about two days time.
At Charlottesville, Va, which point
they will arrive at tonight at $40
o'clock, they will be Joined by Com
pany d. At Covington Company H will
be taken on with the Lynchburg
Company L., at Lynchburg. The train
which carries them will have siX
tourist sleepers, and one baggage car
will be taken on here for Company
G, while other baggage cars will be
added for the other companies at
the various stations as they reach
them.
Most of the boys from Alexandria
were anxious to get away as lie
was becoming more or less monoton-
Gus to them here, notwithstanding
they had been kept busily engaged IN
drilling. The question as to how long
they NAV be kept in camp McClel-
Ian at Admission, Alabama, is proble-
matical. Some are of the opinion tnat
they may never see France for the
reason that the war will be over pc
fore they are orderd to go there. All
hone that may prove true, and tnat
.our boys" will not be compelled 70
leave the United States. Be that as
,;t NAV they are ready to do tneir
autv and every resident Of Aiexan-
dria will join the Gazette IN WISH
mo them safe return to their homes
whatever may be the outcome.
Escorted to Train by Big Crowd.
Business in the city was practlcails
suspended from two until three O'Clock
this afternoon in order that aiifmlgnt
escort the soldier boys to-: the tram
The procession, with! Major VIM. H. |
Smith as marshal. was made up as
follows: St. ;,Asaph Military Camp
bana: Confederate Veterans OF re
Lee Camp; High School Cadets; Doy
Scouts; special escort of cltlzens leu
by Representative Carlin, Judge Louis
G. Barley, Revs. E:~V. REGISTER T.
B, Jackson, Louis smet, John Lee Ain
son and business men, followed Dy
Company G. The line of marcn was
taken down Prince street to Fa'rfaS'
n King to Henry to Duke where the
train stood in waiting. AS the tram
pulled out whistles were blown a'tsI
over the city by way of a salute TO
the 14o men and three: officers who
will do their duty and,represent Alex
ardria in the war to make the world
safe for Democracy
The streets were lined with people
all the way to the station.
An immense crowd went to the ar
IVORY to meet them, and at the
station many hundreds more Of
tho relatives, friends and = citl-
IONS were congregated to bid
them good by and wish them safe
return home again. Many earnest
words were spoken and many tear
dimmed eye was to be seen as the last
bandshake was given to husband, son,
brother or sweetheart. If the tram
could have carried all the longing
looks sent after it as it drew slowly
away it would have carried nue.
larger load than it did.
Luncheons had been prepared f
the boys by the ladies Of the city SO
that they will have plenty to eat
while on the road to Alabama, and
cigars and other smoking materials
were also provided for their comfort
Before being mustered into the
federal army, July 30th of the pres.
ent year Company G was known a:
the Alexandria Light Infantry, and
for many years was one of Virginia's
crack military organizations. Many
nrominent and we'll known men Of
the city I'm years gone by were mum.
bered among its officers and members
On Nav IA, 1898 the company left
Alexandria for service in the Span,
-, Wor ppder nnp,,p n ~