Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-25
.GRAYS ARE OFF FOR
CAMP AT ADMISSION
Last Remaining Unit of Virginia
National Guard Leaves State
for War Training.
ARM0RY SCENE IMPRESSIVE
Command Marches Through Cap
itol Square, for Review, on
Way to Train.

where they passed in review before
Mayor Ainslie. AdtutantGeneral W. w
Sale and staH, members Of the Rich
mond Grays last night made what is
expected to be their last public an.
pearance at home before returning
from the battle fields Of France With
steady tread to tho tune Of gay airs
the Grays circled the Capstol of the
Old Dominion and then marched to the
train which bore them southwark to-
ward the great training camp at An
niston. Ala.
Relatives and friends. by the hun
dreds, turned out to bid the boys fare
we'll Older men. former members of
the First Regiment, marched with the
khaki-clad lads and remained with
them until the long line of coaches
started on their journey south ward.
Representing the younger generation.
the John Marshall High School Cadets
were on hand to do honor to the men
who are bound for the front where
trophies Sod glory can be won.
There was no wild demonstration,
but there was sincere and earnest
parting. Before their trip began, the
soldiers had thirty minutes to bid fond
farewells to those near and dear to
them. Ard by their presence the home
folk gave expression that there was
no reason to doubt that the absent
ones would not be forgotten, but would
leave behind those who will be longing
to welcome them back with open arms
and full hearts.
IMPRESSIVE PRAYER
BEFORE LEAVING ARSIORY
While the farewell was simple. the
parting was none the less impressive.
At the armory, Seventh and Marshall
Streets. the men, with bowed heads.
listened to prayer which was said
for them by Rev. F. T. McFadcn, D.
D.. pastor of the First Presbyterian
Church. Just before they shouldered
their rifles. the minister solemnly in
voked the blessing of the Highest upon
these men Sho have already made sac
riiices and who are willing and anxious
to give up their lives that the world
be made safe for free peoples. With
the word of God fresh in their minds
this body of men filed from the armory
In Seventh Street they were joined
by the First Regiment Association and
the High School Cadets Preceded by
squad OF auto police and led by the
crack band OF the Forty-seventh New
York ReEim ent. the Grays occupied the
place OF honor In the line which moved
TO Broad Street, TO Ninth and into
Capitol Square. Before them marched
the cadets and the one-time members
of the First. who wore badges to indi-
cate that they had once upon n time
taken the oath to serve the Stars and
Stripes.
with the notes of a march tune to
spur them, the Grays and their escorts
formed splendid sight as they moved
steadily into the square. They passed
before the south Dortico of the Capitol
Building, where General Sale, Mayor
Ainslie, -Colonei 10 Lane
Stern. Colonel Charles A. Dempsey.
Major Joseph A lie Masurier and other
army officers formed the reviewing
party. Governor Stuart WAS unavoid-
ably detained In Washington, and could
not be present to greet the soldiers
and bid them godspced.
GREAT CROWDS LINE
WAY TO WAITING; CARS
But the absence of the Governor did
not keep back the tnrongs who con-
gregated at the armory, lined the
streets where the soluiers passed and
assembled iI mass in Capitol Square
and at Fourteenth and Dock Streets.
From Capitol Square the battalion
marched along Ninth Str .et to Main.
thence to Fourteenth and then to Dock
Street. where the cars to bear them to
Camp Mcclellan were being held in
readiness.
Along the line of march there we're
cheers and applause. But many OF
those who came to say Eood-by were
more in the mood for tears than cheers
At the train the men were first re.
quired to put their equipment in place
and the companies were then dismissed
so that each man was at liberty to de-
vote his last minutes at home with
wife. sweetheart and friend.
There were many pathetic partinEs,
and there were also gay farewells
One silver haired mo ;her brought her
boy boa. 1t was plenty big and
neatly tied 4 big red rose was en-
twined in the stout cord. What il
contained, the mother knew, but the
boy did not open it that all eyes might
see. 1t was possibly the last touch Of
home and mother that he would see
for many weary days. And the little
mother. tiny figure in black. who had
trudged many blocks with her gift
for last glimpse OF the boy of whom
she could rightly be proud. made no
pretense OF keeping back the tears
her wrinkled chseks. Her boy. pos
sibly her last-born, was going away to
war. Sne remained to watch the
train whicM carried away her son un-
til 1t was no longer visible
But there werc lots of boxes and
there were lots Of partings. And each
had separate message for separa te
ears.
RICHMOND SHOWS
INTEREST IN HER SONS
The departure of the Grays-6:l5
o'clock-was at an hour when the
busy man and busy woman could
leave their desks and household
duties. This fact contributed In no
small measure to the demonstration
and there was no lack Of interest
by Richmond in the welfare of her
soldiers.
Men, women and children, proud