Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-05-17
GOING OF THE TROOPS
Story Of Parting With old COm
fddeS.
FORMER ROCKIES NOW SOLDIERS.
Scenes And Sentiments In Connee-
ton Of The Departure OF Troop
Trains For Over There-Wives Ana
Mothers Requested To Be Brave
All The Men In Good Shape Moral
ly. Mentally And Physically.
(Passed by the CensorO


away the other day-the company
with whom | soldicred here for SIX
months or so. Where they went l
couldn't say because / don't know ana
neither did they know where they
were going. But they were hopeful
and confident that they were on the
first lap of the journey "over there
and I guess that is where they we're
headed. | shall never forget their go
ing away. / have seen hundreds OF
soldiers board trains here with their
Enfields on their shoulders, smiles on
their faces. gladness expressed IN
their eyes and a song on their lips
as they boarded the trains. II was
the same with my old company. That
company has ever been noted for
holding a straight line and as they
marched up the concrete road TO the
cars that day. their line was never
straightcr: the good old skipper" at
their head never had more pep in his
step: the old company never went on
q hike with half so much interest and
enthusiasm as they did on that little
hike that preceded their entry
into the long line of Iullmans await
ing them and the other companies of
the regiment. Beside them. or rather
as near 10 them as regulations would
permit. walked numerous relatives
come TO see them off and wish them
God speed. There were "a number Of
Young wives there, one or two Of them
carrying little babies in their arms,
gray haired mothers and fathers,
brautiful sisters and handsome broth
crs not yet called into the service.
There was one little codger, about
three years old. should say, VINO
also wore an O. ID. suit, n miniature
OF his dads and at intervals OF alout
Il minute he would look up into the
face of his young soldier father in a
manner just so proud. There were
very few tears. One or two Of my
friends of the old company told me
they had consented to the presence Of
their wives on their promise that they
would not cry. What tears there wen0
were tears of pride. God bless you
hoy: | was never prouder of you thaH,
right now" | heard one father TED
his son. lad | well knew. You ere
coming back; we are countings0H
your coming back, and both you ~
the world will he better for your ge1,
ing"
The boys got a payroll just5
or two before they pulled out and all
of them were just lousy" with mon
cy. Pockets were stuffed with cigar
cites and tObaccos and little nick
knacks OF one kind and another.
Might get to where this kind of
stuff is hard TO get" explained Whitley
Kelley TO me. "Thcy say you can
get plenty Of cigarettes and tobaccos
and even a little light booze over in
France and | guess it's 80 bat | amt
taking no chances on being out of
cigarettes soon. He had SIS worth
slowed about him somehow.
CHANGED TO see my old friend CALI
han. cook. before he pulled out with
the rest of the boys. He was in 4
baggage car cutting ham for sand
wiches, glad smile on his good--
naturcd face. - long. laddic," he
said. Sorry you amt in on this
trip. Here you don't get nothing to
rat i'm the QM." and he handed me n
big thick sandwich.
WELL" he said In thoughtful
mood: 81 don't know where we are
going but believe me we are starting
pretty quick. Believe me,
buddy, ! am ticklcd. cause | am tired
Of cooking chow in this old camp.
was just wondering the other day
how many beans and spuds and flap
iacks and one thing and another !
have cooked in this camp. Millions
| reckon"
"Ycp. several of 'em Callic." ! said.
Good too"
yep" he said, "reckon you VIII
miss me like the dickens. Fact l
reckon you have missed me a heap
since YOU been in the ON, cause
used to let you put a lot O bull over
on me so you could get something
extra to eat"
you're n brick old man. | replied
Yes" he said and reckon you
been n friend O. mine. / amt iorso'
all them letters you used to write LOT
mo and them quarters you used W
slip me when you had 'em and
didn't. And say. boy. II you ever ec'
across and get hungry. why just iooN
me up"
| felt like crying little myself rs
gave the Mick's hand goodbye
shake.
7 noted n great change that has come
over that company of men since last
Octobcr--their general manner ana
their attitude toward military hie'
The National Guardsmen among them
we're 100 per cent better soldiers the
day they left than they were prior 10
being mustered into the Federal ser
vice July. q year ago. AS for the
drafted men among them, they were
thousand per cent. Clean sha'eh'
clean cut, clear eyed, spry as crickets'
hard as nails, their faces tanned ps
many n cold wind that came over the
mountain ranges here the past hard
winter, they could not have possibly
been in better physical condition
And mentally. and honestly believe
| can say. spiritually. they were better
men than when they came into the
army. In that particular company up
to three months ago. there were al