Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1919-07-18
Welcome HomeI

Saturday, May 31st, was holiday fol-
Baltimore and surrounding sections when
patriotic populace manifestine enthusi-
asm and yet sadness, turned out in force
to welcome to their native city and State
the boys of the 29th-The Blue and Gray
Division, who but few days before had
arrived from the devastated battefields of
France.
A large proportion of these soldiers had
been in continuous active service for nearly
three years, having promptly responded to
the call of the President in June, 1916
and remained for an extended period on
the Mexican Border. After spending a
weary year in the sand-swept section by
the Rio Grande. they turned to their civil
pursuits, not to become settled as they
had anticipated. but to be called upon
again, this time to guard bridges, railroads,
waterfronts property and public utility
plants when other ominous clouds began
to gather during that interim before Ameri-
ca becamG the deciding factor that crushed
barbarism and Kultur.
They were of the National Guard, that
strain and volunteer type who are always
ready no matter what their personal sac
rifice may be, therefore, when war was
declared, the entire citizen soldiery of
Maryland, with the exception Of the Coast
Artillery Companies who proceeded else
where, modified at Admission. Alabama,
after recruiting heavily among their friends.
At their Southern rendezvous they were
consolidated with the guardmen of New
Jersey, Delaware, District of Columbia and
Virginia, and became the 29th or Blue
and Gray Division.
Colonel Washington Bowie, Jr.. General
Counsel of the Fidelity and Deposit Com
pany, was in command of the old Fifth
Maryland, and as a result of his personal
efforts. had assembled near Cockeysville,
Md. the largest regiment of infantry at
that time in the United States. However,
it was destined to lose its traditional iden-
tity when all State organizations were re-
dedicated. With parts Of the then First
and Fourth Maryland Regiments. the
l15th Infantry came into existence.
In the old Fifth. which was successfully
organized on May 10th. 1857. Colonel
Bowie had serzed from private up through
every grade in an unbfoken period of nearly
thirty years. and being most efficient
National Guard officer, held the attention
of the War Department. consequently he
was sent to the School of Fire at Fort Sill,
Oklahoma, and returned to Admission as
Colonel commanding the 10th Regiment
of Field Artillery. which absorbed old Bat
teries A, B and C of Maryland. as well as
six others from the designated Blue and
Gray States. Colonel Reckord, of the old
First Maryland, became the commandant
of the famous to be 115th Infantry. and
Major General Charles G. Morton was placed
at the head of the entire division.
History will chronicle the glorious achieve
ments attained in the Argonne by these
former citizen-soldiers. who on May 3lst
passed in review before appreciative ad-
mirers with their gracious plaudits, and
they in khaki, the flower of a proud old
commonwealth. had every reason to be
mindful of what they observed and of a
State whose traditions they unfalteringIy
upheld. The 10th was led by Colonel
Bowie. the 115th by Colonel Reckord. and
the other doughty outfits as they passed
by inspired vast multitude.
A r. w