Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 September 1906 — SOLDIERS HAD A GOOD TIME HERE. [ARTICLE]

SOLDIERS HAD A GOOD TIME HERE.

Almost the entire population of Rensselaer entered into the spirit' of welcome to the soldiers Monday on their return visit here, and during their short stay the entire membership of the two batallions was made to feel that there is some joy iu the life of the soldier, LT To repay this evident feeling of welcome the officers received with the greatest amount of kindness all visitors to the camp ground, and arranged and had executed a band concert in the evening that attracted a large crowd and held their closest attention for more than an hour. The mnsic was of an excellent quality and the selections were many of them entirely new. ... ,u At the armory in the evening Col. Pitcher and his immediate regimental staff met a few friends and a pleasant evening was spent, and this event was certainly a case where the entertained were really the entertainers, for Col, Pitcher himself was the life of the evening and occupying the center of a large group of officers and citizens related in his very clever manner many stories of army life, including personal experiences pi his own, and then not to tire his listeners with tales of the army, he would talk just as freely and just as intelligently on any other topic. The Colonel is only 63 years of age, and has spent all his life since he was 18 years old in the army. To illustrate how slowly promotions oome to the officers during times of peace he related that he was a second lientenant for 11 years, a first lieutenant for 10 years and a captain for 6 years and when the Spanish-Amer-ican war broke out he was 146th on the list of eligible captains for promotion. After the war with Spain broke out and the decision was arrived at to permanently increase the army, however, promotions were more frequent, but it was no later than last April that heacceeded to the rank of Colonel. He is a single man, and is said to have accumulated considerable money which by careful investment has made him a very well to-do man. The departure of the soldiers was made this morning, the march being taken up again at 6:10 o’clock. They did not move out leisurely, but set off at a decidedly lively step. Their line of march from here was to Fair Oaks, thence to Orchard Grove and then to near Crown Point. On Friday they will reach Sonth Chicago where they wiil board the train for Fort Sheridan, thus avoiding the two days’ march through the city which constituted the most disagreeable part of their journey before.

It is possible Rensselaer may never have another chance to see so many soldiers here, and while considerable criticism of the dissipated habits of some of the men is offered and while it is deplorable in the extreme, it must nevertheless be remembered that the protection of American homes and the dignity of the flag depends upon these men in times of war, and that many of them are men of misfortune whose hearts are true altho they are wayward in many other ways, and the pride of past accomplishments and the confidence of their ability in the future should create in all an affection and draw from each heart a “God Speed.”