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| 218 organization, armament and equipment preparatory to entering the service of the Federal Government. The equipment of the last State camp which had been left at Frederick was brought to Pimlico. The movement of the troops to the camp of course excited intense interest. A generation had been born and grown to manhood and womanhood since the last gun of the Civil War had been fired. To these the military movements for active service, and not merely parade or escort duty, was a thrilling novelty. To that smaller portion of the population who could recall the horrors of the terrible struggle between the North and South, and who, it may be, had lost husband, father or brother in that tremendous strife, the sight of the marching ranks was a solemn one. From many a family circle one or more of its members were marching to the camp, and no one could tell whether they would ever return. While all confidently anticipated victory over Spain, no one expected the speedy and almost bloodless termination of hostilities. The occasion of the movement of the troops preparatory to going to the front, and with the confident expectation of going into the war, was not a holiday. When the day came for the Fifth to encamp, early in the morning a great crowd congregated around the armory and thronged the line of march to Pimlico. Flags were displayed, cheers were raised, and here and there in the crowd were weeping women and solemn looking men. The rendezvous was at the corner of Eutaw Place and North avenue, and there the Fourth and Fifth reported to General Riggs. Thence they marched through the park to Camp Wilmer at Pimlico, as it was named in honor of the adjutant-general. A great part of the march through the city was between solid walls of men and women. According to the first morning report there were 1,932 officers and men in camp. The Fifth Regiment had 719 members ; the Fourth, 728; the First, 371 ; Troop A, 33 ; First Separate Company (colored), 58; Signal Corps, 9 ; Brigade headquarters, 14. |