Walla Walla Bids Farewell to the 30th Battery
After a final march through city streets, the artillery unit departs for Fort Snelling via the Northern Pacific.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
A special train of 13 cars carrying the 30th Battery, Field Artillery and equipment pulled out of the Walla Walla railroad yards this afternoon bound for Fort Snelling, Minnesota, to which place the battery has been ordered to join the 10th. Three coaches and a commissary car were assigned to the men, the remainder of the train being required to transport the horses, guns and general baggage. The battery will probably not reach Fort Snelling before Saturday. Probably 500 citizens assembled at the depot to bid the batterymen and officers goodbye and many expressions of regret over their departure were made. At 2 o'clock, escorted by the full band and the Ninth cavalry, the 30th made its last march through the streets. Colonel Godfrey headed the procession. The Ninth cavalry band fully mounted came next followed by the Ninth with flying colors. The batterymen brought up the rear and were kept busy waving farewells to friends along the street.
“The 30th made its last march through the streets... the batterymen brought up the rear and were kept busy waving farewells to friends along the street.”
The departure of military units was a central part of life in Walla Walla during the era of Fort Walla Walla. While the 30th Battery moved on to Minnesota, the site of the former military post remains a historic landmark and public park, reflecting the town's transition from a frontier garrison to a civilian community.
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