Anson County Prepares to Welcome Bickett Battery Home, 1919

From the Wadesboro Ansonian, as reprinted in The Monroe Journal, March 7, 1919

Anson Prepares to Welcome Bickett Battery

“What are we going to do for the boys coming home?” This question has been asked by numbers of people and it is generally understood that some entertainment should be arranged for them. A large number have already arrived and the Bickett Battery, the largest body leaving the country at any one time, is expected about April 1^st.

Congressman L.D. Robinson made arrangements several days ago for three airplanes to come here and fly when we do have a celebration, but there is a general feeling that we ought to have a big barbecue, some “band” music and public speaking. This celebration could take place in April or the first of May and later on, say in July, a like celebration cold be held for the colored boy, many of whom may be arriving home as they were the last to go. Mr. Robinson’s idea is to have every boy here who wore the uniform, as the guest of the county on that day and show him by words and deeds that we are proud of him and what he did. There should be a generous supply of flags and it is expected that several hundred dollars will be needed to bear the necessary expenses of the bands, barbecue and flats. This can be raised by popular subscription. Mr. Robinson was asked to state what he would give and said “I’ll give $25 to help pay for the celebration for the white boys and the same amount for the colored boys.

If this idea meets the approval of the public, it has been suggested that a meeting be held here on Saturday, March 15, at 12 o’clock, to perfect the arrangements for the celebration. There are a number of fine shoats and young beeves to be found that would make an ideal barbecue of Mr. Robert Little of Chesterfield and some of his assistants could be secured to handle the job.

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113th Field Artillery Under Orders to Sail. . . Bickett Battery Is a Unit of This Regiment. . . Letters Received Recently Said Battery Was Under Quarantine

The 113^th Field Artillery, of which the Bickett Battery, composed largely of Union and Anson county boys, is under orders to sail, according to a cablegram from the officer commanding the regiment, Col. Albert L. Cox, to the Raleigh News & Observer.

In letters received here recently from members of the battery it was stated that a case of influenza had developed in the company and it had been placed under quarantine. The cablegram from Col. Cox seems to indicate that the quarantine has been lifted.

Col. Cox gave no detail and did not specify the time when the regiment will leave French shores. Five words only were used to convey the message that will delight the hearts of hundreds of mothers and fathers, wives, brothers, sisters and sweethearts in North Carolina.

The 113^th organized by Col. Albert Cox, has seen active service and helped smash the Hindenburg line. Having become a part of the army of occupation, little hope was entertained here that the regiment would be able to see America for many months yet. But for some reason, it was withdrawn from this service and ordered to port of embarkation.

“Regiment under orders to sail.” This is the new now, as told by Col. Cox, and perhaps, there is enough joy in that for the folks back home to make up for the uncertainty of the sailing date.